Greenberg's Arguments Of Honor And Slavery

Honor and slavery, written by Kenneth Greenberg, dives into the substance of a system well known by white men of the Old South. Many so called ¨rules¨ can be used to describe the practice of honor of which these men mastered. Examples of men of honor are sporadically mentioned in an attempt to enhance the understanding of the alleged language. Greenberg's arguments can easily be challenged by other historical events. Specifically, Protestant Christianity, including the Second great awakening, brought new ideas and modernized practices that contradicted the arguments presented in the novel regarding the system of honor. To begin, the idea that actions in life affect one's salvation, a vision of the Second Great Awakening, challenged Greenberg's
Greenberg also says,¨ Every puzzling action or statement analyzed in the book relates to honor, and since Southern gentlemen defined a slave as a person without of honor, all issues of slavery relate back to honor.¨ (preface) giving the reader insight on why Greenberg presents his arguments of honor: slavery. Nonetheless, due to awareness of morals in the Second Great awakening, many began to question if slavery was moral, and start to create a neutral equality of human beings. Abolitionists became a problem for masters who were threatened by the idea of losing their slaves, and since most men of honor were slave owners, the two integrated frequently. Greenberg's proposals lack in mentioning how the idea of abolishing slavery affected the system of
For example, In the case of Edmund Ruffin’s suicide, Greenberg mentions, ¨ He had even found biblical precedent for the choice of suicide rather than continued life after military defeat: Jews had killed themselves rather than submit to rule by their conquerors.¨ (pg. 93) which seems to justify Ruffin’s actions with a religious explanation. Since the second Great Awakening was a religious fervor, it is easy to assume that its occurrence would support Greenberg's ideas based on this evidence. However, the idea that actions in life affect one's salvation- a specific new religious idea of the Second Great Awakening- challenges Ruffins explanation. The bible gives many verses related to suicide such as ¨ Thou shalt not kill.¨ (King James Bible, Exodus 20:13) or, ¨ Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?¨ (King James Bible, Ecclesiastes 7:17) Obviously the Bible condemns suicide, and the Bible along with other religious affairs were sought-after during the Second Great Awakening. Therefore, disproving the argument that the Second Great Awakening possibly confirmed the ideas Greenberg presents about honor in his