Aristocratic Ethos in Ellen Glasgow s and Walker Percy s Fiction

CONTENTS Acknowledgements Introduction CHAPTER 1 Southern Gentlemen: The Evolution from Noble Origins to a Contemporary Rhinestone? The Southern Gentleman’s Superiority over Northerners The Southern Gentleman as Paragon of Virtue The Southern Gentleman’s Aristocratic Origins The Southern Gentleman’s Aristocratic Entit lements: Education, Leisure and Pleasure The Southern Gentleman: a Racist and a Fornicator? Conclusions CHAPTER 2 Southern White Womanhood: The Evolution From White-Gloved Ladies to Rebel Queens The Southern Lady’s Inferiority The Southern Lady’s Innocence The Southern Lady’s Influence Conclusions CHAPTER 3 Love, Sex, Marriage, and Homosocial Friendship from the Old to the American South Love: Destiny, Doom, and Salvation Sex: the Return of the Irrepressible Marriage: Institution, Illusion, Burden, and Salvation versus Homosocial Friendships Conclusions Conclusions Notes Works Cited Index of Names Subject Index