The story of a prodigal daughter yet a jealous lover; a blind fighter yet a strong woman. The story of a meek woman yet a firm believer; a small lady yet with a big heart. The story of a rude man yet a symbol of truth; a ruffian yet the most caring. Gone With the Wind - A Classic. A must read.
An epic seller from Margaret Mitchell, Gone With the Wind paints a story evolved on the foreground of the Civil War and the Reconstruction. The way in which Margaret tells us the story is beyond a single drop of faltering interest anywhere. From the moment she introduces us to Scarlett O’Hara till the final line where she winds up, the pace and the rhythm are unmistakingly gripping. You are bound to fall for it no matter what.
Scarlett O’Hara, born to an Irish father, is an independent woman; not beautiful in the traditional way but a woman of strength and charms. Men never find it difficult to be attracted to her. They vie to be with her, she’s every dream, and every desire men can fill their lives with. The story unfolds rather dramatically showing emotions in contrast. Scarlett is surrounded by her beaux but one man has broken her heart. Ashley Wilkes - the one man Scarlett knows she can’t live without. He’s marrying Melanie, a meek submissive woman and Scarlett can’t do anything to get him off her. The novel rolls by from here. Painting vivid pictures of every human character with precision known to the human heart. The arrogant Irish Scarlett who will avenge the loss of Ashley - in her own independent way. There’s a strong shade of positive in Scarlett’s character that stuns the reader. In the most unwelcome of moments Scarlett has time and again stepped against the tide and emerged a winner. From a forlorn widow, she’s found means to dress in colorful silk dresses; she’s found a heart to go back to a life which she had lost after being widowed at the age of 17. Amidst everything, she has never stopped herself from desiring Ashley. She’s done everything to make him confess his admiration and love for her. She’s done everything to keep him happy, even not bowing out of delivering Melanie’s baby in the worst of war affected conditions. Then there’s the sweet soft Melanie Wilkes. A traditional woman but miles ahead of her times. She’s never been scared to accept changes and she’s been the perfect symbol of loyalty - sometimes even blindly so, but been the most genuine to the core. Scarlett is the protagonist in this novel but perhaps without that frame of Melanie standing behind her like the unshakable shadow, Scarlett would have faltered more than once. Then comes Rhett Butler - probably the character desired by every woman. He literally is an enigma - a man in his own terms. He’s the cut throat who doesn’t care for whispers. He knows what the world is up to and he wears his heart up his sleeves and speaks out what he believes in. He’s a social outcast, thanks to his rough ways of life, but he truly is the life of this novel. Pitching in at every moment of loneliness in Scarlett’s life, he has never left the lady alone but never let her know too that he loves her more than all the materialistic pleasures the world knows he indulges in. Ashley Wilkes is the dreamer, a weak character, a character belonging to the masses of this world. It takes him a death to differentiate the love of his life from the dreams he had.
From the moment Scarlett fights it out herself to rebuild her beloved home Tara, the way she faces every unthinkable task by the women of that age, the way she runs her own business in competition with men, the way she walks up beyond every criticism and holds her head high are but some of the things which make you feel closer to the character of Scarlett. She portrays somehow, that hidden fighter within us; that desire to do things the way we want to, the way we want to raise our heads against the social evils, the social barriers and reach our own goals. She’s never resorted to unfair means but yes, she’s been wrong on more than one occasion. She’s not been able to differentiate between the good and the bad. The fatigue and frustration that her life has lost itself in has shown its weaknesses. Margaret reflects through Scarlett, moments that inspire awe, moments that take your breath away. But ahead of everything has stood the small figure of Melanie, almost an angel in the disguise of a simple woman. She’s been Scarlett’s guardian angel, without Scarlett ever realizing that, ever letting her ego accept that. And there’s been the man all throughout. Challenging Scarlett at every turn, luring her to be herself yet giving her the feeling of utmost dislike. Rhett’s the reality which Scarlett chases all through the novel perhaps and loses in the course of time.
The novel emanates a very positive energy. It takes you through the ups and downs, the pangs of loss or the moments of victory of a human being. It falters, it limps, it walks and it runs too. The moments of dejection find outlet in the immense strength of a woman. She loses something "today" but she promises to mend it "tomorrow". She never loses the ground below her feet. The way this novel ends gives you especially a heart full of hope. Amidst all the emptiness, the unending, untrammeled hope gifts you with the most positive of smiles. It tells you that no matter what, your life will be in your arms as long as you choose to live it.
"Falling down does not make you a failure. Staying down does.”