Accomplished but faulty research of Patricia Cohen.
...t when she says, “Whether or not she said these words, the point is that the pamphlet author believed her capable of saying them. Giving orders to men was consistent with their general character.” This is comparable to looking into the National Enquirer for a random author’s opinion in his or her attempt to solve the relatively recent O. J. Simpson murder mystery. Even though Cohen mentioned three pamphlets as sources at the beginning of chapter five, she, in fact, only utilized Authentic Biography of the Late Helen Jewett as a source in her vain attempt to prove her argument. Chapter five, therefore, has no place in this book and must be committed in its entirety. Besides, Helen Jewett has throughout this book impressed various people with her lady-like, courteous, and sophisticated character. One person Helen impressed with her likable character was a scathingly criticizing and cynical traveling busy-body by the name of Anne Royall who described Helen Jewett as ‘A lamb, a dove so mild.’ Another unreliable source and worthy of discarding is the mention of Vanderlyn’s painting by the name of The Death of Jane McCrea as evidence. According to Cohen’s reasoning this portrait served as a reminder to prostitutes that although they “could throw men out; they could laugh or intimidate them into impotence; they could overcharge or otherwise cheat them. The painting of Jane McCrea gave them something else to think about.” There was absolutely no justification to mention this source as evidence. As Cohen again mentions on the same page, “Helen Jewett and her housemates could easily ignore the fate of Jane McCrea, even though it was on the wall in front of them every day.” Although Cohen assertively mentions that this portrait hangs in front of the brothel workers every day, she does not know where this portrait is situated. And even if this portrait were hanging in a place that is visible by all prostitutes everyday, they could have ignored this picture without ever pondering on the fate of Jane McCrea and its moral story’s content. Hoping to substantiate her arguments with such shaky sources is much like catching at shadows in a desperate and vain attempt to palpitate a material fact that does not really exist. Patricia Cohen did very well, however, in exposing the injustice of American male-dominated culture with this insignificant piece of evidence when she mentions, “…the painting then is about sexual power, about men (in the plural) having total dominion over a woman, perhaps to kill her but more likely to have their way with her.” In American society where women were granted a right to vote as late as 1920 , Cohen also illuminates that extent in which sexism was prevalent in nineteenth century’s New York when she notes, “The men waged a campaign of terror and scorn, forcing the women to serve them, spilling the drinks, playing with the fire, and smashing furniture. The rioters were not ‘robbers’ come to a brothel to steal what richer men came to buy. They were contemptuous vandals, there to remind the women of the ultimate power men have over them by sheer force and intimidation.” Women, were also discouraged to walk to many establishments by themselves as this whole idea of women’s independence was not in keep with American way of thinking which postulates that a woman is inferior to men in physical and mental respects. On many occasions throughout this book, Cohen brings the issue of sexism apparent to her reader so as to lead her audience to believe that such sexual discrimination is unacceptable. Indeed, being a woman herself, it appears impossible for her to ignore this issue. Prejudice and discrimination based on class, or classism, is very prevalent in Patricia Cohen’s novel. One of her interesting arguments alludes to classism, and directly implicates a respected person under whose care Helen Jewett was residing for five years in Augusta, Main. Judge Nathan Weston is one under suspicion for Helen Jewett's seduction, as Cohen argues, because of his elitist social standing and perceived character that was regarded impeccable by societal norms. Helen Jewett, Cohen argues, ever since adolescent years has always been fond of reading novels. Since judge Nathan Weston was the owner of his personal library, it then follows that he was mainly the one respo...