Was Scarlet O'Hara a victim of circumstance or a thoroughly rotten person?
The most magnificent essay ever written would, naturally, have to be on Gone With the Wind. Due to its colourful cinematography, captivating plot and colourful characters, Gone With the Wind is one of the greatest films ever made. One of the characters that made this film so mesmerizing was Scarlet O’Hara. Scarlet’s fiery attitude and complex personality have made her one of cinemas’ most well known characters. She is a temperamental Southern belle who always gets what she wants, no matter what she does, or whom she hurts. This would lead one to believe that she was a thoroughly rotten person, but in fact Scarlet O’Hara was simply a victim of circumstance due to her genes and her desire to protect her way of life, which is persistently disrupted by untimely death. Incidentally, by coping with these issues Scarlet O’Hara becomes a better person, having prevailed through the worst, with an optimistic attitude.
Scarlet’s upbringing in the southern plantations of the mid 19th century greatly affected how her life would continue. Growing up as a child, Scarlet had a very eccentric lifestyle. She was spoiled by her parents with beautiful clothes, expensive jewellery and whatever else her heart desired. Scarlet also had the wonderful fortune to be waited on hand and foot by servants, such as the time Mammy brought her breakfast before the Twelve Oaks party. Scarlet was also waited on by every single gentleman in the surrounding area, who competed to be the lucky one to bring her a slice of pie. This luxurious way of life can leave a mark on a young impressionable mind. Once a person becomes accustomed to living in the lap of luxury, one would do anything to keep it.
Scarlet’s lifestyle also consisted of parties, balls and many social gatherings. After Charles Hamilton, her first husband, was killed, Scarlet was thrown into widowhood. This forced her to remain solemn and not attend any parties or festivals. She was not allowed to dance, or be merry. When Scarlet agreed to dance with Rhett Butler, she was not being rotten toward the late Mr. Hamilton, she was simply trying to continue living the fantasy life to which she had grown accustomed. Scarlet only tried to return her life to what she thought was pure and innocent, her childhood. Although, even if Scarlet had experienced a more mediocre childhood, she would not have been able to change her mentality.
Due to the genes Scarlet was born with, she would have never been able to change how she acted, she was helpless. Scarlet’s parents were a greater influence on her than most would care to admit. Her father, Gerald O’Hara, was an Irish immigrant and a loyal Confederate with a strong will. Along with his love for the land and a selfish nature, he passed on these qualities to Scarlet. Scarlet was very close to her father and, therefore, grew to emulate him. She also took after her mother, Ellen O’Hara. A descendant of the Robillard family, she gave Scarlet many qualities, such as her desire for refinement and her compassion. Scarlet also inherited Mrs. O’Hara’s strong, firm, judgement as well as Scarlet’s strongest aspect, her determination. Scarlet seems to have received the perfect balance from her parents, unlike her sisters who were extremely vain, selfish and uncompassionate. This is seen at the beginning of the film when the sisters are gathered at the bottom of the stairs the day before the Twelve Oaks party. Another example of Ellen O’Hara’s sense of refinement and Gerald O’Hara’s selfishness are found in Bonnie Sue Butler, Scarlet’s child. Bonnie displays many of her mother’s qualities. This is seen after Rhett and Bonnie return from London and Bonnie demands to see her pony. Although her parents have corrupted her mentality through genetics, Scarlet’s genes are all that she has left once they have passed on.
The greatest event that Scarlet encountered, which shaped her life, was the frequent exposure to death. Scarlet rides all night, back to Tara, after Atlanta is set ablaze by the Yankees. She then discovers her mother dead and her father, mad. Later, she kills a Yankee who breaks into the house. Scarlet also loses members of her own family, including her first two husbands Charles Hamilton and Frank Kennedy, and her daughter Bonnie Sue.
Bonnie Sue was more of a shock to Scarlet, since her death was identical to Scarlet’s father’s, and that Bonnie was Scarlet’s only child. This cannot only scar a normal person for life, but Scarlet also endured the death toll of the Civil War. Throughout her nursing duties, she encountered death everywhere, such as the endless fields of wounded soldiers in Atlanta or in the depot filled with sick beds. One of the most traumatic experiences, must have been witnessing the man’s leg being amputated without any form of a pain killer. After witnessing horrors such as these, one would believe that a person in Scarlet’s position should be entitled to a little greed.
Dealing with issues like these cannot only leave a person stronger mentally, but encourage them to look forward to the coming day. Scarlet O’Hara was one such person, who was prey to the events of her genetics, her love of the Old South, and the frequent appearance of tragic death. This has made Scarlet O’Hara one of the strongest characters to grace the silver screen. Thus making Gone With the Wind one of the greatest movies of all time,due to characters like Scarlet O’Hara, and its epic story. Gone With the Wind truly is the most magnificent picture ever made.
Scarlet’s upbringing in the southern plantations of the mid 19th century greatly affected how her life would continue. Growing up as a child, Scarlet had a very eccentric lifestyle. She was spoiled by her parents with beautiful clothes, expensive jewellery and whatever else her heart desired. Scarlet also had the wonderful fortune to be waited on hand and foot by servants, such as the time Mammy brought her breakfast before the Twelve Oaks party. Scarlet was also waited on by every single gentleman in the surrounding area, who competed to be the lucky one to bring her a slice of pie. This luxurious way of life can leave a mark on a young impressionable mind. Once a person becomes accustomed to living in the lap of luxury, one would do anything to keep it.
Scarlet’s lifestyle also consisted of parties, balls and many social gatherings. After Charles Hamilton, her first husband, was killed, Scarlet was thrown into widowhood. This forced her to remain solemn and not attend any parties or festivals. She was not allowed to dance, or be merry. When Scarlet agreed to dance with Rhett Butler, she was not being rotten toward the late Mr. Hamilton, she was simply trying to continue living the fantasy life to which she had grown accustomed. Scarlet only tried to return her life to what she thought was pure and innocent, her childhood. Although, even if Scarlet had experienced a more mediocre childhood, she would not have been able to change her mentality.
Due to the genes Scarlet was born with, she would have never been able to change how she acted, she was helpless. Scarlet’s parents were a greater influence on her than most would care to admit. Her father, Gerald O’Hara, was an Irish immigrant and a loyal Confederate with a strong will. Along with his love for the land and a selfish nature, he passed on these qualities to Scarlet. Scarlet was very close to her father and, therefore, grew to emulate him. She also took after her mother, Ellen O’Hara. A descendant of the Robillard family, she gave Scarlet many qualities, such as her desire for refinement and her compassion. Scarlet also inherited Mrs. O’Hara’s strong, firm, judgement as well as Scarlet’s strongest aspect, her determination. Scarlet seems to have received the perfect balance from her parents, unlike her sisters who were extremely vain, selfish and uncompassionate. This is seen at the beginning of the film when the sisters are gathered at the bottom of the stairs the day before the Twelve Oaks party. Another example of Ellen O’Hara’s sense of refinement and Gerald O’Hara’s selfishness are found in Bonnie Sue Butler, Scarlet’s child. Bonnie displays many of her mother’s qualities. This is seen after Rhett and Bonnie return from London and Bonnie demands to see her pony. Although her parents have corrupted her mentality through genetics, Scarlet’s genes are all that she has left once they have passed on.
The greatest event that Scarlet encountered, which shaped her life, was the frequent exposure to death. Scarlet rides all night, back to Tara, after Atlanta is set ablaze by the Yankees. She then discovers her mother dead and her father, mad. Later, she kills a Yankee who breaks into the house. Scarlet also loses members of her own family, including her first two husbands Charles Hamilton and Frank Kennedy, and her daughter Bonnie Sue.
Bonnie Sue was more of a shock to Scarlet, since her death was identical to Scarlet’s father’s, and that Bonnie was Scarlet’s only child. This cannot only scar a normal person for life, but Scarlet also endured the death toll of the Civil War. Throughout her nursing duties, she encountered death everywhere, such as the endless fields of wounded soldiers in Atlanta or in the depot filled with sick beds. One of the most traumatic experiences, must have been witnessing the man’s leg being amputated without any form of a pain killer. After witnessing horrors such as these, one would believe that a person in Scarlet’s position should be entitled to a little greed.
Dealing with issues like these cannot only leave a person stronger mentally, but encourage them to look forward to the coming day. Scarlet O’Hara was one such person, who was prey to the events of her genetics, her love of the Old South, and the frequent appearance of tragic death. This has made Scarlet O’Hara one of the strongest characters to grace the silver screen. Thus making Gone With the Wind one of the greatest movies of all time,due to characters like Scarlet O’Hara, and its epic story. Gone With the Wind truly is the most magnificent picture ever made.
posted by Phantom at 7:15 PM
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