Examine the husband-and-wife relationship within the planter class. How did this relationship differ from the comparable relationship within a slave family? How was it similar? How did upper-class southern women react to their roles as wives, mothers, and slave mistresses?

The husband-and-wife relationship within the planter class was often characterized by a division of labor, with the husband managing the plantation and overseeing the enslaved labor force, while the wife was responsible for managing the household and overseeing domestic affairs. This relationship differed from the comparable relationship within a slave family in that the planter class marriage was often based on economic and social status, with the wife expected to fulfill certain societal expectations and roles, while the slave family often faced the constant threat of separation and exploitation by the slave owner.

However, there were also similarities between the two relationships. Both the planter class marriage and the slave family were patriarchal in nature, with the husband or master holding significant power and authority over the wife or enslaved women. Additionally, both relationships were influenced by the institution of slavery, with the planter class marriage benefiting from the labor of enslaved people and the slave family being directly impacted by the brutal and dehumanizing system of slavery.

Upper-class southern women often struggled with their roles as wives, mothers, and slave mistresses. While they were expected to embody the ideals of southern womanhood, including piety, purity, and domesticity, they also had to navigate the complexities of managing their households and overseeing the enslaved labor force. Many upper-class southern women were complicit in the mistreatment of enslaved people, as they were expected to uphold the social and economic system of slavery. However, some women also expressed ambivalence and discomfort with their roles as slave mistresses, recognizing the moral and ethical implications of owning and exploiting other human beings.

Overall, the husband-and-wife relationship within the planter class differed from the comparable relationship within a slave family in terms of power dynamics and societal expectations, but both were influenced by the institution of slavery. Upper-class southern women grappled with conflicting expectations and responsibilities, often struggling to reconcile their roles as wives, mothers, and slave mistresses within the context of the antebellum South.