The Civil War was one of the most significant events in American history. It spurred many people to behave in ways abnormal to their everyday beliefs, customs, and traditions. In particular, as the Southern economy declined with the Confederates’ efforts, people often needed to cooperate to function as a whole. Therefore, a strong sense of altruism arose in the South. Southerners understood that the best way to keep the South strong was to ensure that no man, woman, or child suffered. Hence, whether it were men on the battlefield continuing to risk their lives for Southern beliefs, women caring for the youth and elderly at home, or slaves loyally remaining with their owners to help maintain the Southern order, everyone participated in ensuring…show more content… In the beginning of The Unvanquished, Faulkner introduces Granny as a Southern woman of high morality. For example, when Bayard and Ringo use improper language when describing how they shot at Union soldiers, Granny demands that they wash their mouths with soap. Furthermore, she has a close relationship with the Lord and does not tolerate acting against His word. Nonetheless, the war and its close calls make Granny break a lot of her own rules in order to survive, like starting a mule-stealing business, giving most of what she makes “away under the belief that she would be able to replace that and more [to] secure almost everyone in the county” (4.4.1). She goes on to justify her behavior by declaring that she “did not sin for revenge [but] sinned…for the sake of food and clothes for [the Lord’s] own creatures who could not help themselves; for children who had given their fathers, for wives who had given their husbands, for old people who had given their sons, to a holy cause” (4.3.25). She recognizes that her business is sinful but feels obligated to continue it because it is helping so many Southerners during the harsh economic times of the Civil War. Hence, even though morals and honesty are important to Granny, when it comes to survival, she’s willing to abandon
