Sometimes people are immortalized in song in a wonderful, beautiful way. Bette Davis of course lives on in the Kim Carnes song, “Bette Davis Eyes,” and both Marilyn Monroe and Diana Princess Wales received tributes by Elton John and Bernie Taupin via “Candle in the Wind.” Then there’s Lizzie Borden. She didn’t get so much of a song as much as she did a rhyme, “Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.” It’s not a very fun way to be remembered but it has kept Borden and her alleged double murder in the public zeitgeist for over 100 years. Now she’ll be the subject of an upcoming season of Ryan Murphy‘s Netflix anthology series “Monster.”
Created by Murphy, the series features a different subjects each season. The first focused on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer with Evan Peters in the main role. The series took on some criticism for the depiction of Dahmer and the show allegedly glorifying the actions and legacies of serial killers. It was incredibly popular, and went on to inspire a second season, focusing on Lyle and Erik Menendez. The series put the brothers in the public spotlight, and is partially to credit for bringing renewed attention to their incarceration.
While season 3 about Ed Gein has yet to air, reports indicate season 4 will be about the aforementioned Lizzie Borden. It should be noted- contrary to the rhyme about Borden, and in contrast to the other subjects of the show, Borden was not found guilty of the crimes she was accused of.
If she is indeed going to be the subject of the fourth season of “Monster,” the label seems a bit off; unless we’re going by the perception of her being one.
The murders in question happened in Massachusetts on August 4th, 1892, with both Andrew Borden and Abby Borden being killed by multiple strikes with an axe; fewer than 40 but also more than 10. The subsequent trial was huge news and the fact that Borden has gone down in history is testament to how much news coverage the crime received. And even though she was ultimately found not guilty, the murders remain attached to her, long after Lizzie’s death in 1927.
Netflix has yet to confirm what season 4 of “Monster,” if there is a 4th season of the show, would be about. We’ll let you know what we hear about this and other news.
