Alexander's Letters To His Woman Analysis

Relationships are a fundamental part of lives, and war often changed the dynamics of these relationships. Because of accounts through letters, it is possible to witness the changing of these relationships through first hand accounts and careful reading. Edward Porter Alexander’s letters to his wife, Bessie, can serve this purpose. Through these letters, it it possible to trace his ups and downs throughout the war. The letter from August 5, 1861 is particularly interesting because it shows a stark contrast from his usual letters to his wife. In this essay, I will argue that, through Alexander’s letters, we can see signs of depression and exhaustion. This depression had subsequent effects on his loving relationship with his wife.
Edward Porter Alexander was tired during this time in the war. This letter was written a few months after he had joined, and only half a year after the …show more content…
As husbands left for war, women were left to fend for themselves and take care of the farms and families by themselves 3. The sheer amount of work that would have to be done by both parties would cause strain to be put onto the relationship. The time period itself was incredibly turbulent culturally. Southern institutions as they were known were collapsing and being uprooted, and subsequently, the lives of the people in the South were changing drastically 3. Change, while good at times, is stressful, and stress often has direct impacts on relationships.
This stress seen in relationships during the Civil War is also seen in Alexander’s relationship with his wife. It is possible to see this stress from Alexander’s side through his letter. The most striking and prominent example in his text is “Though at times it does not feel like I am married”. This statement is highly unusual for Alexander. Alexander spends a great deal of time proclaiming his love for his wife in his other letters. For example, in a letter from September 7, 1984,