Because classical interpretations of Southern antebellum literature focus almost solely on slavery as an economic system, they neglect the fact that these novels are preoccupied with legitimizing...Show moreBecause classical interpretations of Southern antebellum literature focus almost solely on slavery as an economic system, they neglect the fact that these novels are preoccupied with legitimizing the entirety of white superiority. It is more accurate to regard the literary proslavery movement as part of a broader defense of political, economic, and cultural white domination, defending them against external, as well as internal threats to white supremacy.Show less