South Code Of Honor Essay

Southern aristocracy was a unique breed of elitism that formed in the deep south during the age of slavery and cash cropping. Plantation owners were at the core of the elites and modeled their society based on the ideals of a few rather than a majority. From this, a code of Southern honor was formed, which enveloped Southern society. It comes to no surprise that college would be the first test for young adults in defending their honor firsthand. In Robert F. Pace book titled, Halls of Honor: College Men in the Old South, he states that this code of honor “influenced their development in ways that were qualitatively different from their other childhood experiences” This explains that these “set of rules and behaviors” were being upheld by them in a different light, which is on their own in abstract ways. Nevertheless, Pace argues that the Southern code of honor played a major part in shaping a generation of southern college students, which is then supported with a variety of primary sources. These include letters from students to parents and journal entries. The

Pace provides the reader with information that many students suffered from “tremendous pressure to dress properly in front of their peers.” This dress was both fancy and elaborate, with the entire wardrobe proving quite expensive. This is proved by William G. Fields finical record of the costs of clothing and other various expenses. Around half of his $602.88 was spent on clothing alone with items, such as fine black coats, fancy pants, gloves and boats. As stated in Pace’s definition of the Southern code of honor, appearance was an important part of being honorable, so it comes as no surprise that the latest fashion was a requirement to be welcomed among other peers at these Southern colleges. Being among the elite of Southern society requires one to not only act, but also dress as