The North and the South; or, Slavery and Its Contrasts
Encyclopedia
The North and the South; or, Slavery and Its Contrasts is an 1852
plantation fiction
novel by Caroline Rush, and among the first examples of the genre, alongside others such as Aunt Phillis's Cabin
by Mary Henderson Eastman
and Life at the South; or, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" As It Is
by W.L.G. Smith, both of which were also released in 1852.
in response to Uncle Tom's Cabin
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
, which was criticised in the South as inaccurately depicting the workings of slavery and the attitudes of plantation owners towards their slaves.
Rush's novel departs from this aspect, instead claiming that the sympathies expressed for slaves in the South is better directed at the "white slaves of poverty" (i.e. the working classes
) of the North. A similar angle had been taken (albeit with less fervour) in the earlier anti-Tom novel The Cabin and Parlor; or, Slaves and Masters
by Charles Jacobs Peterson.
This change in attitude would put The North and the South on a similar line to the works of Charles Dickens
in England
, particularly his 1838
work Nicholas Nickleby (which featured a similar storyline), and the 1844
novel Martin Chuzzlewit
, which also featured criticisms of class society in the United States
.
, which in turn leads to Frank's untimely death from excessive drinking
.
Gazella continues life as a seamstress
in order to provide for her children, two of which have since left home to live on a plantation in Mississippi
and are now regaining their wealth. As a working-class woman, Gazella suffers all forms of abuse from those who had once been her equals. The North wanted the slaves to be free and equal. The South wanted slavery for the need in money for crops.
1852 in literature
The year 1852 in literature involved some significant new books.-New books:*Manuel Antônio de Almeida - Memoirs of a Police Sergeant*Wilkie Collins - Basil: A Story of Modern Life...
plantation fiction
Anti-Tom literature
Anti-Tom literature refers to the 19th century pro-slavery novels and other literary works written in response to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. Also called Plantation literature, these writings were generally written by authors from the Southern United States...
novel by Caroline Rush, and among the first examples of the genre, alongside others such as Aunt Phillis's Cabin
Aunt Phillis's Cabin
Aunt Phillis's Cabin; or, Southern Life As It Is by Mary Henderson Eastman is a plantation fiction novel, and is perhaps the most read anti-Tom novel in American literature. It was published by Lippincott, Grambo & Co of Philadelphia in 1852 as a response to Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, published...
by Mary Henderson Eastman
Seth and Mary Eastman
Seth Eastman and his second wife Mary Henderson Eastman were instrumental in recording Native American life. Eastman was an artist and West Point graduate who served in the US Army, first as a mapmaker and illustrator. He had two tours at Fort Snelling, Minnesota Territory; during the second,...
and Life at the South; or, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" As It Is
Life at the South; or, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" As It Is
Life at the South; or, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" As It Is is an 1852 plantation fiction novel written by W.L.G...
by W.L.G. Smith, both of which were also released in 1852.
Overview
The North and the South was one of several examples of the pro-slavery plantation literature genre that emerged from the Southern United StatesSouthern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
in response to Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman....
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and United Kingdom...
, which was criticised in the South as inaccurately depicting the workings of slavery and the attitudes of plantation owners towards their slaves.
Rush's novel departs from this aspect, instead claiming that the sympathies expressed for slaves in the South is better directed at the "white slaves of poverty" (i.e. the working classes
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
) of the North. A similar angle had been taken (albeit with less fervour) in the earlier anti-Tom novel The Cabin and Parlor; or, Slaves and Masters
The Cabin and Parlor; or, Slaves and Masters
The Cabin and Parlor; or, Slaves and Masters is an 1852 novel written by Charles Jacobs Peterson under the pseudonym of J. Thornton Randolph.- Overview :...
by Charles Jacobs Peterson.
This change in attitude would put The North and the South on a similar line to the works of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, particularly his 1838
1838 in literature
The year 1838 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:* George Palmer Putnam and John Wiley form the book publishing and retail firm of Wiley & Putnam in New York City. It is the forerunner of G. P...
work Nicholas Nickleby (which featured a similar storyline), and the 1844
1844 in literature
The year 1844 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:* The first volumes of the Patrologia Latina, a 217 volume collection of works in Latin, are published in Paris by Jacques Paul Migne...
novel Martin Chuzzlewit
Martin Chuzzlewit
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit is a novel by Charles Dickens, considered the last of his picaresque novels. It was originally serialized between 1843-1844. Dickens himself proclaimed Martin Chuzzlewit to be his best work, but it was one of his least popular novels...
, which also featured criticisms of class society in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Plot
The story centres on the wealthy and prosperous Harley family, consisting of: Frank (the father), Gazella (the mother), and their nine children. After a series of bad investments results in bankruptcy, the Harleys are forced into destitutionBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
, which in turn leads to Frank's untimely death from excessive drinking
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. Alcohol abuse eventually progresses to alcoholism, a condition in which an individual becomes dependent on alcoholic beverages in order to avoid...
.
Gazella continues life as a seamstress
Sewing
Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era...
in order to provide for her children, two of which have since left home to live on a plantation in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and are now regaining their wealth. As a working-class woman, Gazella suffers all forms of abuse from those who had once been her equals. The North wanted the slaves to be free and equal. The South wanted slavery for the need in money for crops.