This blog will serve as a medium for communication and content for History 332 - The American South in the Twentieth Century - Taught at the University of Mississippi, Spring Semester 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Lanterns on the Levee - Part 2
Please post your discussion questions about the second half of Percy here:
How does the rebuilding of the MS Delta after the flood of 1927 include the old gentile was of the Lost Cause while incorporating New South traditions such as manners and honor, how do they play a role in the rebuilding of the culture and society of the Delta?
Percy writes about the community opposition in Greenville to the Klan. From his father’s response to “Colonel” Camp, the establishment of the anti-Klan committee or finally the election of Alexander as sheriff the people of Greenville worked to keep the power of the Klan from growing in their community. Did this position in Greenville come simply as a result of LeRoy Percy’s influence or were their other conditions in the community that allowed the citizens to fight against the Klan?
Percy asserts a belief on page 201 that all males had an obligation to go fight in the war and to be considered heroic. What influenced this need for Percy to go to war? Did he want to live up to the image of Confederate soldiers and the ideals of the Lost Cause? Did he think fighting would make his father more proud of him? Did going to war really make himself a hero in his own eyes and help feed the pride that he had in himself?
Through out our study of the American South during the 18 and 1900’s there have been very defined lines, and everyone was sure of what they stood for or stood against. While reading Lanterns on the Levee I was struck by a question William Percy posed on page 187; he asked “What can you say about the Delta?”. Why would someone who has lived or at least been raised in a place have any doubt about to say. My second question relies on another quote from Percy on page 166, “Liberty unthreatened is always about to be lost”. I ask the question in hopes of an explanation.
Percy describes two important episodes in his life: fighting in World War 1, and heading the rescue effort following the Flood in '27. In what ways did his experiences illustrate his growth in the traditional Southern ways of honor and manners and how did these experiences affect how Percy helped sculpt the new American South?
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How does the rebuilding of the MS Delta after the flood of 1927 include the old gentile was of the Lost Cause while incorporating New South traditions such as manners and honor, how do they play a role in the rebuilding of the culture and society of the Delta?
ReplyDeletePercy writes about the community opposition in Greenville to the Klan. From his father’s response to “Colonel” Camp, the establishment of the anti-Klan committee or finally the election of Alexander as sheriff the people of Greenville worked to keep the power of the Klan from growing in their community. Did this position in Greenville come simply as a result of LeRoy Percy’s influence or were their other conditions in the community that allowed the citizens to fight against the Klan?
ReplyDeletePercy asserts a belief on page 201 that all males had an obligation to go fight in the war and to be considered heroic. What influenced this need for Percy to go to war? Did he want to live up to the image of Confederate soldiers and the ideals of the Lost Cause? Did he think fighting would make his father more proud of him? Did going to war really make himself a hero in his own eyes and help feed the pride that he had in himself?
ReplyDeleteThrough out our study of the American South during the 18 and 1900’s there have been very defined lines, and everyone was sure of what they stood for or stood against. While reading Lanterns on the Levee I was struck by a question William Percy posed on page 187; he asked “What can you say about the Delta?”. Why would someone who has lived or at least been raised in a place have any doubt about to say. My second question relies on another quote from Percy on page 166, “Liberty unthreatened is always about to be lost”. I ask the question in hopes of an explanation.
ReplyDeletePercy describes two important episodes in his life: fighting in World War 1, and heading the rescue effort following the Flood in '27. In what ways did his experiences illustrate his growth in the traditional Southern ways of honor and manners and how did these experiences affect how Percy helped sculpt the new American South?
ReplyDelete