Gone With The Wind

And so, I have finally finished the 1010 page epic novel that is Gone With The Wind! Jeez, am I ever proud of myself. Without a doubt, it is the longest book I have ever read, and it was most certainly the best! I know I say that in almost every post I write, but seriously, this is my favourite book, along with The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and David Copperfield. I kid you not. Just a warning, don't read this one if you haven't read the book or seen the film and are planning on doing so. A lot of the major plot twists (of which there are many!) are revealed...

I shall open this paragraph by saying  I LOVE RHETT BUTLER! There we go, all out of my system now. He is just too amazing for his own good! This may be a total cliche, but to be honest, nothing matters but the fact that I am absolutely and completely besotted with him. Yes, he may have a drink occasionally (and that occasion may crop up more and more often as we near the end of the book), and he may be tempted by the flesh once in a while, but he is a wonderful father to his child, Bonnie, or more formally, Eugenie Victoria, and he loves Scarlett dearly and with all his heart. I can only hope that I find a man in my life anything like him. Katie Scarlett O'Hara, or, in the order of her numerous husbands, Scarlett Hamilton, Scarlett Kennedy and Scarlett Butler, is an interesting sort of a character. Before the war, the most important issue on her mind is what dress to wear that will suitably show off her 16 inch waist, or what colour hair ribbon to wear to the dance. During the war, she becomes hard-hearted, and willing to shoulder a "man's" burden at a moment's notice. After the war, she becomes vulgar, snotty and brash, throwing off all of her old friends at a moment's notice to be able to associate with those with money; they are known in the book as "Carpetbaggers" (Yankees who have moved down to the South with all of their belongings in a carpet bag) and "Scallawags" (old Southern Democrats who took the Republican vow for personal gain). This change is an interesting one to witness, although it's only after reading it that I noticed how odd it was for her to take up so many responsibilities at the drop of a hat. One can only put it down to the love of her home, Tara, and the desire to save it from the Yankees at whatever cost it may come to herself.

My love, Rhett

The book gives you an insight into the lives of Southerners at the time of the American Civil War. The majority lived in poverty, scrimping and saving to buy the necessities, and not knowing where their next meal would come from. To the surprise of many, a lot of the noble characters in the book who would heretofore never stoop to such work, begin baking and embroidering and taking in lodgers in order to make some money. It was only the lucky few, like Rhett Butler, who had any money at all, and he only made that money from blockading and speculating, a dishonourable occupation in the eyes of Atlanta and the rest of the South. The book tells us of the struggle many Southerners went through to rebuild their lives and their fortunes.

Many people would say that the Southerners don't deserve our sympathies, that they horribly mistreated black people and that they were racist, immoral people. Some of this is true, some of it isn't. What Gone With The Wind does is alert us to the perspective of the Southerners during the Civil War. Yes, they supported slavery, and yes, they did have some ignorant attitudes towards black people, but their morals were high and their etiquette greatly honoured. I am in no way defending their behaviour, merely offering a different side to the story and a reason for the behaviour so frowned upon. They were scared of the Yankee invasion of their homes, and the Yankees, being demonized by the Southern press, acted in no way to be able to disprove these roles that they were given. I want to make it clear at this point that I am not a Redneck nor do I ever intend on becoming one. I am in no way supporting their behaviour to others, but I can understand why they did it. Not to be confused with supporting. At all.

The twists and turns in the plot, the intricate detail of the characters, the fantastic backdrop (I actually learnt a little about the Civil War!) all combine to make for an amazing book. If you only read one book about the American Civil War, make sure it's this one. In keeping with the theme of the Deep South, I shall be reading The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. I'll keep you posted!