Gone with the Wind discussion

Alan wrote: "They say true love always finds a way. A sequel, where Rhett and Scarlett's paths cross again, under a different set of unique circumstances post Civil War/Reconstruction could have presented them ..."

Yes, many bad things happened, it wouldn't be good for them to stay together, I also don't like how Scarlett treated men at that time...

I find myself leaning toward them being over, "you never know what you had until it's gone" aspect is clear here. Though, I also find myself thinking that they could of had that tortured love affair, you know, Scarlett stops chasing after him but taunts him with others, his love for her stays hidden but the jealously plays out in the story and neither finds happiness because the love hate aspect is to strong.

I dare say this but I did have desires for this story-line to expand, I would not have minded seeing more of Rhett and Belle....

I am not a person who needs an epic journey to end with happiness, sometimes the sorrow is the key to the journey.

Has anyone in the commentary read the "secondary" books about the characters? Rhett Butlers historie or Ruth's Journey: The Story of Mammy from Gone with the Wind

Taking into account that time in history (yes, way too analytical) they probably would get back together. He loved her. Divorce wasn't nearly as easy or acceptable at that time and they were both raised with that value and example - like it or not.
Today, I would hope that Rhett would be smart enough to know that Scarlett was never going to really change. Would she be worth the aggravation? As she got older would she get sweeter? Not likely! :-)

Rhett even says at the end of the book that he would come back often enough to keep gossip down. Divorce would not have been an option for them in that time period.

I don't think the question is really, would they have gotten back together..perhaps it should be...Would Scarlet have changed?

Given that they would always be connected through marriage I see it entirely possible that given some years and some growing up that they would eventually mend their fences.

Wikipedia source

She left the ending speculative for the reader, however. She was often asked what became of her lovers, Rhett and Scarlett. She did not know, and said, "For all I know, Rhett may have found someone else who was less difficult.

They will all be fine.
Rhett was such a wonderful parent and I can imagine him having more children. He has changed after Bonnie's death. He becomes more "conservative" - he wants to be close to his family, he needs more compassionate partner than in the past (but maybe Scarlett can be a little bit more compassionate).
Scarlett will be fine too. She is even stronger than in the past and she understands herself (just) a little better. She will not be alone, she will have a partner (maybe even Rhett) and this time she will make an effort to make this relationship better.
Even Ashley will survive. He was always attracted to strong women and he could find a fitting second wife.

But will Rhett and Scarlett stay together? Well... divorces were more difficult at the time (but not impossible) and Scarlett will chase him. But she hurt him so much in the past. And she only reminds him of Bonnie's loss. He might meet someone else and fall in love again and be really really happy. More than he ever was with Scarlett.

Vesna wrote: "They will all be fine.
Rhett was such a wonderful parent and I can imagine him having more children. He has changed after Bonnie's death. He becomes more "conservative" - he wants to be close to hi..."

I like that, while you believe everyone (who survives) will love again, you don't necessarily think that they will be "fine together."

Margaret Mitchell herself was asked this question and said promptly "I don't think so." I feel the same way. By the end of the book, too much had happened, and Rhett was already jaded with Scarlett's personality before Bonnie's death and requested a divorce. I like the ending as is and wouldn't prefer a Disney rainbow unicorn happy ending like the ridiculous sequel "Scarlett".

Tiggs wrote: "Margaret Mitchell herself was asked this question and said promptly "I don't think so." I feel the same way. By the end of the book, too much had happened, and Rhett was already jaded with Scarlett..."

"Scarlett" was unintentionally hilarious when it came to legitimacy as a sequel. I haven't read any sequels/spinoffs that really "worked" for me, though. (I've read-- "Rhett Butler's People" and "Wind Done Gone"), "Scarlett" I only saw-- but oy. Not the best fanfic out there.

I don't know. Mitchell wrote it as a metaphor for the southern spirit. Scarlett is the personification of the "South", and no, scarlett does not ever return to Rhett. At least from what We have seen of the Southern states since the Civil War. Scarlett turned into Blanche Dubios. The reconstruction was horrible. It led to the civil rights movement, and to this day the most impoverished states and communities are in the South. I believe thats why Mitchell says she never gets Rhett back, and the door got shut on the South in the decade after the civil war. Doomed to walk out its destiny of stubborness.

But if you look at the characters in the book as real characters and not representations of the Southern State. Scarlett probably would have gained him back. I find GWTW to be very similar to the story Emma. A young well to do girl, who's immature but her talents speak for themselves anyway. Knightley waits for Emma. Rhett gets impatient and jumps the gun with Scarlett, I think.

I find Rhett to be selfish and cowardly in the story. And i have compassion on Scarlett (Rhett was like 10 or 15 years her senior! She was 18 at the start of the book) her "obsessive" love for Ashley was obsessive, but it was how she coped with the loss and destruction of the civil war, which completely stunted her emotional growth (why it was obsessive, it was a stalwart against psychological breakdown). Not to mention every single character (with the exception of Rhett) relied souly on her for the strenght she had. It was a gift but it was a curse too. A curse against her own ability to recognize who she really was....she was spending everything she had emotionally carrying everyone else...melanie, ashley, her family, her father...her second husband. Because of this talent for strenght she had. They all used her for it.

And Rhett claims to love her but he's so afraid of her strenght he didn't recognize her heart. She had heart the whole time. Why else would you take care of a family you despise, but she was stupid. Straight up, not very emotionally or interpersonally smart.

The only character in the story that sees scarlett for what she is Melanie. but melanie was co dependant with Scarlett. She used scarlett to carry her emotionally. Melly survived because she held so fiercely to scarlett. Melanie knew it. She also enabled scarlett to not grow up by mothering her. And i think one of the reasons scarlett was so obsessed with ashley was because of this emotional imeshment the two women had. Melanie knew about scarletts silly infatuation with ashley. She Didnt care! Because Scarlett was keeping them alive. And melanie knew it was silly.

There was know way she did not know. She let scarlett have her infatuation. Why didn't melanie call her out on it? Forcing Scarlett to see herself? Because it's a metaphor for the South.

Rdtheliterature wrote: "I don't know. Mitchell wrote it as a metaphor for the southern spirit. Scarlett is the personification of the "South", and no, scarlett does not ever return to Rhett. At least from what We have se..."

Although your post opens some very interesting new questions, especially about Rhett's suitability for Scarlett, I don't necessarily agree with everything you say - especially about Emma.

Fist to the latter. Although Scarlett and Emma are both immature spoiled brats, I find very little similarity between their stories. Scarlett has a fire, she is strong and fiercely independent, she takes care of others. Emma can always lean on Mr. Knightley. Her influence arises predominantly from her social position. Emma lives in safe, peaceful environment, Scarlett must survive storms. Nice Mr. Knightley is very different than Rhett (he is more like a better, more mature version of Ashley). And most importantly, Emma and Knightley have a very particular relationship. He is her brother in law. He has taken care of her since she was a baby. He visits Emma and her father every day, he advises her, he preaches her, he guides her. They respect each other and they deeply care for each other. On the other hand Scarlett has only known Rhett better, when she was already a widow and a mother. And he isn't always around to help her.

I like the way you see Scarlett, as a nice person even though she is immature.

Do you believe, that Rhett should have done more for Scarlett? I mean, it's obvious, that they have problems in communication, they are not sincere with each other, there might be a power struggle. And Rhett is not a "nice guy". He is a "bad boy" with a bad boy charm, an outcast, a gambler, he killed someone in duel, he visits a prostitute. But he helps Scarlett many times, he is the only one who understands her and loves her at the same time.
Perhaps Rhett should not be so proud. Perhaps he should somehow persuade her to share the bedroom with him or do something else to be closer to Scarlett. Instead he was becoming with time more and more cold towards her.

But I don't blame him for leaving her after Bonnie's death. There are many broken marriages after child's death.

I think he'd be tempted, but I also think he'd had it with Scarlett. In the book, he said,"You're such a child, you think that saying I'm sorry erases all the hurts of the past." And, "I think you're still a child. Only a child could be so cruel". I think when he finally realized how immature and selfish she really was, he lost his love for her.

The ironic thing was, Scarlett chased Ashley all through the story, and Rhett chased Scarlett. They were both obsessed with people they couldn't have, and when those people were available to them, they didn't want them anymore. Rhett may have been the best choice for her in some ways, but he was determined to have her, even when she was so horrible to him, and told him straight out she didn't love him. Everyone thinks, and rightly so, that Scarlett was a fool, but Rhett was just as foolish for chasing her.

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..."

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

I think you put it very well. And it's wonderful that you got the scoop from Margaret Mitchell herself. I never thought GWTH was a love story; it was a saga of people caught up in the destruction of their world, and the culture and mindset that was the framework of the South before the Civil War. It also fleshes out interesting characters and their interactions with each other. Scarlett, of course, is the anti-heroine; beautiful, courageous, and utter ruthless. This is how she survives, but this trait ultimately destroys all of her relationships. She treated Rhett like dirt through the whole story, and by the time they might have started a real romance, Rhett was fed up with her childish,cruel treatment of him, and he was done. They might have tried a reconciliation because of their passion for each other, but I don't think it would've worked out in the end. Leopards don't always change their spots, and I think Scarlett would still be selfish and willful, and Rhett would keep dodging her bullets, and putting up a wall to protect himself from her.

I just don't think everything could ultimately work, because although Rhett thought they were well-matched, they were always bickering, and trying to one-up each other. I think they would part in the end.

The death of his beloved daughter and Scarlett's reaction, hardened Rhett's loathing of her so that any attempt of theirs to resume would be doomed.

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..."
It is interesting to note that Rhett decided to reunite with his people and seek out old towns and seek out "something of dignity and grace". His days of being a reckless rebel seemed to have dissipated with his age, and Scarlett was one of those reckless, rebellious people that belonged in his past. He's middle-aged by the end of the novel, and Scarlett is still quite young at 28. He says he was never one for piecing broken fragments of something broken together, and pretending it was good as new in the book. Although I believe deep down he really still loves Scarlett and probably always will, he's tired of the chase, weary of dealing with a headstrong, immature girl, who has hurt and humiliated him throughout the story, and suddenly transfers her love from Ashley to him. I think if she started chasing him, he'd just end up being annoyed and sorry for her. He is a man, and she is still a child emotionally, and his final acceptance of this makes his love evaporate.

Vanessa Eden wrote: "Mrsbooks wrote: "John wrote: "No way they got back together. I'm sure Scarlett tried probably for years. Maybe even Rhett would sympathies to some degree and throw her a bone now and then. If he di..."I think you make an excellent point. People forget, or don't realize, Scarlett was just 16 at the beginning of the novel. She became a mother and a widow while she was still 16. How many women/teens would have the maturity to deal with marriage and motherhood at that age. Even Ashley told her, very politely, I might add, that she was so young she didn't know what marriage really meant. Factor in her selfishness and vanity, and what kind of wife or mother could she have been? And, what about Rhett? A 33 year-old man chasing a 16 year old girl? How mature, and appropriate is that for a man his age? He knows she's in love with Ashley from the beginning of the book, but is obsessed with her, and chases her for 12 years, just as she is obsessed with Ashley. In the end, they can have who they want, but they don't want them anymore. People seem to idolize Rhett, and think Scarlett is a fool, but I think they're both fools, even though they both have qualities that redeem them somewhat. But Rhett is afraid of Scarlett, and hides behind a mask of false-bravado and sarcasm, because he knows Scarlett will cast him aside like all the other beaux she teased and discarded once she got them and lost interest. They bicker all through the story, and cannot communicate honestly until it's too late. I think they both grow emotionally by the end of the book, but
after all of the strain and collective years between them, Rhett is tired of the game, and wants to move on.

I'd like to think Scarlett and Rhett were reunited and finally achieved the happily ever after status - although I'm a hopeless romantic so my world is colored in that fashion :)

Kate wrote: "And, what about Rhett? A 33 year-old man chasing a 16 year old girl? How mature, and appropriate is that for a man his age? "

At the time though I think it's was very common to have much older man marry to very young girls.

Kate wrote: He knows she's in love with Ashley from the beginning of the book, but is obsessed with her, and chases her for 12 years, just as she is obsessed with Ashley. In the end, they can have who they want, but they don't want them anymore. People seem to idolize Rhett, and think Scarlett is a fool, but I think they're both fools, even though they both have qualities that redeem them somewhat."

Exactly my thougths.

Kate wrote: But Rhett is afraid of Scarlett, and hides behind a mask of false-bravado and sarcasm, because he knows Scarlett will cast him aside like all the other beaux she teased and discarded once she got them and lost interest.

I don't think he is afraid of her. He knows that he can't show affection because with every man that does that she plays and tosses away (her intern monologue says that several times and she thinks stuff like: "now he's gonna confess and I'm going to mock him")

Women at that time married at an early age. Remember Melanie married Ashley when she was 17. I think Scarlett was simply not made for motherhood. moreover, there is also a considerable difference in age between Gerald and Ellen so Rhett's behaviour was acceptable. besides, what do you mean saying Scarlett has matured emotionally? At the end of the book she does not seem mature to me. She says "I only know I love you'- she does not understand that they both have hurt each other and that love may not be enough

Mingaile wrote: "Women at that time married at an early age. Remember Melanie married Ashley when she was 17. I think Scarlett was simply not made for motherhood. moreover, there is also a considerable difference i..."

I think she 'matured' but did not necessarily make it all the way to 'being a mature person.' I was left feeling that there had been some maturation, not necessarily in a good way, over the course of the novel-- she went from empty-headed, to cold-blooded connivance, to a realization of would make for a "real relationship" for her. Unfortunately, by the time she realized it, that ship had sailed. Too much damage was done, and she struck me as the kind of person who would never actually realize that she had done too much damage. She has her "womanly weapons", which Rhett is entirely immune to, but I can easily see her butting her head against his indifference forever.

Some of the things I liked about her character, though, were that she always was able to take as good as she gave-- yes, she hurt people, but she was as indifferent to the pain that others caused her as the pain she caused others.

Susan wrote: "It's been a long time since I read it, but I tend to agree with everyone who said that Rhett is Done. He'd taken all he was going to from Scarlett, and that was it."

I agree.

Rhett spent 12 years of his life chasing down a dream that in the end was not meant to be. Of course he could have broken Scarlett's spirit but he wanted to love and take care of her as a husband rather than a jailer.

I must admit, I would have preferred a happy ending were Rhett and Scarlett end up together, and live happily ever after, but I think Mitchell's ending was a true classic... always leave them wanting more.

It seems to me that Rhett lovd Scarlett as he did Bonnie for he said he spoiled Bonnie as he wanted to spoil Scarlett. maybe he wanted to have a child not a wife.besides how do you allf eel about the fact that he often laughed at Scarlet's ignorance? I wonder why he did that. I found this quite annoying

Mingaile made a good observation when she mentioned how Rhett "often laughed at Scarlett's ignorance". This annoyed me, too. He was always mocking her and always talking to her with sarcasm in his voice. I got tired of seeing them arguing and being hateful to each other in the movie, and reading about this in the novel. I really didn't find Rhett that attractive, and Scarlett treated him like dirt. They couldn't have a relationship because they were always sparring with each other, and Scarlett was chasing Ashley throughout the entire story. She was too immature to see that she loved Rhett until the very end. I found them very tiresome as a couple.

Kate wrote: "Mingaile made a good observation when she mentioned how Rhett "often laughed at Scarlett's ignorance". This annoyed me, too. He was always mocking her and always talking to her with sarcasm in his ..."

I think Rhett's sarcasm and laughing at Scarlett had everything to do with the fact that she was very transparent to him. In a perverse way, Rhett enjoyed watching Scarlett using her charms to try to manipulate situations. The obvious problem, was that Rhett was a man of the world and he saw right through Scarlett's act.When dealing with Rhett, Scarlett was clearly outmatched, however, she was consistent and never broke character.

Rhett understood Scarlett all too well ... in many ways, they were a lot alike. Unfortunately, being so similar in nature made them incompatible.

Honestly, I don't see Rhett and Scarlett getting back together. By the end of the story, Rhett had already pretty much moved on with Belle Watling. He didn't love Belle, not the way that he once loved Scarlett, but Belle and Rhett understood each other and had a comfortable relationship. Scarlett, never really knowing what she wanted, wasn't the kind of person with whom Rhett could ever feel comfortable. That's a huge problem in a relationship. And Rhett, being in his mid-forties, was probably experienced enough to know that.
I also doubt that Scarlett and Ashley could have made a relationship work. There would be too much guilt between them. Scarlett would feel guilty for finally understanding that Melanie had always been her best friend and finally realizing that there'd scarcely been a moment in their relationship when she'd ever shown Melanie any kind of loyalty. Ashley would feel guilty because he'd finally realized that for all his pretensions of being a person of honor, he hadn't been true to Melanie from a fortnight before they announced their engagement, to the very end of their marriage. They would probably have a cordial friendship out of Scarlett's necessity to keep her promise to Melanie to look after Ashley and Beau.
But being the determined person that she is, I imagine Scarlett scheming and making alliances that will keep her in Rhett's social circle, even going across the pond to make that happen. It would probably take her two years (tops,) before she realizes that there's no way that she would ever win Rhett back.
Though, instead of depression, I envision Scarlett finding a sort of freedom in her paper marriage. She still had the house in Georgia, Aunt Pitty's place, the store, a way to get to Tara, and family that would welcome her there. I think that the store would thrive under Scarlett’s constant attention. On top of that, she could help Ashley with the mills. Still, I could see the mills becoming a matter of contention. Scarlett would get frustrated with the high prices of labor from the freed African Americans. She would want to use convicts and Ashley vowed never to use forced labor. So, I imagine there would be a great falling out between Scarlett and Ashley. Also, being that the store was Frank’s baby, and not hers, I can see Scarlett getting bored with it in about 10 years’ time. Maybe less.
I also can’t imagine Scarlett ever truly taking to motherhood. I’m betting that she would probably send Beau and Wade away to Westpoint and Ella to Notre Dame. Which would lead her to Annapolis, where she would be telling herself that she would be keeping an eye on the children, but, really, she’d be running away from Georgia, feeling strangled by the hatred of the Old Guard, the memory of losing Melanie, and the ache of losing the three most important men in her life, her father, the dream that she thought was Ashley, and Rhett.
While “looking in on the children”, she would learn of the opportunity to open a steel mill. So, she’d go back to Georgia to get a loan from Rhett’s bank to start the steel mill, which they’d give her. She’d start the mill, and be a great success, at first, but then a terrible fire would break out at the steel mill, and Scarlett would die of smoke inhalation in the middle of the act of trying to pull an unconscious steel worker to safety.
Rhett would return from his jaunts abroad to ensure that Scarlett had the kind of funeral he believed that she would have wanted. He’d feel like he owed her at least that much. Upon arriving for Scarlett’s funeral, Wade, Beau, and Ella would find Ashley quite incapable of coping with the loss of the two women in his life that he believed that he’d loved. Beau and Wade would take up the work of General Manager for each mill, Wade taking over for the one Scarlett most recently sold to Ashley, and Beau would take over running his dad’s mill. But only until the Spanish-American war broke out. At that time, Wade would join the navy over the objections of Ashley and Uncle Rhett so that he could “be a hero like his dad.” Tragically, Wade would lose his life in service to his country, just as his dad did before him.
Wracked with grief at the loss of her brother, Ella would take refuge at Tara. Truly being away from her for the first time in his life, Beau would come to realize all that Ella meant to him. He’d speed to Tara to confess his love and ask for her hand. And they would be married.

That's as far as my imagination goes.

Angee wrote: "Honestly, I don't see Rhett and Scarlett getting back together. By the end of the story, Rhett had already pretty much moved on with Belle Watling. He didn't love Belle, not the way that he once lo..."

Wow... nicely done.

Your imagination gets great mileage. IMHO, I think your take on the aftermath of GWTW is far superior to the sequel that was published years ago. I love the way you have Beau and Ella end up together instead of Rhett and Scarlett. If you ever decide to write and publish your version, I definitely would love to read it.

Louis wrote: "Angee wrote: "Honestly, I don't see Rhett and Scarlett getting back together. By the end of the story, Rhett had already pretty much moved on with Belle Watling. He didn't love Belle, not the way t..."

Aw! Thanks, Louis! Though, I definitely think that GWTW had an unconventional happy ending (how cool is it that Scarlett was finally able to understand her own emotions? And that she was able to hold onto hope and determination, despite the indifference that Rhett showed to her in the end?) after suffering the heartbreaking blow of losing Melanie, I felt that Georgia circle needed to have that moment of like a sigh of relief. I wanted to see the children age and mature in a way that their parents never did, so that they could have the success that their parents never achieved.

Cynthia wrote: "I remember my mother telling me years ago that she had come across an interview with Margaret Mitchell who, when asked that same question, said that her vision of GWTW did not have Rhett and Scarle..."

That was good to know.

Sareyxown wrote: "Kate wrote: "And, what about Rhett? A 33 year-old man chasing a 16 year old girl? How mature, and appropriate is that for a man his age? "

At the time though I think it's was very common to have m..."

I think that Rhett has "matured" both chronologically and emotionally in that he finally realizes that he's been clinging to an obsession that only served to torment him for over a decade. I agree that Scarlett doesn't seem to have matured much at all, but she has, at least, overcome her childish infatuation with Ashley, and perhaps, that signals the beginning of some emotional maturity. But, we may never know....

Kate wrote: "I think that Rhett has "matured" both chronologically and emotionally in that he finally realizes that he's been clinging to an obsession that only served to torment him for over a decade."

Agreed,

Rhett and Scarlett (in her own way) matured over the years. They both had a lot of hardships that they endured and ultimately drove them apart.

However, they both shared the bond of parenthood and that is an emotional connection that can't be easily erased. Perhaps, Scarlett could win Rhett back ... she certainly would not take no for an answer, and I don't think he could successfully refuse her if she really wanted him back in her life. One of the qualities I admired about Scarlett was her sheer force of well ... whatever she wanted she eventually got.

I wanted them to get back together, but even so, I don't think they did. Bonnie's birth realigned Rhett's priorities away from Scarlett, and I think her death completely broke him such that he doesn't care about Scarlett or his previous life anymore. I think that after Bonnie died, he started to view his feelings for Scarlett as shallow and pointless in much the same way as Melanie's death makes Scarlett stop caring about Ashley. The way I imagine it, Scarlett goes back to Tara, her first and greatest love, and spends the rest of her life (and quite a bit of Rhett's money) trying to restore it to its former glory.

I agree with you about her return to Tara -maybe Tara is the only thing Scarlett really loves. Tony Fontaine could come back and they could get married for they both share the love for their land and are both hot tempered- she could fight with him as she did with Rhett. Tara would again become a great plantation it used to be

Netta wrote: "I wanted them to get back together, but even so, I don't think they did. Bonnie's birth realigned Rhett's priorities away from Scarlett, and I think her death completely broke him such that he does..."

Netta,

Dont ruin the "happily ever after ending" with logic.

In my feverish little imagination, Scarlett goes after Rhett, he is stubborn and refuses her. They go their separate ways, but are brought back together by some great crisis. After a little back and forth and soul searching, Rhett's love for Scarlett is rekindled. And just as she is about to exit his life forever, he admits that she is (after Bonnie) the great love of his life. They renew their wedding vows at Tara.

The final chapter shows them ten years later, happily together, with their children, a charming boy and michievous little girl. The end.

Btw ... in the sequel to the sequel (in my imagination) the story revolves around Rhett and Scarlett's children growing into adulthood and making their own lives. Flights of fancy forthcoming :)

Margaret Mitchell left the reader open to suggestions whether if Scarlett would have won Rhett back. I've read (and watched) the sequel, Scarlett and frankly I was embarrassed. I've read some novice sequels and none of them equaled to the Real Thing. Since the book is based on the tragedy of love. My only assumption is that yes, Scarlett did go back to Rhett, but years and years later when she was old and by that time, Rhett was bedridden due to old age. They were together for a short time and Rhett died. Shortly afterwards, Scarlett died too. Wouldn't that have been a tragic love affair? Since the original book ended in sadness, why shouldn't the "sequel" also be ended in sadness as well?

Read Rhett Butler's People. It was an amazing book!

No. The entire point of the climactic ending was to describe how Scarlett has had an irrational hope and belief that she can achieve anything through her land. Over 1,000 pages and she is back to square one, which I believe is a huge amount of satisfying irony. If anything, it would be sad if he ever let her back!

I think that sometimes she could win him back, and sometimes she could not.

has anyone read a book by elen Brown and some other author? the anotation claims they give an answer to this question.I wonder what that answer is for I found a letter by Mitchell in which she said she believed Rhett and Scarlett were used to having their own way and in the end those ways were so far apart that they could not be together though she said she wanted to leave the ending open to imagination of those who read it

It is a bit off topic but still I would like to know what you think. Do you think Ashley has known all along he did not love Scarlett?

Mingaile wrote: "It is a bit off topic but still I would like to know what you think. Do you think Ashley has known all along he did not love Scarlett?"

You know, I always thought that Ashley had the higher level of self-awareness, and he knew that, while he was attracted to Scarlett, it was Melanie he loved. He never "believed in" his attraction to her, if that makes sense.

In the novel, there is a foreshadowing of Rhett's loss of love for Scarlett. It is a vague feeling of fear for her, something she can't conceptualize fully, only a fear like she has never known.

Rhett is appearing less and less at the dinner table, and he has become dissipated by age and drink. He doesn't regale her with amusement and sarcasm anymore, and seems distant in a way that frightens her.

In the book, Rhett tells Scarlett that he was going to leave her when she returned from Marietta, before Melanie miscarried. He didn't leave out of jealousy of Ashley after Melly died, necessarily. It was always there, and I do think he was somewhat jealous that she could finally unite with the man she's been obessed with throughout the novel, instead of him. But, he's older, tired, and thoroughly fed up with her immaturity. She simply thinks that by saying she's sorry, "all the hurt of the past can be forgiven" He goes on to say, "My dear, you're such a child. I believe you're still a child. Only a child could be so cruel".
I believe when Rhett finally realizes he's been chasing a child, not a mature woman, he loses all respect for her, all desire and admiration for her ruthlessness, because she has consistently turned that ruthlessness against him. I think if she tried to follow him, to chase him, he would continue to pity her, and desire to distance himself from her even more. He awakened from his "dream" just as she awakened from her's, and when fully awake, realized that, for 12 years, that's all it was.

Kate wrote: "In the novel, there is a foreshadowing of Rhett's loss of love for Scarlett. It is a vague feeling of fear for her, something she can't conceptualize fully, only a fear like she has never known.

R..."

That's how I felt . . . and it makes sense why Mitchell said the book "ends where it ends." It feels "unfinished" because I think people love a happy ending, and love to see romance conquer all . . . but as to what these characters represent in terms of their historical context-- that kind of happiness doesn't seem likely without a ridiculous amount of Deus ex Machina and external intervention. Scarlett is capable of growth, but not that much self-examination.

Kate wrote: "In the novel, there is a foreshadowing of Rhett's loss of love for Scarlett. It is a vague feeling of fear for her, something she can't conceptualize fully, only a fear like she has never known.

R..."

Her spitfire nature attracted him. But even he could only take so much mistreatment and withholding of affection, and it killed part of him.

Message 51 by Kate.

Margaret Mitchell was a genius to leave an open ending. So many people want to know if Rhett and Scarlett will reconcile. I think that's one of the reasons the book was so incredibly popular.

But, having read the book, it shows a forshadowing that isn't in the movie. Rhett becomes more distant, comes home less often, and is polite to Scarlett, something that never happens throughout their entire relationship. Their marriage becomes a sort of game, where they play hide and seek with their emotions. Rhett admits he was afraid to declare his love fully to her because he knows how cruel she to those who love her. He admits also that he knew Scarlett was obsessed with Ashley, and when he did ask her to marry him, she told him, flat out,, that she doesn't love him. He thinks he can change her, but he can't. Their marriage is fraught with bickering and betrayal, and Scarlett goes as far as to kick him out of her bed.

In the book, he's already decided to leave her before she came home from Marietta, then Melanie became fatally ill.

I got so tired of their awful relationship, I really wished Rhett didn't come back. Scarlett was immature and believed than all she had to do is say she was sorry, and all the hurts and indignities of their marriage would be forgotten. This book is NOT a romance, IMHO. I think when Rhett became aware of her childlessness, he loses all respect for her, as she has used the ruthnesesess (sp?) he once admired on him.

She really doesn't deserve him, and he only feels pity for her now instead of passion. He's sick of the spoiled, beautiful spitfire he married, because, regardless of her courage during and after the war, she never acquired compassion and depth of feeling for others. If she chased him, I think he would pity her even more, and actually find her pursuit of him annoying. He's had enough, IMHO.

If we don't have Rhett and Scarlett reconcile, why would we want a sequel? The perfect ending for those who think that their reunion is out of the question is right there (I mean, MM's original book).

I do believe Scarlett would lick her wounds and carry on, taking care of herself and her family (Wade and Ella) WITH or WITHOUT Rhett. She has a far greater survival instinct than him. However, if I think there were a possibility of their reconciliation, it could be because a) Scarlett was about to go through a character development at the end and b) Rhett also needed to introspect when it came to their failed relationship.

As for a), Scarlett finally realized her mistakes at the end and it was THE MOMENT for her to evolve as a grown-up person, IMO. Finally she learned her lesson. Still, she appeared to be sort of a child, offering carelessly to make it up to Rhett, and she got a long way to go, but at least she apologized for her past wrongdoing, which I thought was a first step to become a better person. (Did Rhett ever apologize for what he had done, btw? I can't remember.)

As for b), I always thought MM left Scarlett too defenseless at the end. Rhett got away easily with laying all blames on Scarlett for their broken marriage. She was a selfish, vain and immature creature for sure, but he also had his share in the failure of their marriage. He was a not-so-mature coward at heart, IMHO. Hardly did he reveal his true feelings for her except for the finale.

He said he had loved her all those years, but in fact neither of them knew how to love. He upbraided her for being a child at the end, while he was the one who had treated her like a spoilt one. He was either trying to take control of her (when he failed, he ducked) or spoiling her (just like he did to Bonnie). What kind of husband would call his wife "my pet'', debase and mock her if he respected and loved her?

Don't get me wrong. I know Scarlett was not an angel, either. My point is that both of them were self-centered and arrogant fools who needed to learn to communicate and grow up to have a good relationship. I doubt that Rhett could find true solace, peace and grace in a genteel society of Charleston or anywhere. (How graceful would it be if he abandoned his stepchildren just like that, btw?) Both of them carry plenty of emotional baggage that only the two can deal with (especially, regarding Bonnie's death) before they move on with their lives. Too many things happened, alright. However, without the process of making peace with their past (which involves a lot of talking, apologizing and forgiving on both sides), neither of them could stand a chance of having truly solid and healthy relationships with others, IMO.

That's what I like to see develop in a sequel if there would be one. I suppose at least they deserve a chance to mature and heal, even if they don't end up together. I don't regard Ripley's Scarlett as a GWTW sequel. She got almost everything wrong. Scarlett leaving Wade and Ella behind? Never would she abandon her family. Rhett tying the knot with a Melanie Wilkes-lite? Oh, please.. And what the heck was Scarlett doing in Ireland? She is Tara. Everyone can have his or her own version of what will happen to Scarlett and Rhett, though. There's no definitive answer, and that's the beauty of GWTW.

Sequel has been written. It is titled 'Scarlett'. I found my copy at a Habitat store in neighboring county. In it, they do finally get back together at the end. There is another one related to it titled 'Rhett Butler's People' and it is all about his ancestors and immediate family.
I will always believe that a book about Rhett Butler himself should've been written because he was such a lusty, colorful, adventurous character who had a good heart which he tried to hide.

Gerald wrote: "Sequel has been written. It is titled 'Scarlett'. I found my copy at a Habitat store in neighboring county. In it, they do finally get back together at the end. There is another one related to it t..."

The sequel Scarlet wasn’t written by Margret Mitchell the writer of Gone With the Wind.