Gone With The Wind
The novel is set in North Georgia at the time of the American Civil War, from 1861 to 1865 and beyond when the Southern plantation owners fought the northern Yankees for the right to own slaves. They lost the war, suffered innumerable losses of life in the process, and the romantic plantation life depicted in the early chapters of the novel is destroyed. During this period the characters in the novel undergo the transition from a carefree playful life of picnics and parties (underlain by the hard graft of their slaves) to one of hand-to-mouth living and hard physical labour, and finally, back to prosperity.
About Scarlett O’Hara and Brave
Scarlett O’Hara is a spoilt society beauty with “bristling black eyelashes” - I love this description! - which she uses to charm men. She lives with her sisters and parents on their plantation estate with dozens of slaves, including Mammy, their black housekeeper who is regarded (as much as was possible at that time) part of the family and plays an important role in Scarlett’s life. The storyline centres around Scarlett’s life at the time of the civil war and the other characters which interact with her.
The book starts with the heroine of the piece, 17 year old Miss Scarlett O’Hara flirting to the best of her capacity with the handsome Tarleton twins on the porch of Tara, her plantation house home, and berating the seriousness of the impending war because it ruins her capacity to have fun, attend parties and have beaux. I mention this first page because it encapsulates the very nature of the entire novel. Scarlett O’Hara is a spoilt, selfish beauty with enormous power to manipulate men and a desire for the good things in life. Knowing this, you can see why she makes some of her seemingly ridiculous choices throughout the novel.
Throughout the novel Scarlett makes some appalling decisions, such as marrying the shy, nervous Charles Hamilton (Melanie’s brother) for spite because Ashley dared to marry Melanie. She quickly finds that married life isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, and that she can no-longer flirt to her heart’s content. Matters are made even worse when Charles dies while at war, and Scarlett is doomed to years of widowhood, wearing black and no dancing. Worse than this even, she is pregnant with her first child, a fact she despises. However, Scarlett is not one to be held down for long and she quickly rebels against the constraints the society imposes by both dancing and wearing brightly coloured clothing (at Rhett’s impetus) while still in mourning.
Later on when the guns of war come close around Scarlett and her comrades she shows surprising resilience and strength, delivering Melanie’s baby single-handed amid the sacking of Atlanta, and taking on the responsibility of managing Tara. She proves to be a sound and resourceful businesswoman, who can make difficult decisions when they are needed.
You can’t help but like Scarlett. She’s hopelessly selfish, vain, manipulative, deluded and foolish, but she’s also an extremely vivacious, loyal and strong character who can be relied upon to say and do just exactly what she thinks, regardless of the impact on other people. Again and again through the novel you find yourself thinking “No Don’t do that!” but you know she’s going to do it anyway.
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