The Life of Ellen Jewett

Student’s Name

University Affiliation

Submission Date

The Life of Ellen Jewett

Ellen Jewett was exposed to harsh reality early age of 13 after her mother died and was left in the custody of her drunk father. She chooses to seek employment as a house grill in her home town, after which she moved into prostitution upon attaining the age of 18. Throughout the book ” The life of Ellen Jewett,” the author displays a sympathy tone with Ellen. The author further displays good and bad men and women who were characteristically displayed from the highly publicized murder trial.

The story reflects acts of good men who include the watchmen who responded swiftly to the call that Ellen’s Room was on fire, and they helped to put the fire out. Bennet, a Scotsman, is also reflected by the author as a good man who helped highlight the story about Ellen’s death, allowing it to gather the public interest (Bowery 1936). Rosina Townsend, who discovered Ellen’s half-burnt body, is also taunted as a good woman by the author. This was displayed when she called the guards while crying when she discovered that Ellen’s body was lifeless. The author depicts Rosina as a loving and caring woman searching for Ellen to know about her well-being.

The author depicts other prostitute women who lived in the same apartment as Ellen as good women who went further to accept being named witnesses against the murder case. On the other hand, as much as Rosina was depicted as a good woman, she is also portrayed as a bad, selfish woman who rode on the publicity of her friend’s death, appearing for interviews with the various editor.

Richard Robinson is one of the characters depicted as a bad man in the story. Although he was effectively identified as the person responsible for Ellen’s death, she had no remorse. He also did not take a plea, highly suggesting that he acknowledged his act of killing. His lousy character is further reflected by how he confidently smokes upon being granted a jail term, which was later lifted. The judge and jury are also depicted as bad men.

The judge has a disregard for women, which is depicted during the trial when he moved to advise the jury against listening to the other prostitutes’ testimony. His toxic masculinity was effectively displayed when he chose to through the murder case out instead of seeking fresh evidence that would finally aid in finding justice for Ellen.

The author further depicts Ellen as being a victim rather than being wrong. Ellen’s move to being a prostitute displays her lousy character. This is because she quit her employment and sought to start immorality, which she used to finance her lively hood. Ellen’s brutal murder blurred her bad character as it hit the mainstream media with various protests aimed at seeking justice for her.

In conclusion, the injustice of sexual double standards pitting men against women is a concern that should be effectively addressed. On the other hand, some women such as Ellen have moved to foster this kind of double standards by displaying themselves as mare sex items and thus maintaining the “Virtual” of many women as a sign of reputation for manliness

Bibliography

Bowery. 1936. The Life of Ellen Jewett; Illustrative of Her Adventures: With Very Important Incidents, from Her Seduction to the Period of Her Murder: Together with Various Extracts from Her Journal, Correspondence, and Poetical Effusions. New York: s.n.