Context Flashcards
What was Williams childhood like
born in Mississippi
father was an alcoholic and vacant in his life
mother was a southern belle
ostracises and bullied at school
What was Williams relationship with his sister like?
very close
she was institutionalised for schizophrenia and hyper sexual fantasies
Pancho Rodriquez
one of Williams boyfriends - boxer
ran around his appartment smashing lightbulbs
Williams sexuality
openly homosexual and moved to New Orleans where this was tolerated
Civil War
1861-1865 - dispute over slavery which southern plantations relied on
northern states won and slavery was abolished
WW2
Stanley was a soldier
during ww2 women joined the workforce but were immediately pushed back into domestic roles after
focus on veterans and championing masculinity
What was the Old South like?
Antebellum era
favoured tradition and old fashioned ideals
afraid the old south was dying and was becoming like the rest of Americca
What was the New South like?
championed diversity and welcomed immigration
adopted liberal morals
mostly in New Orleans
shift to industrial economy to replace old acadian community
family heritage had little weight
Economy in the South
Plantations still relied on cheap black labour and felt this was threatened by progressive attitudes
American dream - working class desire to achieve through hard work
Southern Belle
a stick character recreating a young southern woman of upper class
expected to marry and become ladies of society
characterised by southern hospitality, a cultivation of beauty and chaste demeanour
Race in the New South
ethnic character slang and dialect along with jazz music creates diversity
new immigrants from Poland and Ireland considered not quite white
Napoleonic code
gave men all rights over their wives possessions - brought over during the French rule of Louisiana
Elysian Fields
the resting place of hero’s in Greek mythology
