In The Five, Hallie Rubenhold reclaims the humanity of Jack the Ripper’s victims, and from a care perspective, the story of Kate Eddowes highlights the deep impact of poverty, loss, and inadequate social support. Orphaned as a child, Kate was placed in kinship care with her aunt and uncle—an informal yet vital safety net in the absence of state support—demonstrating how extended family often took on caregiving roles in times of crisis. As an adult, Kate faced significant hardship, and due to poverty and unstable living conditions, some of her children were placed in the workhouse, a stark example of how the 19th-century welfare system often punished rather than supported struggling families.