I have read GONE WITH THE WIND four times. Margaret Mitchell wrote this book. I loved every 833 pages of this Novel.
Scarlett O’Hara is the main character. I believe that Ms. Mitchell choose the name of Scarlett because it is the color of passion.
The book is about the American Civil War and the scenes are of how the gentry lived in the State of Georgia.
She is so strong and determined and she lets nothing in this life overcome her. This means she will not change her self because of the war, men, wanting to be loved and never the social ways of the day. She was human and had bad points, humanity and was very vulnerable.
The characters of Rhett, Ashley and Melanie were also important to show the conflict of the novel. I identified best with Rhett because he was strong. I felt that Ashley was weak because he was a dreamer who loved to be alone in his ‘world ‘of books and poetry. The minor characters of neighbors and disapproving friends was important for me to get the to feel of society at the time as they were going through war and social change.
This book is written from a Southern point of view where there were ’white folks’ lived in Mansions, served by ’slaves’ and live a good life sipping lemon ade under a magnolia tree.
It also show how African Americans are human beings and that the could win the battle when they had to face the hardships of being a ’slave’. They did this because they knew they could depend on each other.
Scarlett’s fiery character who loves two men. One is acceptable in her circle of friends, (Ashley), while the other is a gambler, (Rhett), who she pretends to despise. The acceptable one will do anything for her while the gambler won’t.
GONE WITH THE WIND isn’t just about the war you will find romance throughout the book.
It captures the detached attitudes of the ’whites’ toward slavery and the depth of anger felt between the North and the South. In this war where brother fought against brother, father against son and cousin against cousin. The Southerners did not seem to be aware of their doing such terrible things to people who were, (like we are today when we do mean things to other people. Only the names and places change but the terrorizing goes on and on).
As I read through this book I saw the beauty and grace of the old South with the sprawling Plantations, dinners and ballroom dances. I read about the determination to live as royalty despite even when they were losing the war. I saw that ’white’ folk could do manual chores if it means their survival relies on it.
I also learned about the ’mammies’, the slave quarters and the workers in the ’big house’ to the ’cotton fields’.
Toward the end of the book I read about the desolation and disgrace of the South loosing the Civil War.
I read about how a civilization can be change by a war. No book would be complete with out jealousy, love, rivalry and wanting revenge, feeling there should be restitution paid and always remembering and yearning for the ’good old days’.
Who will win Scarlett’s heart in the end? I’ll never tell because I never disclose the end of a book.
SOME THOUGHTS:
I have not written a lot about the story line of GONE WITH THE WIND because I believe I could never tell it well enough and fell you should read the book.
There are lessons to be learned: When times are the hardest we should say to our self, ’This too shall pass.’ Or look around you and see the troubles other people are having. Would you want to walk in their shoes?
Gone With The Wind is a classic that everyone should read.
©LL