The myth of the helpless southern woman was replaced by the image of an undying strong will to provide for and take care of her southern men. The women of high social standing were reduced to making their clothes out of used material instead of buying new fabrics and dresses, as they were accustomed to. Judith was even thought of as stealing the scraps of material that she used to make her wedding dress. Mrs. Rosa, Judith, and Clytemnestra all aged greatly during the war, they were forced to learn how to care for themselves completely with no help from a man to speak of.

The problems that faced southern men were similar but different. The men of the south were forced to take up arms to protect their way of life. All the while their women were changing, their property being destroyed and their way of life demolished. Their entire legacies were destroyed in a brief time in history. Theses men such as Stupen left for the war leaving behind flourishing plantations such as Stupen's Hundred and returned as Stupen did only able to cultivate Stupen's mile. This was a devastating realization to come home to. Theses men had been defeated on the battlefield subjected to inhumane conditions such as no shoes and returned home to nothing but the spoils of war. Stupen came home to find his household in ruin but had an optimistic outlook on reinstating his home to its pervious glory but was soon defeated in that endeavor also. He was looked upon by Judith, Clytie, and Rosa as a sign of hope and a savior of sorts but was unable to fill theses shoes. He tried to begin farming again but was

Some common words found in the essay are:
Stupen Rosa, , Judith Clytemnestra, Stupen's Hundred, Clytie Rosa, Theses Stupen, Absalom Absalom, southern women, southern woman, returned home, war forced, southern women believe, women believe,
Approximate Word count = 680
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)