Zelda fitzgerald was the quintessential “southern belle” during her youth. what is a “southern belle? ” how does it reflect cultural differences between the northern and southern regions of the united states in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

A Southern Belle refers to an image of a fashionable, respectable and dedicated gracious ladies to their family and community. They flourished during the 19th century and are expected to be wed to a young respectable men mostly plantation owners. Southern belles have been criticized for being beneficiaries of the slave trade before the end of Civil War, since they bask in comfort while the slaves do all the hard labor that gives their families profit. 

Women during the 19th century and early 20th are viewed differently in North and South America. Northern women are more active and hard-working, pursuing careers as doctors, writers and activists while Southern women lived in the comfort of their slaves doing the hard work.