<i>Gone With the Wind</i>: In Review

Hollywood films rarely do justice to the books from which they are scripted; this is true in the case of Margaret Mitchell's classic, Gone With the Wind. To really understand the intricacies of Mitchell's characters and plotting, we must read the novel not merely watch the movie. The novel explores characters and themes in depth; a movie can never capture all of these details. Mitchell's epic story of the South is superbly written and begs to be read.

The novel tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, a young Southern belle, living on her father's plantation in Georgia. Her life revolves around parties, men and fun. When one of her beaux tells her that Ashley Wilkes is engaged to marry Melanie Hamilton, Scarlett's world begins to unravel, for she loves Ashley. She determines to steal him from the saintly Melanie, but Ashley refuses her advances. Before she can recover, she learns that war has been declared, and that all of her beaux are rushing to enlist. Shocked and hurt, she agrees to marry a man she does not love, a man who makes her a widow and a mother in a matter of months. When Ashley returns to Atlanta on furlough, Scarlett promises him that she will take care of Melanie, Ashley's wife. Thus begins Scarlett's plight. Somehow she must keep herself and her child safe, watch over the despised Melanie, and find a way to win Ashley back, all in the midst of a war that is killing her friends and destroying everything she knows. In the midst of all the confusion, stands Rhett Butler, a rogue from Charleston, who professes his love but declares that he is not the marrying type. With Rhett in the background, Scarlett manages to carry herself and Melanie through the war, rebuild her beloved Tara, and make herself a successful businesswoman. When she does marry Rhett, she uses him to help her become rich, while still pining away for Ashley Wilkes. When she finally realizes that she never loved Ashley, it is too late; Rhett, the only man she ever really loved has left her. With Rhett's departure, Scarlett discovers what truly matters in life: family, land and love.

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of reading Gone With the Wind is meeting the characters, each of whom seems as real as your next door neighbor. Margaret Mitchell endowed each of her characters with the peculiarities and complexities that define every human being. We care about the people in this novel because in them we see bits of ourselves. Each of us can find part of ourselves in Scarlett's hot temper, Rhett's incurable arrogance, Ashley's helpless longing and Mammy's overwhelming need to protect. We can't help loving people who are so much like ourselves. One thing is for sure, Mitchell has no static players; each character has been crafted with care.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic