The Borden Murders

Literary Devices

Recommendation

The Borden Murders

I enjoyed this book and if you're into murder trials, mysteries, or crime I would recommend this book because it takes the reader step-by-step throughout the trial and offers more insight on the investigation process.

Mood

“The elderly gentle man’s features were a pulp of chipped bone and razored flesh, his left eye cleaved in two” (Miller 41). The mood here is gruesome and nightmarish as it goes into great detail of the victim’s wounds. The mood often chages throughout the book and especially during the trial as it could go form worrisome to relief.

Syntax

Tone

"Lizzie had wept for joy when the judges excluded it from the jury" (Miller 626). The way the sentence begins with Lizzie's actions instead of the other way around puts stress on the fact that Lizzie is human and reacted the same as any other person in her situation would.

Theme

 “Today, everything most people know of Lizzie Andrew Borden is contained in those four singsong lines of doggerel. And nearly everything in those is wrong” (Miller 31). The author's attitude is objective and pensive as the she boldly implies that Lizzie Borden is innocent as an introduction, which will be followed by evidence supporting her position. The tone of the book varies at some points because the author uses some sarcasm and often implies that Lizzie could be guilty.

"My ambition became two fold: to present Lizzie Borden as a human being, and to scrupulously fair in my presentation of the facts surrounding the murder" (Miller 724). The theme of the book is the quest for discovery and to base your view on people with facts, not bias.

by Sarah Miller

People in the Book

The main person in this book is Lizzie Borden who is the youngest daughter of Andrew Borden. “...Lizzie’s distinctive combination of frankness and fearless honesty created what one supporter called ‘a monument of straightforwardness. I shall never believe, even were she convicted of the deed, that she committed it,’ her friend continued…” (Miller 94). This is how one of Lizzie’s friends describes Lizzie’s character. This implies that Lizzie was very honest and strong on her views, so if she did commit the crime she would’ve confessed to it and gave her reason why.

Detail 1

People in the Book

Detail 2

Bridget Sullivan was the Borden family's maid. "No one knows a family better than its maid, and everyone, down to Lizzie Borden herself, wanted to hear what this girl...had to say about them" (Miller 460). Bridget was a key witness in the Borden trial who had the best timeline of events the morning of the murders.

Emma Borden is Andrew Borden's eldest daughter. “‘I did my duty at the time of the trial, and I am still going to do it in defending my sister even though circumstances have separated us…’” (Miller 666). Emma does much to support Lizzie throughout the trial and no matter what happens, she will always support Lizzie and be loyal to her.

Raquel Sanchez

Mrs. North

English II Honors, Period 3

6 June 2017

Detail 3

Book Summary

The book The Borden Murders is about the double murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Lizzie Borden, the daughter of Andrew Borden, is the first to find her father's dead body. As the investigation moves on, Lizzie is listed as the prime suspect in the murders. She is questioned and is thrown in jail during the murder trial. In the end, there wasn't sufficient evidence and Lizzie Borden was found innocent in the murders of her father and step-mother.