Extracts from this document...

Introduction

Why did the Whitechapel murders attract so much attention in 1888? The Whitechapel murders attracted so much attention in the 1888, due to a variety of reasons, including the nature of crimes, location of murders, the role of the press and nature of victims. No one had ever heard or seen such violent and gruesome attacks so people wanted to know more. Mainly the middle class had to take an interest because of the 'threat of disorder and a possible revolt by the poor.' For this reason they wanted to see the murderer (Jack the Ripper) get caught as soon as possible for there benefits not the prostitutes. The location of the murders was a factor in why Jack the Ripper recieved so much attention. Whitechapel was in the East end, and there was an estimated 1200 prostitutes. The press over exaggerated on the description of the area and used the location to make Whitechapel and murders sound horrific and increase the amount of attention on the murders. The press described how the 'Ripper' chose the London prostitues from Whitechapel, disembowelled and then left them to die. This imparticular frightened the reader enough to keep them interested. To do this they had to attract the readers this means describing and creating graphic detailed illustrations and descriptions. The Star August 31st 1888 wrote 'a woman with...her throat cut from ear to ear... ...read more.

Middle

Annie decides to leave home to work with a travelling circus in France in 1877. By 1888 she leaves her husband and ends up as a prostitute. She was found at 6.00am on the 8th September with her skirt lifted above her waist, stomach ripped open with many organs laying on the right side of her body, part of her stomach was above the left shoulder, throat severed and there was a large quantity of blood. Chapmen was 47 years old, brown hair and had a plump figure. Elizabeth Stride was born in Sweden in 1843 and by 1860 she started working as a servant in a workhouse/lodging house. She was registered as a prostitute in 1865 and was treated for veneral disease. She was a alcoholic and married, John Thomas Stride, who she later on separates from. In 1882 she moves in with Michael Kidney, who said she was frequently absent when she was drinking and tried to even padlock her in. At 1.00am on September 30th she was discovered covered in blood, throat cut and her legs drawn up. Stride was 45 years old with dark, brown hair. An hour later, Catherine Eddowes body was discovered. Eddowes was born in Wolverhampton but in 1842 moves to London with her father. Her mother died in 1860, so she decides to move back to Wolverhampton. ...read more.

Conclusion

Kelly was the youngest of the five by being twenty-five, the final murder done by Jack the Ripper and also the most terribly mutilated. She was tall, pretty and neatly dressed. This concludes the similarities between these five victims, they were all heavy drinkers which suggests they were serverly depressed with their lives. They were all prostitutes which suggests Ripper knew that they were the easiest people to catch and kill under his own will. All the murders took place within one square mile which implies Jack was a local in the area. The murders took place within three months which suggests why it attracted so much attention as it was so regular prosititutes were to afraid to come out aswell as the locals. All the murders took place between 11pm and 6am therefore suggests Jack must of thoroughly thought this through as he didn't want to get caught, as between those times it was when the prostitutes came out and also it was during the industrial revolution which meant people mainly worked at night. All the prostitutes were seen with men before they were murdered, with all the witnesses all giving a similar description. The prostitutes all had similar ages excluding Mary Kelly. Also, all prostiutes had very similar backgrounds therefore Jack must of had some sort of plan on his victims on who would be the easiest targets to murder and take advantage of. aimee brophy ...read more.

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE History Projects section.