In Swallow Barn, how accurate is Kennedy’s portrayal of the Southern planter? Does he capture the essential dynamics in creating this peculiarly...

Kennedy's portrayal of the southern planter is not considered accurate by most historians. It is an example of a benign stereotype that differs from the often totalitarian and harsh reality. There certainly were decent southern planters, but many of them mistreated their servants.

This is notably not the case with the character of Frank Meriwether in the book. One dynamic of the benign southern planter stereotype is the pleasant treatment of servants and family, and this is the case with the book. Another aspect is his demeanor, jovial and laidback. Even his slightly rotund but handsome appearance is an aspect of this stereotype, common in literature about this time period. It is important to note, however, that the character is quite argumentative about politics, a negative personality trait not normally found in the stereotype.