The book Gone With the Wind follows the story of Scarlett O’Hara, a young Georgian girl throughout the Civil War. Scarlett, a mix of her Irish father and aristocratic mother, is both hot-tempered and charming. The young woman falls in love with Ashley Wilkes, a neighbor boy and one of her countless beaux, only to realize that he is engaged to another woman, Melanie Hamilton. Enraged and jealous, Scarlett tries to win him back. Though she can see he loves her, she is turned away, and, in an attempt to hurt him and his fiance, she dives headfirst into a marriage of her own. Young Ms. O’Hara weds Melanie’s brother, Charles. In less than a year, Scarlett became a wife, widow, and, to her horror, a mother. The young widow longs for her life before marriage, the carefree days of partying and socializing. Looking for an escape, she goes to stay with her sister-in-law and aunt, in Atlanta, the heart of the Confederate war machine. Here, she begins to reject social expectations and meets a new love, though she still carries the old in her heart.
The author, Margaret Mitchell, beautifully weaves together the scenery of the South and the events in the book, emphasizing themes of youth and innocence and fear and courage. This captivating novel is an accurate depiction of human nature in its triumphs as well as its flaws. The main character and protagonist, stubborn, selfish, and spoiled as she is, is also kind, brave, and intelligent. Gone With the Wind recognizes that we all have the capability for both good and bad. This compelling novel reveals the other side of the Civil War, another people and way of life, vindicating the Confederacy and showing that they were just people too.
I would like to clarify to readers that I do not in any way support or condone slavery, racism, or prejudice of any kind. Also if you are going to read this book I would recommend that you refresh your Civil War history to better understand the events and opinions in the novel. Also, this book is quite long so you will have to be patient. In conclusion, this is a wonderfully written book that sheds light on the events of the Civil War from a new perspective.
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