Gone with the Wind discussion

Scarlett. Really got on my nerves

Muniba wrote: "Scarlett."

Amen, sister!

I loved the movie LOL, hated that she wanted Ashley over Rhett. Ash was such a wimp. But in Real Life he was this ladies man and a war hero. He died during World War II (1939 – 45) when his plane was shot down en route from Lisbon to London.

The most exasperating thing about GWTW is its lack of historical accuracy and racism. This novel and the movie distort the Reconstruction period and glorifies a klan like group. It's message is that the only good blacks are people like Mama whose whole life is devoted to taking care of her white folks. "Roots" by Alex Haley is the antidote to GWTW.

Now Roots was a fabulous book, a work of art. Kudos Alex Haley. All children, all nationalities should be required to watch this mini series (kids wont read the book, I watched the miniseries and was blown away at 12 yrs)

Don't mean to quibble, and I review film for a living, but this is supposed to be about READING. The book is considerably different than the film of GWTW and I, for one, feel we should stick to the pages, not the frames!

You have a point Mike; however, the book promotes the same misinformation as the film that was adapted from it. Margaret Mitchell subscribed to the "Lost Cause" mythology that was taught as history in the South.

Yes, and I raised that point in my first post. Getting off onto the tangent of book vs. film does not seem to serve the best interests of this group, is all I'm saying.

Has anyone read the parody, "The Wind Done Gone"?

Scarlett's obsession with Ashley and Ashley himself.

Well i guess thats my cue to leave, forgive my lapse of judgement Mike. Didnt mean to rock a boat
Peace out pips

Mary JL wrote: "Scarlett's obessions with Ashley and her relationship with Rhett from a basic theme of the book.

Yes, Scarlett was stupid. But remember--she was very young--only about 18 or 19 when the war sta..."

16.

Judy wrote: "Scarlett is not someone I would have liked in real life, but I have to say I admire her for taking on the responsibility of providing for her sisters, her father, Melanie, the servants, and the two..."

What's interesting about Mitchell's treatment of blacks in GWTW is the fact that she was more comfortable around black people than white; helped establish the first black hospital in Atlanta; and nearly had her debutante status revoked for fraternising with black people. I think her treatment of blacks in the novel, while sounding racist, was true to life.

No her depiction was not "true to life." None of the black characters have families or lives outside the big house. Historians would beg to differ with you. Despite all the limitations of slavery the blacks had lives and developed a distinct culture--music, religion, folklore, and hair styles. Also, Mitchell did not understand Reconstruction. Read DuBois, John Hope Franklin, or Benjamin Quarles for a different view of Reconstruction.

It open ended, it's just an opening for scarlette to get rhett back, it's so frustrating for the guy to run when the gal is so into him ...

The sheer tragedy of it!

Mariam wrote: "Definitely Scarlett. I wanted to reach into the book and slap her! Whenever Rhett wasn't present in the book, I was BORED!"

I agree. :))

Kim wrote: "Her children. She never cared for any of them, she was a terrible mother. Not once did she cry for any of them."

Yes, it was horrible to put that kind of story in a book.

Grabec wrote: "Absolutely nothing....this was one of the great books ever written. Loved it and loved the movie. Truly a master piece."

I agree with you on that. Though there are some violent reactions to the characters, overall I love the book. I oppose with what you said on the movie though. I didn't like it and had expected much more.

There are things in it that I was like WOW! But then I remembered the time line that this book was written. This was in a time when woman didn't have choices and neither did slaves! This is a classic history lesson.
Yes Ashley came off as a wimp, but he was also doing what his father expected of him and that's how life was then.
Also Scarlett was way before her time. She was out spoken, she fought for what she wanted and believed in and woman couldn't do those things in that time period. Most woman behaved like Melanie and that wouldn't have made nearly as good of a love story as GwtW was!

Jamie wrote: "Robin wrote: "Jamie are you alluding to Gone With the Wind, or the sequel, I don't recall her having three children in the Gone With the Wind book?

I'm alluding to both, but mostly GWTW. She ha..."

wow, I don't remember that at all!

Craig wrote: "Can't speak for the book. I found the movie so obnoxious that even as a kid I wouldn't finish it. Oh, the happy, loyal slaves! No one noticed that? It seems that part of the story is Southern pro s..."

I didn't think they looked happy. I thought they seemed too caring for the family, but part of that would've been survival, right?
The parts about the slaves that always stand out to me are: the little boy fanning everyone, poor kid, the over-emphasis on how dumb Prissy is, the tragedy/kindness of Mammy being stuck with and yet loving Scarlett, the way the field hand slaves took off right away when they were freed but the poor house slaves stayed out of loyalty and love?!! and possibly having nowhere else to go, how "Big Sam" was portrayed as kind-of dumb too (or maybe he was just depressed)! I hated that. I thought they were portrayed as fairly unhappy in the movie though. I mean, people still smile and sing when their hearts are broken, sometimes even more so they can keep themselves going.
Sorry if this post is too rambly and long.

Very little in GWTW accurately depicts the slaves. Most left after the Civil War ended. Margaret Mitchell perpetuates the Old South myth.

I read the book when I was 16 after I saw the movie. I liked the book better than the movie. I got so tired of Scarlett's whining. Makes one wonder how you can like the book but not like most of the characters in the book.

The whole damn thing! Margaret Mitchell's adulation of a blighted culture that caused so many problems for so many people. The characters don't really have any meaning except in relation to the flawed Southern mentality in which they exist.

Partial list:

1. It glorified racism and ownership of people.
2. It glorified treason.
3. It perpetuated the Lost Cause myth.
4. It's probably greatly responsible for the continued, moronic display of the Confederate battle flag.
4. It's evil.

I thought Melanie was just tooooo good! Nobody is that sweet and good all the time. It isn't human. I so wanted
her to haul off and slap Scarlett just once!!

Jean, I loathed Melanie too. I had a grudging acceptance of her with Olivia DeHavilland (right person?)'s portrayal in the movie. She didn't seem so much oblivious to Scarlett's character as strong. She refused to let her friendship with Scarlett be tainted. I don't know why since Scarlett def. wasn't worth it.

David wrote: "Very little in GWTW accurately depicts the slaves. Most left after the Civil War ended. Margaret Mitchell perpetuates the Old South myth."

A lot of them didn't leave because they couldn't. The post-Civil War power-mongers did a good job of manipulation through trickery, the economy, and hate groups.

Connie wrote: "I was exasperated at Ashley's inability to admit his love of Melanie to Scarlett. Ashley's actions only flamed Scarlett's obsession. As in life, we can't always see what we have is actually what we..."

Ashley was so wishy-washy. Whatever did Scarlet see in him?

I had seen the movie as a small child, so I wasn't surprised by much in the book. However, there was a Jewish Slur by the author that was not part of the story. The author used the term "Jewed" in her words (not a character's). That stood out to me because I wasn't expecting that. I know it was probably normal for the time. But really, it's a horrible racist usage of the word. I know that wasn't the worst offense of the book, but I was most affected by that one because I wasn't expecting it.

Mansee wrote: "Its sequel"

Which one? There have been a couple by different writers, although all of them were horrible IMHO. "Scarlett" was the one that made me want to claw my own eyes out.

I liked Scarlett as a character. She was a bitch, but she was admirable with her determination and strength. I don't think I could have done half the things she managed to do. I would hate her in real life, but she was interesting to read about. The only thing I'll never understand is what she saw in Ashley. He bored me to tears.

The racism bothered me while reading the books, but I focused mainly on Scarlett while reading the books, and she treated everyone like crap, so it made it less noticeable for me.

Yet another example of Margaret Mitchell's glorification of a hideous culture and her stereotypical racism that wsa considered "standard" for the time.

The phonetic spelling. It is very difficult to write dialects and accents that ring true. Oh and darkies being happier waiting on their masters and every stereotype about black people known to man assigned to the free slaves

Andrea wrote: "Jean, I loathed Melanie too. I had a grudging acceptance of her with Olivia DeHavilland (right person?)'s portrayal in the movie. She didn't seem so much oblivious to Scarlett's character as strong..."Melanie owed everything to Scarlett, her son's life, her own life, Lazy Ashley's life. Melanie was ok with Scarlett doing the dirty work and shouldering all the animosity from the town.

Everything! I don't much like this book or the movie. It really is drivel. IMO

The most annoying thing about this book was that is was my absolute favorite book when I was 12 years old. I read it 6 times at that age and absolutely LOVED it. Well, I was a naive kid, so I guess that's forgivable. I can't imagine rereading it now. I used to hate the ending as a kid (I think I kept rereading it hoping it would somehow change) but now I think it is perfect. Scarlett got what she deserved--nothing.

How in the book Scarlett was this whiny, bitchy, stupid woman which a totally different vibe than you get from the movie

How in the book Scarlett was this whiny, bitchy, stupid woman which a totally different vibe than you get from the movie. I loved the smart, stong (ableit manipulativ) character of the movie, but did a not love Scarlett of the book.

I don't think Scarlett was "stupid" in the book. She was an intelligent teenage girl who thought it was cute to act stupid.

Far and away, though, the most nauseating thing about this book is the racism.

Jamie wrote: "@Judy: How was Rhett Butler's People? I've had that one on my shelf since 2008 and I still haven't read past the first few chapters. It felt like a completely different universe from the Alexand..."

The book was awful! Sorry to cut in but don't waste your time. The author totally changed Scarlett and made her a cartoon version of herself in some pathetic attempt at a happy ending. I liked Ripley's sequel better because I felt that it stayed somewhat true to the original.

The most annoying thing in this book is Rhett and Scarlet they both love each other, need each other and want each other but both are too proud and too stubbon to admit it I am 100% convinced they would have got back together following the end of the book. Ashley was just to proud and stupid.

Vrsh wrote: "Ashley didnt seem as proud to me, but he was scared that he wouldnt be able to make Scarlett happy, what with her lively attitude towards life. And later he was scared of hurting his own wife.
Yes..."

I have read Scarlet and it is very good there is another also called Rhett Butlers People both continue the story Scarlet is a better read but Rhatt Butlers I think would have been the way the reunion went.

Vrsh wrote: "So, Scarlet really is the sequel to 'Gone with the Wind'?"

Technically yes it is well worth the read in the film adaptation Joanne Whalley played Scarlet Timothy Dalton Rhett Butler and Sean Bean the Earl of Fenton

Wow! Havnt read the book but I thought maybe in the book Ashley was cooler. I always thought the actor was to be blamed for screwing the role! Lol. Now after reading so many comments, i wonder why Scarlett chose him over Rhett!

I have to agree Scarlett's obsession with Ashley. I mean really Scarlett, take a hint...he married Melaine, he truly loved her. Also, how Rhett and Scarlett couldn't admit that they loved each other. When Scarlett was pregnant with Rhett's second child, she missed Rhett terribly, but was too damn stubborn to admit it. And maybe if Rhett would have admitted that he loved her in a way other than joking, then she might have admitted it herself. It was a love/hate relationship. They hated each other so much that they loved each other because they are exactly alike. Soulmates. They were both too stubborn and proud to admit their true feelings for each other.

Vrsh wrote: "So, does Scarlet get Rhett back in the book, or there no mention of that?

Aka Amit: Read the book asap...and yes, Ashley might appear cool to you in the book, but hez no competition to Rhett,not..."

They do not get back together in Gone with the Wind, Rhett leaves. But there is a sequel to Gone with the Wind, so maybe they get back together then ;)...I haven't read it yet, but its on my list. Also read Rhett Butler's People by David McCraig, it goes back into Rhett's past and also his relationship with Scarlett from his point of view.

Genia wrote: "The thing that exasperated me most with the book was the author's deliberate blindness for issues of race, poverty, social strata and caste.

I can excuse the heroine by being just an obnoxious, s..."

Well of course, it was going to have a racist edge to it. It was about the South, and that was how it was back then. Slaves were not viewed as people, but property. Some were treated better than others but still they were considered sub-par to white peopple. And people truly believed that the South was a paradise and they feared to lose their way of life. Its funny though because despite their ignorance and intolerance, I actually felt bad for the South, because truly they suffered the most in the Civil War, they were outnumbered and outskilled and never had a prayer of winning.

Also I have noticed that there aren't many Scarlett fans here. And while I agree she was spoiled, and selfish and had no morals or scruples. BUT, and its a big but she also had admirable qualities as well. She was strong-willed and refused to give up. She loved her home and all that it stood for her, and worked to the bones almost to the point of starvation to keep the thing she loved the most. So in my eyes she is a heroine, and villianess at the same time. She's a character you love to hate.

I totally agree Adria...I think she had a lot of spirit and spunk!