Status and Respectability in the Cape Colony, 1750–1870: A Tragedy of Manners (African Studies, Series Number 98)

This compelling example of the new cultural history of South Africa is a subtle and wide-ranging study of status and respectability in the colonial Cape. Focusing on domestic relationships, gender, education, and religion, it analyzes values and modes of thinking current in different social strata, arguing that these cultural factors were related to high political developments. The result is a rich account of changes in social identity that accompanied the transition from Dutch to British overrule, and the development of white racism and ideologies of resistance to white domination. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 Contents......Page 11 Illustrations......Page 12 Acknowledgements......Page 13 Abbreviations......Page 14 1 Introduction......Page 17 Clothing and display......Page 25 Hierarchy, age and gender......Page 30 Shame and punishment......Page 32 The rituals of state......Page 35 Two funerals, Elizabeth Swellengrebel and Rijk Tulbagh......Page 37 Key......Page 41 The life-cycle rituals of the burghers......Page 42 The Bastards, the Free Blacks and the Fire Service......Page 48 The stereotyping of slaves......Page 50 Hierarchy and the limits of hegemony......Page 54 3 English and Dutch......Page 56 Law......Page 67 Language......Page 71 1820 settlers and English nationalism......Page 76 April 1852......Page 82 A courtship and a marriage......Page 86 Gender and gentility......Page 93 The outward signs: housing......Page 94 The outward signs: clothing......Page 101 Education......Page 104 5 Christianity, status and respectability......Page 110 Who? The social politics of baptism......Page 111 Where? Seating in church.......Page 115 Which? Denominational strife......Page 118 Wherein? Church architecture......Page 123 What? Missions, the reformation in manners and the struggle for acceptance......Page 126 6 Outsiders......Page 141 The making of an underclass community in Cape Town......Page 143 Grahamstown......Page 151 The culture of the farm labourers......Page 152 Islam: an alternative respectability......Page 154 The celebration and disappointments of emancipation......Page 162 Ordinance 50 and after......Page 166 Acceptance and rejection......Page 174 The panic of 1851......Page 178 Politics Deep and Politics High......Page 181 8 Conclusion......Page 189 GENERAL......Page 193 Index......Page 212 Robert Ross Offers A Subtle And Wide-ranging Study Of Status And Respectability In The Colonial Cape Between 1750 And 1870. He Describes The Symbolism Of Dress, Emblems, Architecture, Food, Language And Polite Conventions, Paying Particular Attention To Domestic Relationships, Gender, Education And Religion, And Analyses The Values And The Modes Of Thinking Current In Different Strata Of The Society. He Argues That These Cultural Factors Were Related To High Political Developments In The Cape, And Offers A Rich Account Of The Changes In Social Identity That Accompanied The Transition From Dutch To British Overrule, And Of The Development Of White Racism And Of Ideologies Of Resistance To White Domination. The Result Is A Uniquely Nuanced Account Of Colonial Society.--book Jacket. 1. Introduction -- 2. Under The Voc -- 3. English And Dutch -- 4. The Content Of Respectability -- 5. Christianity, Status And Respectability -- 6. Outsiders -- 7. Acceptance And Rejection -- 8. Conclusion. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 177-195) And Index. In a compelling example of the cultural history of South Africa, Robert Ross offers a subtle and wide-ranging study of status and respectability in the colonial Cape between 1750 and 1850. His 1999 book describes the symbolism of dress, emblems, architecture, food, language, and polite conventions, paying particular attention to domestic relationships, gender, education and religion, and analyses the values and the modes of thinking current in different strata of the society. He argues that these cultural factors were related to high political developments in the Cape, and offers a rich account of the changes in social identity that accompanied the transition from Dutch to British overrule, and of the development of white racism and of ideologies of resistance to white domination. The result is a uniquely nuanced account of a colonial society.