Gone with the Wind discussion

I was sick of Scarlett and I was glad when Rhett finally left and yes I got a sick sense of satisfaction that he left just as she realized she loved him. There is a sequel read it about 20 Years ago called Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley I hardly remember it and I won't give away the ending but really the story should have stopped at GWTW.

Sue wrote: "Rhett-he discovers that he wants to be accepted, that society is held together by mutual respect and support, and realizes Scarlett hasn't accepted this yet."

BEAUTIFUL POST. Inf act one of the most powerful scenes was when Rhett admits that he misses the Good Old Days and realizes how much he thrown away and took for granted Honor, Family Ties, and Tradition. Realizing at an old age its time to start settling down.

While I'm very young (21) I totally identify with Rhett and got the message behind his character. While i was never outcasted in the way Rhett was, I was once ostracized and many a times in my life had a "to Hell with them and SOCIETY!!!" mentality that troubled even my parents and I admit I was the Black sheep of the family. I'm not sharing anymore but recently I started going to Church again (even though I no longer believe in Catholicism) and I am now socializing with many old classmates and participating in many communitarian activities (not necessarily for the place I live in but for the local Catholic Community and a few other interest groups I recently joined or am considering joining).

I now realized why Catholicism and pretty much almost every religion I can think of require weekly participation in a ritual at a location like Church (or monthly or even yearly depending on the religion). Its to ensure people don't lose ties with each other and (even though its not necessarily a healthy truly social) keep in touch with each other. Basically to bring a social function between people of the religion.

When I think of Rhett Butler I realized how differently my life would have been if I at least realized the Importance of being a Gentleman and Social gatherings rather than being a nonconformist proud lone wolf (no kidding multiple times throughout my life I was like this.

If I didn't participate in religion or social gatherings, at least if I was the Gentleman Rhett wasn't I know my life would have turned out so different........

Thats easily the one MOST POWERFUL Speech from the entire book and already it has impacted my way of thinking and convinced me to look at my current situation and realized the need for change.

Vanessa wrote: "Sahar wrote: "I think Rhett Butler was done with Scarlett and even over her at the end.after she finds out that she really loved Rhett all along she shifts her obsession of having and controlling s..."

yes but when she talked about ashley it killed him and that is what proves that he stil loved her and cared for her and i believe they could be together cause scarlett realizes she loves him and i'm pretty sure will mature to put an end to her controlling desires(at least for him) and i don't think rhett would have let her control him. but i think the reunion will take place a long time later cause rhett needs to heel himself and you know what they say time heals all wounds. as for the trust issue after spending a few months or even years with her and testing her he eventually would have been able to trust her

Dana wrote: "I think that even if Scarlett gave her best enduring performance that truly showed that she loved him. I think too much would have happened for Rhett to be willing to fully give her his heart again..."

true but even in GWTW i think that in the end rhett still loves her (from his attitude and speech) and well time heals all wounds i'm sure after a pretty long time he would very slowly and slowly start trusting her again.

Cynthia wrote: "http://gwtwscrapbook.blogspot.com/201...

Some good info on Mitchell's thoughts..."

excellent contribution, thank you for that information.

I think so. Scarlett always gets what she wants and now that she realises what she actually wants, she has all the southern charms to get Rhett right back.

I think in the future if Scarlett got her act together they wouldve reunited..I read the sequel Scarlett and I liked it..but to each their own....

Jasleen wrote: "Linda wrote: "My opinion changes every time I read the book, sometimes she gets him back next time she doesnt. Whatever i imagine in now way does it match that awful pretence of a sequel (Scarlet)..."
There was a sequel called "
"Scarlet" I hated it. They probably would have gotten back together because they had a passion unlike most folks.

If I were to write a sequel to GWTW, I would set it up like this: Now that Melanie is dead, Rhett is gone, and Scarlett sees the true Ashley, Scarlett would learn of a boom town in Texas and wipe the dust of Atlanta off her green slippers. In Texas is an old friend from the Tara days. If you may recall, this old friend makes a brief appearance at Aunt Pitty Pat's during the siege of Atlanta. There she would become the queen of building houses and shops in the town, expanding out into the ranching business. She would have her empire. Rhett would show up for some reason, and sparks would fly. Will they end up together?

I have read GWTW and the sequel. I enjoyed both though the original is better. If you enjoy the Rhett and Scarlett story you would enjoy the sequel.

I read the sequel and I thought the first part of it where Scarlett gets kicked out of the snob society is fitting, but it went down hill after that. I could not buy into her going back to Ireland and identifying with her Irish ancestry. It was like it was another person.

As much as it breaks my heart to say this, I don't think they would have gotten together. Rhett probably supported Scarlett all the days of her life because he loved her so deeply, but they just couldn't overcome the people that they are to make it work, despite Scarlett's final realization that Ashley is a chump.

I too was very disappointed in Ripley's "Scarlett" which was sad because I'd read some of Ripley's other works and enjoyed them well enough. Just really didn't like her take on Mitchell's characters. Of course, I didn't like the original film either because of the vast amount of the story that was left out, but I tend to be particular about written work vs film versions.

Meghann wrote: "As much as it breaks my heart to say this, I don't think they would have gotten together. Rhett probably supported Scarlett all the days of her life because he loved her so deeply, but they just co..."

deleted user wrote: "Sue wrote: "Rhett-he discovers that he wants to be accepted, that society is held together by mutual respect and support, and realizes Scarlett hasn't accepted this yet."

BEAUTIFUL POST. Inf act o..."
i think that if we were to consider Scarlett and Red as a real life scenario then one has to believe that they would go back together he is angry and women know how to cure a man's anger when they love him and he loves them.
and lets face it Scarlett is one hell of a woman and she could do what ever she sets her mind to. she puled through and survived a lot more than a man scorned. Anyways, at their age and after what they had together, if they did not go back together they would end up alone!!! and that is unacceptable. No Red and Scarlett must be !!!! she loves him and now actually knows it !!!!! and we know he loves her !!!!

I was so surprised by the responses in this forum. "Gone With The Wind" is the epitome of character development... and Scarlett does just that. Rhett truly loved her, despite him knowing her darkest traits. He knew those traits, and loved her despite that. He moved on because he had self preservation, not because he didn't love her. I think eventually they would have definitely reunited, for Scarlett had changed, and realized her mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Even the author thought they would reunite.

"She agreed with Everett at this time that there might be a bit too much finality in Rhett’s departure, but added, “I think she gets him in the end.” This seems to be the only time she ever made such a statement in a letter or interview. She conceded that it “might not hurt to hint as much a little more strongly,” adding, “My own intention when I wrote it was to leave the ending open to the reader. (Yes, I know that’s not a satisfactory way to do!)” She had not read that section of the manuscript for two years and did not even have a copy. Her “vague memory” was that she had done no more than synopsize that chapter and she suggested to Latham that perhaps a rewrite would bring it closer to the more definite ending that Everett wanted."
--excerpted from The Road to Tara, by Anne Edwards

I thought she died in a auto accident before she finished the sequel

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7722124/1...
if you want someone's perspective this is a lengthy but good proposed sequel

They were badly matched from the start. They had all it took for a fling, but tried making a marriage of it. I don't think they would have gotten back together. Scarlett is a woman with the smarts and strength to have been a rare woman entrepreneur in those days, and I think she would have done that. I think Rhett would have gone back to his former lifestyle.

no, they dont get back together, and it doesnt make sense to want them to. the novel is all about the horrible things they do. two people who are both so evil can never relate to one another in an open and honest and real and respectful way. they deserve to be alone and miserable and filled with regrets and heartbreak. Rhett is no better than Scarlett and theres no reason why he should find love elsewhere either. apart from the horrible things they have both done, they are both horrible people in an internal moral sense, with no loyalty or honour or any other good or true quality at all. evil, thieves, slavers.

But can't they both be evil together?

fab wrote: "But can't they both be evil together?"

you are awesome

Ahhh, those two are a match made in hell.

First of all, I just have to say that I really didn't like the sequel, "Scarlett", in fact I don't consider it a sequel at all.

As for their future. I really do think they end up together. Of course, after everything that's happened, both of them would need time to cool off, but I think that Scarlett would get him in the end. Rhett needs a Scarlett,and Scarlett needs a Rhett, an Ashley just won't do. They may not be the best of people, but they fell in love with each other inspite of, or maybe even because of that. Scarlett is childish and selfish among other things, but Rhett loved her nonetheless, in the end he just couldn't stand living with her in a "loveless" marriage. There are many other issues between them, but now that she realises she loves him... Rhett should just give in. I'm sure it would continue to be a turbulent marriage, but they wouldn't have it any other way. I just can't see Scarlett losing him forever. She always gets her way. I mean, they're both incredibly strong people, but.. Scarlett is Scarlett. Besides, if she charmed him when she was trying to push him away, just imagine her TRYING to woo him. I don't think he'd stand a chance.

this is the dilemma as i see it. 1, two evil racist slavers get together and find meaningful solace and redemption in each other, and there isnt any justice in the world. 2, they are each doomed to be alone and unhappy, just like they deserve. for reasons that are inside the text itself, to do with the complex way it deals with issues about slavery, i cant help seeing this in its early modernist context, as a text that is trying to make moral sense in a chaotic universe.

when pressed by an academic reader before publication to rewrite the ending with a happy reunion, Mitchell steadfastly refused, she said she would never do that. she said that she was happy for readers to decide for themselves what the real ending was between Rhett and Scarlett, but she said that she herself never imagined a reunion between them. she said that what the reader should think though, is what the ending is, is two different people who are both very determined and proficient in getting what they want, who each now want separate things that are very far apart.

Scarlet isn't even 30 when the book is over.

John wrote: "I think they had an ultimately doomed relationship, but they would have gotten back together, been miserable, fought like cats and dogs, broke up and hated each other, then repeated that process ha..."

Ok, here's the thing. I believe Rhett loved Scarlet still, at the conclusion of the book. But sometimes love just isn't enough.

At the begining of the book when Scarlet is talking to her Father he explains to her that Ashley isn't for her because "like has to marry like" or something like that. (Been too many years since I've read it lol). Basically they were too different, they needed to be the same.

Rhett and Scarlet WERE the same, but Rhett started to mature and he was different by the end of the book, which is why AT THAT MOMENT in time, love or not, they would not have worked.

I do feel though, if these characters were real, that Scarlet would have continued to mature. Towards the end of the book she finally had an AHA MOMENT, the start of her growing up, however that was just the start.

Given Scarlet some years to mature, I could totally see her and Rhett back together, but where the characters were at the end of the book....they were no longer "like suiting like".

We also have to take in the time period, although I do think divorce was mentioned, it probably would have been very unlikely they would have gotten one. They more than likely would have stayed married but separated. Which would mean they would never be cut off from each other and always having the opportunity to reunite once Scarlet grew up more.

No. I don't think so. That is actually how I think it should have been. There are consequences to our actions and how we treat others. I don't think that Rhett should have given her another chance at all.

First of all, let's just clarify that the failure in their relationship isn't entirely Scarlett's fault! What about when Rhett comes back from being away after Bonnie's death. Scarlett TOTALLY realized she needed him and loved him. He gave her about 3 seconds to throw herself at him and when she held back testing the waters he turned cold and left. Both came in need and hopes of each other but their pride kept them apart. Or after Scarlett enjoyed being intimate for the first time - she was ready and open to him emotionally but he was cold and got up and left. Or what about the fact that he married a woman he knew was obsessed with another man! Ugh! Scarlett has so many faults, but Rhett has many as well.

The ending, and so much of the whole book, is simply heart-wrenching as you watch Scarlett and Rhett get so close to real happiness only to chase it away with their own behaviors. At some point you want them to just reach it: genuinely, openly, selflessly love each other and thereby be deeply happy. And so the ending killed me. But I came to terms with it because IT IS REAL LIFE. None of us get true love despite our terrible choices, we get rich deep true love because of our good choices. Love is created through choice.

So I think they may get back together thanks to Scarlett's determination, as mentioned already, but for their relationship to have any real hope they would each have to change and mature a lot. So it would be up and down and hard as before. I can't imagine some perfect, easy reunion.

I also think Scarlett is the personification of the Old South. Of the plantation-owning society described at the beginning of the book: beautiful, enchanting, ambitious, proud, gilded, and strikingly appealing BUT selfish to no end, rooted in disregard for basic morality, and proud! The Old South was all of those things. It was beautiful- the oak-lined lanes, big bbqs and exquisite dresses, but built on slavery and so despite all the goodness and beauty in their culture, it was selfish and wrong and doomed to failure. The south fought and fought and fought, against terrible odds, to self-perpetuate, just like Scarlett, but failed and so did Scarlett. That era died and it will never return. The Old South is gone with the wind. And so Scarlett's dreams fail, never to be realized the way she wanted them.

Mitchell was a genius telling the story of the south through a person who lived through that era. Brilliant!

Sue wrote: "Margaret Mitchell told my parents' landlady in Atlanta that in her imagination both Scarlett and Rhett go on to other things. GWTW is not just a love story: it's a story of loss and recovery, of mo..."

I agree!

but there is a sequel already "Scarlett" by Alexandra Ripley...and of course they both get back together....they are cut out of the same material and made for each other...both crooks...and i enjoyed the book only after Scarlet goes to Ireland

Realistically, they probably don't get back together. There was so much damage done. However, the ending was totally open, leaving us the freedom to imagine whatever we want...and I choose to believe that they get back together.

No Rhett and Scarlett would never have gotten back together. Their relationship, tumultuous and acrimonious at best would never have recovered after the loss of Bonnie. Even good relationships are strained by the loss of a child. If any author puts them back together for anything other then lose your head half crazy sex they haven't researched the issues enough.

Scarlett and Rhett def would get back together. Scarlett always got what she wanted when she put her mind to it and if she wanted Rhett she would have got him. After all tomorrow is another day

She would have to prove to him, that she truly loved him and not Ashley and they might have gotten back together.

The thing is Rhett and Scarlet would always be married. Divorce was very rare and Rhett even says he will come back once in a while to keep gossip down.

If divorce was an option for them, I don't believe they would end up getting back together. But because they are forever left with this connection, I do believe that EVENTUALLY given enough time and as Scarlet continued to mature that they would have gotten back together.

Rhett didn't stop loving Scarlet. He was only afraid to. Eventually I could see that fear fading.

I would want Rhett and Scarlett to get back together but i think deep down rhett didnt want to get hurt. And scarlett was an immature woman , and even though he did love her he didnt want to put up with her immaturity.
Reallly Sad ending !

Though I would always want Rhett and Scarlett to be united, I really don't think their reconciliation and further relationship would be "happily ever after". Death of Bonnie, Scarlett's years long affection for Ashley and their fierce persona would always hang over them. Scarlett was very headstrong, selfish woman and always got what she wanted but Rhett was, on his own,very stubborn character. It would be "unstoppable force" Vs "immovable object" scenario, if Rhett really meant what he said while parting.

I think that Scarlett and Rhett would get back together but it would have been a hard road and not the "a-ha" moment Scarlett had about Ashley. There were times I wanted to shake her to realize her love for Rhett as well as times I wanted Rhett to finally come to his senses. I would have liked to have seen them reunite but then keep a relationship going after agreeing to be with one another. Saying I'm sorry and I love you after a fight doesn't mean its all over, its the work after that counts.

No, Scarlett only wanted what she couldn't have. Even if she ended up with Rhett in the end, she wouldn't appreciate him because to her strength was in the unattainable.

I've always finished the story the way I wanted it to end. Scarlett matures from all her crisis and becomes the original "Steel Magnolia" overseeing the restoration of Tara and the lives of her loved ones. Rhett comes looking for her and is encouraged by the finally-grown woman he finds. They live a long, happy life as equal partners in the New South.

I tend to disagree with people who say Rhett would never come back. He loved her to much, even if he didn't show it. I think that in the end, Scarlett would've matured and that Rhett would've shaped up his act.

I would not want them back together. Scarlett broke Rhett's heart. I do not think the sequel written by someone else should not count.

A sequel written by someone else absolutely should not count. If Margaret Mitchell wanted there to be more to the story, she would have written more. Do we realize she wrote the book backwards. That ending was the first thing she wanted for her book.

I don't think they would have because Rhett was disowned by his own family. They hurt him by shunning him and he never again wanted their acceptance or approval. He was betrayed by them and he washed his hands of them. I think Scarlett hurt him too and by judging how he was done with his family I think he washed clean of her too. Also, he loved Bonnie but felt like Scarlett was an inadequate mother. I think that was unforgivable to him. She could have had an affair with Ashley and I think Rhett would have taken her back, but he would not take her back for being the way she was with bonnie. She broke his heart with her inattention to Bonnie. He truely didn't give a damn anymore.

Sadly, NO.
As Rhett said:
"Scarlett, I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is borken."
"I'll not risk my heart a third time."

I don't think Scarlett should carry the blame for the failure of the marriage. She had her place in it but it wasn't like Rhett was so great himself

I loved this story. I really wanted Scarlett and Rhett together in this story.

I was so angry when I realised, that they broke up! I think that they were really great couple and he loved her so much, that they would have gotten together.

It is a true classic. She was a fire ball-he was the only one that could handle her.

A sequel was written, but not by Margaret Mitchell.

Forbidden wrote: "I dont understand people who think Scarlett has all the faults for the end of the relantionship! Like, he as an abusive husband, remember that! In fact, the Rhett of real life beated Margaret Mitch..."

We don't know that Rhett raped Scarlet. All we know is that he forced a kiss on her, picked her up and took her to bed. Then we know she woke up in the morning all smiles and humming. People seem to have strange definitions of rape to me. If Scarlet had been raped, I don't think she would have liked it. Am I the weird one here? Or do some women like being raped or something? I always thought that rape was against your will. What started with Rhett and A scarlet that night was forced but it didn't end that way.

The question to me is, would Rhett have raped her had she not capitulated?