Josie Mansfield was a struggling actress in New York who aspired to be on the more respectable side of the art when she met Jim Fisk. The wealthy financier was completely smitten by her and within the first hour of their encounter, he became her provider. Fisk met Edward Stokes through his work and arranged for Stokes and Mansfield to meet. Josie was enamored by Stokes and decided to leave Fisk, but wanted to retain access to his money. This led to a path of blackmail and lawsuits. When Stokes learned that he had an indictment on him, he shot and killed Jim Fisk. Throughout the murder trials, Josie secluded herself until she took the stand for her testimony. When the court was deciding Stokes fate, Josie had vanished, but lived many years after …show more content…
Josie was genuinely happy with Fisk, participating in his business discussions as well as enjoying all her treasures she acquired. However, she yearned for more in her young life. Her true happiness was gained when she met Stokes. Regardless of the decade, love and ambition are timeless. None of the characters were bound to one person. They fell in love multiple times which proves that love is infinite. Although she encountered many struggles, Josie moved forward from every downfall in her life from the murder to the trials to her divorce, eventually outlasting all the other characters. Ambition is timeless in that it can lead anyone through obstacles and ultimate satisfaction.
The Gilded Age was a significant period for women in America in that they were expanding their lives socially and economically. Many women were unhappy with the domestic lifestyle forced upon them by society, but the growth of urbanization presented new opportunities for them. Women were joining the work force and receiving an education which meant less women were getting married and having children. Josie Mansfield was one of the women who endeavored the transition from the “true woman” to the “new