05/21/2026
Women accused of murder -- that is the topic for this week!
In modern literature, authors are ramping up their portrayal of women as killers, a role previously reserved for their male counterparts. I noticed a pattern while doing research for this episode. The murderesses of the late 18th and early 19th centuries seem to commit their crimes impulsively driven by desperation, jealousy, or protection. Take the main characters in Burial Rites and The Confessions of Frannie Langton into consideration. Love and marriage turn deadly when jealousy overrides logical thinking. In Alias Grace, is the young maid a criminal or criminally insane? In taking inspiration from these murderesses of old, the abovementioned titles explore how women; often seen as nurturing, loving, and kind can turn into violent criminals.
