English Literature

Southern culture has been and still remains more socially conservative compared than the rest of the country. Due to the central role of natural setting and agriculture, society remained stratified according to land ownership. Communities inevitably have a stronger attachment to their neighbors and their churches as the primary community institution. Southerners lifestyles are often viewed as slower paced since in history they were being resistant to change especially on social and political issues. They are also described as polite and particularly welcoming to visitorsthis characteristic has been labeled Southern hospitality. American literature especially classics often explores and uses Southern culture as their main setting due to its natural landscape and rich history. Lee Smith, an American fiction author, typically incorporates Southeastern United States setting in her works of literature. Her latest novel, On Agate Hill, contains characters based upon historical people from the Burwell School, an early female boarding school located in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The novel basically is about the life of Molly Petree, a girl orphaned by the Civil War, living on her uncles plantation called Agate Hill located in North Carolina until her benefactor sent her to an all-womens college in Virginia. The novel offers a realistic picture about plantation life right after the Civil War, the educational experiences of Southern women and hardships and joys of living in the North Carolina Mountains.

The novel is multilayered and complex that tells the story of Molly Petree through diaries, letters, court documents, poems, ballads and narratives from different people, including Molly herself. Mollys diary begins on her 13th birthday in 1872 sharing her story during her stay at a ruined North Carolina plantation called Agate Hill, owned by her dying uncle.  Since the crumbling state is filled with the spirits of relatives, former slaves and Molly siblings and parents, she writes, I am like a ghost girl wafting through this ghost house seen by none. As the conditions of Civil War deteriorates, Mollys daily life requires her to witness gruesome montages of death, from a slave hanging from a tree to the dug-up bones of soldiers and from the destroyed houses with few remaining treasures to the horrible stories of abuses. Apparently the novel, through the diaries of Molly, vividly describes the aftermath of Civil Warits horrible consequences to the Southerners. Mollys initial entries in her diary illustrate the impact of the war on individuals and families in the South. Mollys belief in ghosts and spirits illustrates Southern strong attachment with old myths and stories that their ancestors shared to them. Indeed, death is a constant presence for Molly her father and brothers lost in the war, her mother, her relatives and the apparitions more real to her than the living.

Meanwhile, Maria Snow, Gateway Academy Headmistress, through her letters illustrates how Southern women during that time were being treated in the society. Maria Snow in the story once wrote, We lose our names as we lose our youth, our beauty and our lives (Smith 163). This statement says a lot about Mariahs life and women in general. When women get married, they give up their last name, almost symbolizing that their identity is almost gone. Once women have babies, they start to lose their youth because lifes stresses are taking place. Apparently marriage and childbearing for women were the start for them to fulfill their social constructed gender roles, which during those times were restricted to motherhood and domesticity. Mariah even writes

But now  NOW, how dare he call me the Headmistress yet refuse to allow me the right of participation in even such a basic decision as this one Truly I am his Servant, NOT his Partner, whether he owns it or not. Basically Dr. Snow does nothing but read, while I work my fingers to the bone, yet have Nothing to say on any topic, him determining all according to his whim though he understands nothing, I repeat NOTHING about the administration of this Academy or anything else (Smith 147).

This statement depicts the conservative view of Southern people towards women. Women were viewed only useful at home Mariah even expressed remorse and guilt feeling at having a girl child saying that I confess my sorrow at having a girl, for I know how she will struggle in this world (Smith 163). Apparently the novel illustrates womens position and limited opportunities, perceived to be lower compared to men.

In the story however, Mollys diary provides a place where she can fight, where she can vent her anger at treachery as well as her pleasure in nature and romance. Mollys diary is her means to develop voice, identity and selfhood. Molly writes as her way to survive. Some young women in the novel, due to their isolation and the belittlement they experience from others because of their helplessness as children or just as women, writes in order to create their own self. The will to claim the right to articulate feelings and a sense of self through voice are express through their writings.

    The novel also illustrates traditional courtship and country womens idea of a fairy tale. As a normal young girl who grew up in natural setting with a lot of daydreaming, Molly is also romantic with her impressive awareness in classic romantic novels. She describes tableau vivant where flares burned in sconces. There lay Romeo dead on his back, the vial of poison still in his hand. Fair Juliet, also dead, lay in a pool of crimson created by the skirt of her silk dress (Smith 19). Her romantic inclination hinges on a scene in which Molly is captivated by the appearance of a banjo playing mountain man with a yellow-red hair that fell forward into his eyes and a big nose and wide crooked reckless grin. The rapturous love story is presented in a traditional way that even features a woeful ballad, Molly and the Travelling Man.

    In terms of education setting, south is associated with farming communities. The setting is wide and nature oriented. The school buildings were often established during early times. Its wide grounds and old style buildings provide easy access to a wealth of cultural, historic and recreational activities.  Due to wide spaces teachers are more motivated to let the students enhance their physical talents and skills. Since schools are often set on a rural campus in an area of open spaces, woods, winding Their simple setting however with their simple lifestyle make them focus more on their academic achievement. The diaries and narratives of some Southern students and teachers in the novel contains a lot of description towards the ruins of Civil war yet provides vivid portrayal of the Southern rich natural environment. 

    Apparently the novel illustrates not only the conservative lifestyle of the South together with their natural setting but the novel also depicts the plight of women in the South by which the society perceive them as inferior. The writer develops the story through the observations of her characters. Apparently the novel On Agate Hill is recommended to anyone interested in the lives of a vanished era. So many things that are significant about that time and place that are revealed by which the contemporary readers can learn about.