The Plantation Mistress

             The Plantation Mistress is written by Catherine Clinton. Her purpose of writing is to inform readers the chaotic lives of the white female gender in the slave society before the Civil War. Clinton goes into specific detail describing the situations that southern women endured every day. She collected memoirs and diaries of actual planter wives and daughters. These confessions magnify the reality of trials and tribulations during a dark time in American History.
             Furthermore, there are many specifics that are explicated in The Plantation Mistress. One aspect discussed in detail is the issue of cousin marriage. From an early age, and even when separated geographically, cousins developed close and warm relationships that continued throughout a lifetime. Children were isolated on the plantations and rarely met people of their own age outside their kinship network as they were growing up. Also, the older ladies could only associate themselves with men who were related to them. This confinement of only associating with your blood ties caused an easy escape for intimacy. Cousin marriage also kept the money within the family. The wealth and property remained inside the family alliance.
             Moving on, another specific topic covered in The Plantation Mistress is the birth of children. It is the most celebrated of family events; however, female babies were discriminated against greatly. It was a disappointment to give birth to a daughter because southerners without sons were faced with the extinction of their family name and inheritance. Only sons would continue family traditions and carry on the name.
             In addition, the view of American History that is presented in The Plantation Mistress is a deep sincerity toward the white southern female during the slave society. They had great responsibilities from keeping the house in order to watching over the slaves in the fields. The book shows the importance of the pla...

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The Plantation Mistress. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 20:39, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/54073.html