MADAM BELLE SEX, MONEY, AND INFLUENCE IN A SOUTHERN BROTHEL

The story of Belle is most significant because it probably brings the chilly juleps and the southern gentility into the mind of a polished city that was surrounded by neat bluegrass hills that were cross-hatched by orderly white fences (Wall 1). During Belle breezing lifetime Lexington had changed from an unfriendly and hostile town where fighting and drinking was the main chief pastime to a horsey Disneyland for the aged rich tycoons. During this time of transition only the rough individual who survived rose to the top. High survival skills were required in order to acquire more money that was required in order to survive in that town.

Belle Breezing has been portrayed as an ideal protagonist for Mrs. Wall’s occasionally through the captivating tale of the horses and the whores. When the Civil war broke Belle was 10 months old and spent her early childhood witnessing the toggle of Lexington between Confederates and the Union controls (Wall 9). Her mother was reckless and was excessively fond of drinks while her stepfather was a cruel and a violent immigrant from German. Belle was rejected by her neighborhood kids who made her start having series of affairs when she was barely grown up (Wall 20).

Death has been used in several circumstances to signify the end of life. At a tender age, Belle romantic life was no less turbulent (Wall 20). It began with one of her lovers was found dead who was shot in the head. It was full of controversy as it was argued to be either self-inflicted or it was murder which was complicated by the sudden disappearance of Bella’s young husband. She also attempted suicide when she was at 19. After surviving the suicide she began working for an established madam was she later opened up her own brothel (Wall 49).

 

Themes

Time

The theme of time as been well put out. The setting of the story shows late autumn and early winter. The hillside was cold as it was pale. By the contrast of the weather, the life of Belle is associated with summer that contains flowers that were used to generate wealth. It was all succulent and colorful as everything everyone was talking was about the horses. It was increasingly attracting wealthier of gamblers, financiers, politicians, and lawyers (Wall 8). Many people took a keen on Lexington grassy hills for development. During this time the racing of the horse was more refined creating a safe place for wealthy men to drink and gamble.

As her rise was her fall was inevitable as the reformers and progressive vied for the city and Lexington was no exception as it was time for a change. At this point, reformers were saw the moral decay in the society as well as a widespread of corruption associated with Gilded Age who could break the laws without fear of punishment (Wall 120). Reformers won as they were voted in and the closed the red-light districts. Despite her stubbornness after the girls stopped paying rent and the clients stopped lining up she remained in her mansion amid fallen plaster and rotten woodwork that was once elegant (Wall 127).

Feminism

Belle and the young ladies in the brothel have been used to show women and femininity through the experience of love and sex (Wall 99). Belle a fairly lady enslaved the horsemen and other wealthy individuals for a series of time before her downfall. She is an archetypal figure who is emulated by her beauty and supernatural powers to command so many men to her brothel.

Symbols

Flowers

Flowers have been used to give a symbolic meaning and as an image to show how life is characterized by many forces that make life blossom, wither and die with time. For Belle life at first was not easy for it takes both the sun and the rain for a flower to grow. Flowers are often linked to death, whose image adds to a general sense of barrenness and desolation (Wall 102). She experienced the hostility in her parents, neighbors and the illicit love that was characterized by pain as well as success in her brothel. Lilies are similarly associated with love which fades at some point. The physical pallor of Belle with her husband shows a lovely affair which at a point the beauty of the lady falls out. The bracelets and the garlands are symbols of love and the imperative energy of the horsemen for the love of Belle. The fragrant zone was a belt made from flowers which create an image of love and more sexual connotation.

Bella was a thriving woman who had a successive attraction of wealthy benefactors especially the Singerley brothers who helped her acquire a manse that had eight rooms (Wall 67). She expanded it into twenty rooms that she decorated with drapes and parquet floors. He husband was in attendance during the opening of the house showing that her man was in support of her work (Wall 4). The house was full of young women who offered service to the wealthy and made a big pay. Her business was at the peak (Wall 99).

In conclusion Madam Bella was able to overcome difficult circumstances in life to become a successful woman. Despite the challenges she faced she was able to fight death at a tender age and established a successful brothel. The life of Madam Belle was characterized with life and death showing her rise and fall. However as fate would have it after her death the unfortunate horsemen lines up again in her no longer lavish home in the auction that brings it back to the beginning of her rise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work Cited

Wall, Maryjean. Madam Belle: Sex, Money, and Influence in a Southern Brothel. , 2014. Internet resource.