Susan Willis Fletcher, was arrested in the summer of 1880, in which she states, whilst visiting her mother in the United States of America. She was in fact arrested for the theft of jewels and clothing that held a rather great value, committed by “undue influence”. Unfortunely for her, the same accusation was made against her in the United Kingdom, where she travelled back to face her “accusers”.
Her struggle is highlighted within this memoir, by how she express personal feelings and experiences she led within the English prison. She mentions how she had to face this on her own due to her husband suffering from lung and heart disease.
This generally was the whole idea of a prison memoir. It was a ͏w͏a͏y in which prisoners were able to “escape” by narrating their thoughts and feelings about what occurred on the inside. What better way to gain knowledge than someone who was there first hand? At least you could argue that the information is reliable.
Willis Fletcher narrators in her biography a suggestion that she is innocent. “All this time my own story of the matters…has not been told” which to me, somewhat initiates she has been held against her own will. “Condemned without a hearing, undefended at my trial” again highlights to me that she was unfairly tried at the Old Bailey Court.
Susan continues to discuss relevant issues of her life, more so significant ones, where she talks about her family, her marriage, the various places she lives. Again this shows a sense of escapism she longed for during her 12 months in prison. Additionally, this allowed her to portray a glimpse of the positive times of her life and what she will be able to pursue with once she is released.
Narratives of Crime and Punishment 