Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Hello, all! I am new to this community, and my real reason for joining is this:
I am soon to be in a theatrical production of Lizzie Borden. I will be playing the role of Emma- and I would love some help in defining her personality and character traits.
So far, I have gathered that she is quiet, a bit shy, well-mannered, and is obedient. Is there anything else (historically accurate or personally believed) that I could use to create my character?
On a side note, the play is inaccurate on several points, but I suppose that is artistic license
Thank you in advance,
Jacque

To me Emma has always come across as a very down to Earth , very Victorian lady. She appears to have been strong willed when she needed to be and not easily persuaded. Except perhaps by Lizzie. She seemed to be quite content to live her life quietly and happy to just have a clean safe place to live where hardly any demands are placed upon her physically, emotionally or mentally.

Hi!
You could try:
http://lizzieandrewborden.com/Diversion ... ens.htm#eb

At the website. It's for March 2nd tho and Emma was March 1st. I thought she had more traits of March 2nd and so that is what we used.

I don't fully view Lizzie as a Victorian lady...
She belonged to the Victorian era, that's for sure
and there should be a more clear definition to what one mean when use this word (Victorian).

For example: Virginia Woolf was a "product" of the Victorian time. She could point it out - and hated it.

Lizzie also grew up with values very much related to Victorian and Christian concepts, but what did she think of it herself?

I feel Lizzie is much more "modern" than her time.
She was unconventional and did things in her own way.

I believe the question on this post was Emma’s personality NOT Lizzie’s.
To me, and it’s just my opinion the term Victorian Lady is a lady of refinement, restraint, self control, and propriety. By the way……Happy belated 156th Birthday Emma!

What a *timely* topic!

Ohh, I missed that, steveS!

Hiya Nishmat. Thats ok...its sometimes easy to miss things on here

Thanks Steve!
~ ~ ~ ~
I have written a (for me) huge article on Emma in The Hatchet, Feb/March 2006, Vol. 3, Issue 1, page 7-31, entitled "Looking For Emma."

see:
http://www.hatchetonline.com/HatchetOnline/index.htm

For orderng info.
<<Shameless Plug>>

Thanks, everyone! The astrology thing was very helpful, Kat, and I see what you mean about her being a 'Victorian lady', steveS. Thank you guys for your help!

Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! That’s me growling I have read the free online edition of The Hatchet and I found it to be one of the most interesting and thought provoking publications I have ever read. Kat,…..you have me literally dying to read your article on Emma now. I have been reading throughout this forum and am amazed on yours and others knowledge and ability to provide sources and for even discussing the legitimacy of these sources I guess I am finally going to have to scrape up the subscription money. It is extremely well priced but still requires saving for (by me anyways) but I am sure will be worth every penny spent. You are also very welcome blkstallion88. I am not really sure if I helped you enough in defining how you will represent Emma in your theatrical production. Maybe if you can either get The Hatchet or somehow speak to Kat who wrote the article or someone who has read it I am sure that will be a defining attribute to playing Emma.

blkstallion88 @ Thu Mar 01, 2007 6:18 pm wrote:Hello, all! I am new to this community, and my real reason for joining is this:
I am soon to be in a theatrical production of Lizzie Borden. I will be playing the role of Emma- and I would love some help in defining her personality and character traits.
So far, I have gathered that she is quiet, a bit shy, well-mannered, and is obedient. Is there anything else (historically accurate or personally believed) that I could use to create my character?
On a side note, the play is inaccurate on several points, but I suppose that is artistic license
Thank you in advance,
Jacque

From the book, "A Private Disgrace, Lizzie Borden by Day light",

"Emma was a narrow person with few interest; she was unacquistive and unambitious, but what she had, she hoarded. Unlike Lizzie, who was lazy as sin, she always helped around the house. Her honesty, like her sister's was proverbi, and after the murders a loyal friend of Lizzies quaintly told a reporter that she would be far less surprised to learn that Lizzie had killed someone than that she had lied about it afterwards."

I think that Emma, too, was a bit quieter than Lizzie. I think she liked to blend in. Not to be seen.

blkstallion88

Welcome to the forum!
I hope you do fine in your role as Emma Borden.
Unfortunately I know too little about Emma's personality, but I know she supported Lizzies innocence until her dying days.
The sisters had very little - or maybe no contact at all after Emma chose to leave Lizzies and the maplecroft house.
Emma's often described as a very shy personality, perhaps compared to her younger sister Lizzie.

welcom blkstallion88!

What also might help you is too look in the archives on this site. Also check some books out on the case. I like the Lizzie Borden source book. It has all the newspaper articles that were printed in the day. I have the book, The trial of lizzie borden the pearson edition, and thats been a big help.

blkstallion88 @ Thu Mar 01, 2007 3:18 pm wrote:Hello, all! I am new to this community, and my real reason for joining is this:
I am soon to be in a theatrical production of Lizzie Borden. I will be playing the role of Emma- and I would love some help in defining her personality and character traits.
So far, I have gathered that she is quiet, a bit shy, well-mannered, and is obedient. Is there anything else (historically accurate or personally believed) that I could use to create my character?
On a side note, the play is inaccurate on several points, but I suppose that is artistic license
Thank you in advance,
Jacque

Well, Jacque, I think Katherine Helmond's portrayal in "Lizzie Borden" was probably just like Emma was in life. She seemed to nail it for me. You may want to rent that movie (1975) and watch "Emma." I think that would give you the best idea as to what the real Emma was like.

I picture Emma as being quite, polite, reserved, respectful and goes out of her way to avoid trouble. A home-body who tries to squeek through like without making waves or being noticed. Emma is the "summer breeze" while Lizzie was the "winter storm."

I wish you well with the play.

-1bigsteve (o:

That's a good point SteveS about the free issue download!

There is the new change of issue- so actually 2 have been offered as free. This one, Lizzie Borden in Black & White does have the transcriptions by me of 2 news articles on the Borden sisters of 1913! That would be a good resource for our new actor friend.

It's at this link, the Lizzie on the left:
http://www.hatchetonline.com/HatchetOnline/index.htm

Wow- thanks! I think I'll have to see if my local library has any books on her, and the movie sounds like a grand idea. I think I'm in love with The Hatchet- it only took one issue and I'm hooked! I do find the whole Lizzie Borden case very interesting, and thanks again for your help and warm welcome!

1bigsteve @ Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:34 pm wrote:...
Well, Jacque, I think Katherine Helmond's portrayal in "Lizzie Borden" was probably just like Emma was in life. She seemed to nail it for me. You may want to rent that movie (1975) and watch "Emma." I think that would give you the best idea as to what the real Emma was like.

I picture Emma as being quite, polite, reserved, respectful and goes out of her way to avoid trouble. A home-body who tries to squeek through like without making waves or being noticed. Emma is the "summer breeze" while Lizzie was the "winter storm."

I wish you well with the play.

-1bigsteve (o:

Who played the part of Uncle John in that 1975 TV film?
Did it play a part in another murder (by example)?

IF Uncle John was skipped, what other mistakes were made?