Femininity

As suggested by the title, a major theme in "Confessions of a Southern Lady" is femininity. As Florence King, the author, explains in the Prologue, ladies only enjoy a generic recognition in the South where the lady is considered the perfection of femininity. Mama struggles with Granny over her image when she is young and it hurts her to know that Granny would prefer her ridiculously feminine cousin, Evelyn, as a daughter. When Florence is born, Granny cannot resist taking advantage of a second chance to rear a lady. Granny and Jensy teach Florence the lady-like virtue of caring for things through polishing silver and caring for people by visiting sick neighbors and friends; Granny's charitable acts stem from her desire to be recognized as a great lady. When Evelyn has hysterics about her womb falling out during a family vacation at Colonial Beach, Florence is relieved when...