Kobe Shoin Women’s University Repository
Title
The Lady in the Old South ―A Study of the South (3)
―
Author(s)
Yoko Matsudaira
Citation
Shoin Literary Review，No.9：89-103
Issue Date
1975
Resource Type
Bulletin Paper / 紀要論文
Resource Version
URL
Right
The Lady
in the old South
‐A Study of the South(3)‐
Yoko MATSUDAIRA InhisbookSouthernLifeinTictionJayS.Hubbelrightlypoints out1)thattheSouth's且nestproduct,asweoftenfailtoremember,was notitscottonortobaccooritstextileandcigarettefactoriesoreven itsliterature,butitsmenandwomen,thatistosay,gentlemenand ladies.Astothepartofthegentlelnan,welhavealreadyseensome・ thingofitinoneoftheformeressaysinthisseries,Sothenext stepshouldbetotrytoseehowtheotherha]fwasintheantebellum South,whichisanaimofthepresentessay.Beforeproceedingto it,however,letusgobacktothegentlemanfirst. Asweknow,theconceptofthegentlemanisoneofthemost importantideasbroughtnotonlytotheSouthbuttoAmericaasa whpleintheintellectualluggage.ofseventeenth-centurysettlers. LouisB.Wrightclearlystatesinhisfineessay"TheRenaissance TraditioninAmerica"2)thatitwastheconceptoftheRenaissance gentlemandevelopedinEnglandduringthereignsofElizaUethand JamesthatwasbroughttoAmerica.ItistruethatinEnglandthe Renaissancehadacharactervastlydifferentfromthemovementin Y.JayB.Hubbel,SouthernLifeinFiction(UniversityofGeorgiaPress, 1962),p,38、 2.DennyandGilman,eds.TheAmericanWriterandEuropean'Tradition (TheUniversityofMinnesotaPress,1950),p6. .,
ItalyandthatthepaganismoftheItalianRenaissancewasmodified bytheinfluenceofChristianity,particularlyCalvinismandbythe ideasofgrowingmiddleclass.ThisidealofChristiangentleman, togetherwithavigorousnuctuesderivedfromtheRenaissanceideology , haddramaticinfluenceonAmericansociallife. MostemigrantswhoarrivedinAmericainthefirstcenturyof settlementwereneithertechnicallygentlemennormenofletters,but formostparttheywereplainpeoplewhocametobettertheireconom-iscircumstances.But,asweallknow,ideasarenotconfinedto intellectuals.Theyusuallyaffectthelivesofmostindividualsina society.SoRenaissancedoctrinespercolatedintotheconsciousness ofeverytypeofcitizenandmostemigrantswhocametoAmericahad, moreorless,idealsofconductulti皿atelyderivedfromRenaissance treatisesontheproperbehaviourofagentleman. Whatevertheemigrantswerebybirthandbreeding,allofthem hopedtobecomelandownersandsubstantialmembersofsociety.All hopedtoimprovetheirsocialstatusthroughtheacquisitionofland, sincelandwasthesymbolofaristocracy,andtheNewWorldoffered undreamed-ofpossibilitiesforsocialadvancementbecauseland,the basisforgentility,couldbeobtainedwithrelativeease. Inthecolonialperiodanupperrankofgentlemenwasestablished innearlyeveryregion.Amongthemthelandedaristocracyofthe South,especiallyinVirginia,arebestknown,Themildclimateand fertilesoilintheSouthofferedagoodbasisforthedevelopmentof largeplantations.Intheseventeenthandearlyeighteenthcenturies theseAmericangentlemen,mainlyplanters,sharedastockofinheri・ tedidealsandcouldberecognizedasspirituallyakin.Amajor influencemakingforsimilaritiesintheidealsofthecolonialaristo-cracy,aswehaveseen,theinheritancefromtheRenaissanceofastrong -90一
classicaltradition. ThenwhatistheRenaissancetradition?Sixteenth-centuryEngland sawagreatemphasisonhumanistictraining.Thegoalofeducation wastodevelopallsidesofman'spersonality,tomakehimathinking citizenandacapableleader.Tofulfillthisideal,theRenaissanclooked backtothecivilizationsofGreeceandRomeandfoundtherequalities foremulation.Theylearnedthelanguagesthattheymightunlock storesofwisdomwhichotherwisewouldhaveremainedburied.From AristotletheRenaissancederivedfourprinciQlesthateducationmust seektoinduceinmenwhowouldbeleaders:fortitude,temperance, prudence,andjustice.T'romChristianethics,theRenaissancegot twootherprinciples:liberalityandcourtesy.Thesesixvirtuesmade upanidealofconductdesirableforeveryone,butparticularlyformen whowouldbecomeleaders. Wearenotgoingintothedetailsofthedefinitionofthesevirtues whichcertainlywasnotnarrow.Weonlysaythatthesinglepurpose ofRenaissanceeducationwastoinducethequalitiesthatexemplified thesixvirtuesjustmentionedabove.Thegoalwastotrainabody ofmenreadyandeagertoservethestateinthemostintelligent fashion.WhetherthecolonialaristocratwasanAnglicantobacco planterontheJamesRiveroraplanter-traderofCharleston,here-rainedtheoldfaithinclassicallearningasawaytowisdomandhe subscribedtothevirtuesofAristotle,modifiedbyChristianehtics,as acodeofconduct.WedoknowthatincolonialAmerica,especially intheSouthwhichhadoneofthefirstandoldestsettlements,there weremanyfineexamplesofmennotedfortheiradherencetothis idealofbehaviour. RichardLee'slife,forexample,illustratestwosignificantcharacter-isticsofthecolonialgentleman:hefeltanobligationtobelearnedand --91一
anequalobligationtoservethestate.Whenhedied ,histombstone recordedinLatinthat"whileheexercisedtheofficeofmagistrate hewasazealouspromoterofthepublicgood.Hewasveryskilfulin theGreekandLatinIanguagesandotherpartsofpolitelearning." Hewasaman,livinginthewildernessofWestmorelandCounty , Virginia,whowascarefultokeepuphislearning,tosetanexample inreligion,andtofulfillhiscivicduties. Anotherexample,WilliamByrdIIofWestoverexemplifiedinmany respectstheRenaissancetradition.Hewasabusymanofaffairsand hadinheritedafortuneinlandandpropertywhichheaugmented andimproved.titthesametime,heservedthestateofVirginiaas agentinEnglandandfulfilledmanycivicdunesathomeatgreat personalcostinmoney,time,andenergy,andthroughoutalonglife hesethimselfaregimenofstudy.$yrd'sdzary,whichhekeptduring mostofhisadultlife,describesthedailyregimenofamanwho forcedhimselftokeepuphislearningdespiteathousandroutine duties.AnentryforApril27,1710reads Iroseat50'clockandreadachapterinHebrewand someGreekinHomer.ThenIwenttoCouncilwhere mywarrantspassedandseveralothermattersofcon・ sequencewiredone.About120'clockIatesometongue andthenwetriedanunfortunatemanwhohadagainst hiswillkilledhisnephewandhewasfoundguiltyof man-slaughter.Iwasappointedcommander・in.chiefof twocounties...AboutSo'clockwedined.Iateroastbeef fordinner.ThenwesatinCounciltillgo'clock.Ihad goodhealth,goodthoughts,andgoodhumor,thankGod Almighty,andsaidmyprayers.1) 92
ド
RarelydoesanentryinthediaryfailtonotehisreadingofHebrew, Greek,Latin,orsomemodernlanguage.Yearinandyearout,he setforhimselfasystematicprogramofstudyofthelanguageswhich unlockedthebestofclassicliterature.Thediaryalsorevealshis effortsintheserviceofthestateandhiszealtomaintainthedecorum inreligionexpectedofagentleman.1) Itisnaturalthatthereshouldbearightladytosuchagentleman. AndactuallytherewasaSouthernladyoraSouthernbelle,which, accordingtoJayB.Hubbel,wasasortofinstitutionespeciallyin Virginia.ItwouldnotbeanoverstatementtosaythatSouthernwomen oftheupperclasswerethemostperfectexampleofwomankindyet seenonearth.ASouthernladywasdescribedasasubmissivewife whosedutywastolove,honour,obeyherhusbandandtobringup hischildrenandmanagehishousehold.Manynovels,memoirsand poemstellhowphysicallyweakshewasandhowmuchshedepended uponmaleprotection.Tosecurethisprotectionshewasendowed withthecapacityto"createamagicspell"averanymaninher vicinity.Shewastimidandmodest,beautifulandgraceful,"themost fascinatingbeingincreation....thedelightandcharmofeverycircle shemovesin."2)「
Fromearliestchildhoodgirlsweretrainedtotheidealsofperfection andsubmission.AmagazineforchildrenpublishedinCharleston recordingthedeathofaseven-year-old,spokeofheraspeculiarly amiableandengaging;herbehaviourmarkedwithadelicatesense 1.TheSecretDiaryofWilliamByrdofWestover,1709-1712(TheDietzPress 1941), 2.ThequotationsfromAnneFriorScott,TheSouthernLady(University ofChicago,1970),p.7. -93一ofpropriety,happilymingledwithanartlessinnocence."Shewas praisedforbeingkindandconsideratetoherservants.Fictionsin girls'magazineswerefilledwithheroinesofpious,obedientlittlegirls. Boardingschoolsforyoungladiesemphasizedcorrectfemalebehaviour ratherthanintellectualdevelopment,ThegirlswrotetheirEnglish compositionsonsuchsubjectsasmodesty,benevolence,andevilof readinganovel.Parents,advicebooks,whichwe'llmentionlater, andfriends,aswellasboardingschools,alltriedtoconvincehershe wascreatedtvbeawifeandmotherbyGodandthatsheshould becomesoassoonaspossibleandbythetimetheyarrivedattheir teensmostgirlshadabsorbedandacceptedthatwayofthinkingas wellasliving. Partofawoman'scharmslayinherinnocence.Thelessawoman knewoflife,thebettershewassupposedtobeabletodealwith it,EllenGlasgowonceremarkedbitterly.Inhernovel,TheBattle Gro観d,Mrs.AmblertellsherdaughterBetty;"Womendonotneed asmuchsenseasmen,mydear.IftheLordhadwantedyoutobe clever,Hewouldhavemadeyouaman."SoaSoutherngirldidnot wishtoberegardedasintellectual.Insteadshewishedtobepure andvirtuous.BelongingtooneofRichmond'sfirstfamiliesherself, EllenGlasgowintroducesaninterestingepisodeofherowninher essaysACertainMeasure.Whenshetookoneofthedespisedand rejectedofsociety,anillegitimateoffspringofthepeasantinpoor whiteclass,fortheleadingcharacterofherfirstnovelTheDescendant, "inarecoilfromtheuniformSouthernheroesinfiction" ,oneofher elderlykinsmandeclared,"Butitisincrediblethatawell-brought-up Southerngirlshouldevenknowwhatabastardis!"andherfemale relativesadvisedher:"lfyoumustwritedowriteofladiesandgentle-・,
men.,,Y) Intheabsenceofreasoningcapacity,whichaSouthernladywas_, advisedtolackaswehavealreadyseen,sensibilityandintuitionwere highlydeveloped.Itwas,indeed,toheradvantagethat"playof instinctsandofthefeelingsisnotcrampedbythecontrollinginfluence oflogicandreason."Shewascapableofacuteperceptionsabouthuman relationshipsandcompassion.Itwashernaturetobeself-denying andshehadpietyandtendencytorestrainman'snaturalviceand immortality.Shewasthoughttobemostdeeplyinterestedinthe successofeveryschemewhichcurbsthepassionandenforcesatrue morality.Shewasanaturalteacherandawisecounsellortoher husbandandchildren. ThomasNelsonPagesummsuptheimageofaSouthernlady Herlifewasonelongactofdevotion,‐devotionto God,devotiontoherhusband,devotiontoherchildren, devotiontoherservants,tothepoor,tohumanity.Noth-inghappenedwithintherangeofherknowledgethather sympathydidnotreachandhercharityandwisdomdid notameliorate,Shewastheheadandfrontofthe church....Thetrainingofherchildrenwasherwork. Shewatchedoverthem,inspiredthem,ledthem,governed the皿;herwillimpelledthem;herwordtothem,asto herservants,waslaw.Shereapedthereward....their sympathyandtendernesswerehersalways,andthey worshippedher.2) 1.EllenGlasgow,ACertainmeasure(Harcourt,Brace,NewYork,1943),p. 203. 2.ThomasNelsonPage,SocialLifeinUldVirginia(CharlesScribner's Sons,NewYork,1897)pp.38-42, -95一
AnothernovelistAugustusBaldwinLongstreetalsodescibesaSou-thernmatroninoneofhisstories; ....piousbutnotaustere,cheerful,butnotlight;generous butnotprodigal;economical,butnotclose;hospitable butnotextravagant....Tohaveheardherconverseyou wouldhavesupposedshedidnothingbutread,toHave lookedthroughthedepartmentsofherhouseholdyou wouldhavesupposedsheneverread....Everythingunder hercarewentonwithperfectsystem.' Theideaoftheladywasassociatedwithmedievalchivalry.Books ofadviceonproperbehaviourforbothmanandwomanwerewidely readinAmericaaswellasinEngland,amongwhichwasCastiglione's TheCourtier,asixteenth-centurybookspeciallydirectedtowomen . Usuallywrittenbyme叫theyemphasizedthesoftness,purityand spiritualityofwomenwhiledenyingtheirsintellectualcapactityaswe havealreadyseen.Therewomenwereinstructedtopleasetheir husbands,attendtotheirphysicalneeds,coveruptheirindiscretions, andgivethemnocauseforworry.Allsuchdescriptionsandinjunc-tionswereincludedintheSoutherncreed. TherigiddefinitionoftheproperroleandbehaviourofSouthern womenisnotthattheconstellationofideaswhichconstitutedtheimage oftheSouthernladywaspeculiartotheAmericanSouth;menin VictorianEnglandconjuredupsimilarimageinpoemslikeCoventry Patmore's"TheAngelintheHouse",HarrietMarineauisspeaking ofallAmericanwomen,notjustthoseoftheSouth,whenshedescribes 1:AugustusBaldwinLongstreet,GeorgiaScenes,newed.(Harper&Bros ., 1897),pp.108-9. -96一
themaslyingdownatnight"fullofself-reproachforthewantof pietywhichtheydonotknowhowtoattainノ'1)Itmayberightly said,however,thatSouthernplantationnovelistsspeciallyidolizedand idealizedSouthernIadies,asWilliamR.Taylorhasnoted,助 Wemustnoteevangelicaltheologyhadgreatinfluenceonreinforcing theimageofthesubmissivewomen.Therearemanyevidencesin preachesandletterswrittenbySouthernpulpitsandministers.Oneof themsaidthatwomenneededthehopeandprospectsofreligionmore thantheothersextosoftenthepainsoflivingandhelpwomenbear withpatienceandsubmissiontheinevitabletrialsoflife,amongwhich hesuggestedmightbeahusbandofacidtemper. Southernwomenseemtohavesoughtdiligentlytoattaintheperfec-tionandthesubmissivenessdemandedofthembyGodandsociety. JohnDonaldWade,whoseresearchesintothelifeofAugustusBaldwin Longstreetreinforcedhisunderstandingofthesocialhistoryofmiddle Georgia,concludes詫)that``menfoundintelligenceinwomanaquality thatingeneraldistressedmorethanitpleased.Whentheydidnot openlycondemntheytreateditwithinsultingcondescension.The womenprovedthemselvesmarvelouslyadaptable."CarolineGilman,a womannovelist,suggestssomethingabuuttheongoingstruggletolive uptotheexpectationsofmen Torepressaharshanswer,toconfessafault,andto 1.HarrietMarineau,SocietyinAmerica(Doubleday,Anchor,NewYork, 1962),p.337. 2.WilliamR.Taylor,CavalierandYankee(Braziller,NewYork,1963},pp. 123-55.
3.JohnDonaldWade,Augu蜘 ∫:.伽in五 〇π93'∬θθ診(Macmillan,NewYork, 1924),p.64.
I
stop(rightorwrong)inthemidstofself-defence,in
gentlesubmission,sometimesrequiresastrugglelikelife
anddeath;butthesethreeeffortsaregoldenthreadswith
whichdomestichappinessiswoven;oncebeginthefabric
withthiswoof,andtrialsshallnotbreakorsorrow
tarnishit.
Menarenotoftenunreasonable;theirdifficultiesIie
innotunderstandingthemoralandphysicalstructureof
oursex....Howclearitis,then,thatwomanloseslay
petulanceandrecrimination!Herfirststudymustbe
self-control,almosttohypocrisy.Agoodwifemustsmile
amidathousandperplexities,andclearhervoicetotones
ofcheerfulnesswhenherframeisdroopingwithdisease
orelselanguishalone.'
TheresearchbyAnnScottintodiariesandletterswrittenbywomen
inthosedaysrevealswhatheroiceffortstheymade,withdesirefor
salvationandbeliefineternallife,toliveuptowhatwasexpectedto
themespeciallyinreligion,whichseemstobeanunattainableperfec-tiontous.2)ManywQmenassurnedthatiftheywereunhappyorI
discontentedinthespheretowhichGodhadappointedthemitmust
betheirfaultandthatbyrenewedeffortstheycoulddobetter.
Thereislittledoubtthatreligiousfaithservedanimportantfunction
atatimewhenmanychildrenandadultsdiedfornoapparentreason,
asisclearlyshowninthediaryofWilliamByrdwheremanydeaths
ofhisslavesandfamilymembersaredescribedquiteoften.
1 1.CarolineGilman,RecollectionsofaSouthernMatron(Harper&Bros,New York,1839),p.256. 2.AnnFriorScatt,op.cit.,pp.9-Z1. -98一WeoftenfindaSouthernmistresspicturedinfictionasdelicate, frail,andaboveall,overworked.Nomatterhowlargeorwealthythe establishmentofplantationwas,shewasexpectedtounderstandnot onlytheskillsofspinning,weaving,andsewingbutalsogardening, careofpoultry,andallaspectsoffoodpreparationfromsawingof seedtotheappaearanceofthefinalproductonthetable.Actually, fineladiesmadetheirownyeast,lard,andsoup,settheirownhens andcouldmakearoughdressforaslaveaswellasaballGown forthemselves.Itwascustomaryforthemistresstoriseatfiveorsix, andtobeinthekitchenwhenthecookarrived,tooverlookallthe arrangementsfortheday, Entertainmentofnumerousguestswasalsoherimportanttask,since visitingwastheessenceoflifeinthosedays.Intownsevenbusy menspentsoireepartofthedaycallingonfriends,andinthecountry visitsfromfamilyorfriendswereusuallyovernightandmightstretch onforweeksormonthsinthecaseofmaidenauntsorwidowed parents,WilliamByrd,forexample,hadatleastoneortwoguestsfor dinneralmosteverydayandmuchmoreonSundayafterchurch,whom hiswifehadtoentertainasahostessevenwhenshewasinpoor healthowingtomiscarriage. AVirginialadynotesthatapainter'swifezvasagoodhousekeeper whethershewantedtobeornot.Tobesowas"anecessitythrust uponherbycircumstances....Herlargefamily,theimmenseretinue ofslaveswhoallhadtobefed,clothed,nursed,nottomentionthe incessantandheavydemandsofhospitality,madehertherealburden bearerofthecommunity."1)ThomasNelsonPageadds:"Fromsupervi・ singthesittingofturkeystofightingapestilence,therewasnothing 1.SallyMaCatyPleasants,OldVirginiaWaysandDays{Menasha,Wis. 1916),p.34 ..
whichwasnotherwork."1) Supervisingslavesraisedproblems,indeed,ofcontrollingandguiding-behaviour.Themistresshadtodispensejustice,settlesmallpersonal feuds,andcajolethosewhodidnotwanttoworkintodoingso.She wasalsoachiefmedicalofficer,responsibleforthehealthoffamily andslavesandforthedeliveryofbabies.Onalargeplantation
口
someonewasnearlyalwayssick,andofcourseinthosedaysepidemics werenotinfrequent.Inadditiontothetrainingofthechildren,there wasalwaysthemiseryofendlesspregnanciesaswellasthedreadful fearofchildbirth.Thenumberofwomenwhodiedinitwashigh. Inspiteoftheglorifiedimageofmotherhoodasthekeystoneofthe wholedomesticestablishment,thedarkersideofmaternitywasshown inmanylettersanddiaries.ThewifeofWilliamByrdwasnoexception andsheseemstohavebeenalwayssufferingfrompoorhealthand badtemperaswellmainlybecauseofincessantpregnanciesand misccariageswhichweresooftendescribedinhisdiary. AnneScottremarks1)thatitispossibletospeculatethat,aswith somuchelseintheantebellumSouth,slaveryhadagooddealtodo withtheidealoftheSouthernlady.Becausetheyownedslavesand thusmaintainedatraditionallandowingaristocracy,Southernerstena-ciouslyheldontothepatriarchyfamilystructure.Apatriarchyhad beenthenorminseventeenth-centuryEngland.TransportedtoVirginia andadoptedasasocialpatternbytheplantersthere,itlivedoninto thenineteenthcenturyinthewholeSouth.Womenalongwithchildren andslaveswereexpectedtorecognizetheirproperplaceandtobe obedienttotheheadofthefamily.Anytendencyonthepartofany ofthemembersofthesystemtoassertthemselvesagainstthemaster 1.ThomasNelsonPage,op.cit.,p.38. 2.AnnFriorScott,op.cit.,pp.16-17. -100一mightthreatenthewhole,andthereforeslaveryitself.Accordingto AnnScott,itwasnoaccidentthatthemostarticulatespokesmanfor slaverywerealsoeloquentexponentsoftheroleofwomen.Asthe exampieshetakesGeorgeFitzhugh SolongassheisnErvous,fickle,capricious,delicate, di伍dentanddependent,manwillworshipandadoreher. Herweaknessisherstrength,andhertrueartisto cultivateandimprovethatweakness.Womannaturally shrinksfrompublicgaze,andfromthestruggleand competitionoflife....intruth,woman,likechildren,has butonerightandthatistherighttoprotection.The righttoprotectioninvolvestheobligationtoobey.Ahus-band,alordandmaster,whomshewouldlove,honour andobey,naturedesignedforeverywomen....Ifshebe obedientshestandslittledangerofmaltreatment.1) Obedient,faithful,submissivewomenstrengthenedtheimageof menasvigorous,intelligent,commandingleaders.Suchwomenalso contributedconsiderablytomanlycreaturecomforts.EllenGlasgow putsitthiswayinoneofhernovel: Thecaresshemetwithsuchserenityhadbeentoo heavyforherstrength;theyhaddriventhebloomfrom hercheeksandthelustrefromhereyes;and,thoughshe hadnotfalteredathertaskshehaddroopeddailyand grownolderthanheryears.Themastermightlivewith 1.GeorgeFitzhugh,Sociology ,fortheSouth(Morris,Richmond,1857),pp. 214-215. -101一
lavishdisregardofthemorrow,notthemaster'swife .For himweretheopenhouse,theshiningtable,thewell-stockedwinecellarandthemorningridesoverthedewey fields;forherthecareofherhomeandchildren ,a-ndof thesoulsandbodiesoftheblackpeoplethathadbeen giuenintoherhands.' UndertheimageoftheLadyin ,theantedellumSouth.whowas descirbedwithsomany価eadjeetjvessuchasdelioate,pure,innocent, virtuous,obedient,faithfulaswellascharmingandbeautiful;wemay sensetheastonishinglyharshreality,ofa:lifewhichdemandedtremen. dousstrengthandresponsibilityonthepartofwomen.TheSouthern ladybecame,asShewastoldshemust,awifeandmotherassoonas theopportunityoffered.Thereaftershewaslikelytoworkhardfor therestofherlife,havingababyeveryyearors ,o,developinginthe processofherexperiencesasteely.self-control,andtheknowledge thattheworkshedidwasessentialgavemeaningtoherlife. 1.EllenGlasgow,TileBattleGround(Doubeday&Page,NewYork1902),p 48. -102一
Bibliography Byrd,Wi】liam,Tゐ ε36`rθ 直D勿yqプWi"iamByrdげWestover,1709-1712(The
