2. Gone With The Wind: Scarlett so far 16 when the film begins; wears virginal white 16 when the film begins; wears virginal white She is characterized by strength, determination, drive to succeed and get her own way; beauty; tenacity; fire; intelligence. She is characterized by strength, determination, drive to succeed and get her own way; beauty; tenacity; fire; intelligence. She is self-centered but can stand on her own. She is self-centered but can stand on her own. Originally named “Pansy.” Originally named “Pansy.”

3. Gone With The Wind: Rhett so far Respects Scarlett for who she is. Respects Scarlett for who she is. The personification of a free spirit who flouts public opinion. The personification of a free spirit who flouts public opinion. Knows what he wants and goes after it. Knows what he wants and goes after it. He is a man’s man and a lady’s man; shrewd, realistic, earthy, but capable of tenderness and compassion. He is a man’s man and a lady’s man; shrewd, realistic, earthy, but capable of tenderness and compassion.

4. Gone With The Wind: A Love Story  Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler are the two most famous lovers in the English- speaking world since Romeo and Juliet.  The film’s musical motifs address two dominant love themes: the sensible, spiritual, and sensitive love between Ashley and Melanie Wilkes, who are soul mates (“She’s like me; we understand each other.”); and the continuous passion but wavering feelings Ashley has for Scarlett.

5. Gone With The Wind: Tara  “The Tara invoked in the beginning of the book is a mirror image of the Southern Utopia, a party at Twelve Oaks that might have gone on forever if the hot-blooded boys of the South could have stemmed the passions of secession.” – Pat Conroy It’s a world that wants to be beautiful and graceful. It’s a world that wants to be beautiful and graceful. Gerald O’Hara: “Land is the only thing that lasts.” Gerald O’Hara: “Land is the only thing that lasts.”

6. Gone With The Wind: Transformations Southern culture: Themes and symbols. Southern culture: Themes and symbols. Tradition, chivalry, and pride have given way to broken down gender roles and power structures. Tradition, chivalry, and pride have given way to broken down gender roles and power structures. When the South loses the war, it loses its way of life. “Hands and ladies don’t mean much anymore.” When the South loses the war, it loses its way of life. “Hands and ladies don’t mean much anymore.” But Atlanta, burned by the Yankees and then rebuilt by northerners and pro-Reconstruction southerners, symbolizes the South’s resiliency. But Atlanta, burned by the Yankees and then rebuilt by northerners and pro-Reconstruction southerners, symbolizes the South’s resiliency. It is characterized by garish wealth on one side, and squalid poverty on the other. It is characterized by garish wealth on one side, and squalid poverty on the other. This new city of saloons, Yankees, and free slaves contrasts starkly with Tara, the old South plantation that runs on tradition. This new city of saloons, Yankees, and free slaves contrasts starkly with Tara, the old South plantation that runs on tradition.

7. Gone With The Wind: Transformations Ashley: Character analysis. Ashley: Character analysis. He’s trapped in the past. He is gallant, refined, and graceful – just like the Old South – but after the war he is obsolete, and lets Scarlett and Melanie take care of him. Unable to change with the New South, he fades badly. He’s trapped in the past. He is gallant, refined, and graceful – just like the Old South – but after the war he is obsolete, and lets Scarlett and Melanie take care of him. Unable to change with the New South, he fades badly. The only thing he thrives on is maintaining the love triangle he is in with Scarlett and Melanie. The only thing he thrives on is maintaining the love triangle he is in with Scarlett and Melanie.

8. Gone With The Wind: Transformations Rhett: Character analysis; Themes and symbols Rhett: Character analysis; Themes and symbols Even through his cutting but realistic assessment of the South’s romantic, self- righteous image, he still has a soft spot for “lost causes, once they are really lost.” Even through his cutting but realistic assessment of the South’s romantic, self- righteous image, he still has a soft spot for “lost causes, once they are really lost.” He says he’s not so proud for being right about the South’s swaggering and boasting leading to its downfall. He says he’s not so proud for being right about the South’s swaggering and boasting leading to its downfall. He joins the Confederate Army when it’s clear that the South will lose. He joins the Confederate Army when it’s clear that the South will lose.

9. Gone With The Wind: Transformations Yet, Rhett still prospers among the ruins of a conquered “nation.” He embraces pragmatism and realism, and rule-breakers like him become crucial to the South’s survival and rebuilding. Yet, Rhett still prospers among the ruins of a conquered “nation.” He embraces pragmatism and realism, and rule-breakers like him become crucial to the South’s survival and rebuilding. He befriends and supports the Yankees when it benefits him. He befriends and supports the Yankees when it benefits him. With his shifting allegiances, he symbolizes the uncertainty of the New South. With his shifting allegiances, he symbolizes the uncertainty of the New South.

10. Gone With The Wind: Transformations Scarlett: Themes and symbols Scarlett: Themes and symbols “Tara made her charming; the war made her Scarlett O’Hara.” “Tara made her charming; the war made her Scarlett O’Hara.” She rises to challenge after challenge, as the war destroys the entire world she was born into as a daughter of the South. She rises to challenge after challenge, as the war destroys the entire world she was born into as a daughter of the South. She single-handedly resurrects Tara after her mother dies and her father loses his bearings. She single-handedly resurrects Tara after her mother dies and her father loses his bearings.

11. Gone With The Wind: Transformations Scarlett becomes the spiritual “mother” of Atlanta, just as Rhett is the “father”: masterful at cutting deals, playing the percentages, and not looking back. Scarlett becomes the spiritual “mother” of Atlanta, just as Rhett is the “father”: masterful at cutting deals, playing the percentages, and not looking back. Her initial reaction to the end of the war? A gleeful look forward: “We’ll plant more cotton. Cotton will go sky high next year.” Her initial reaction to the end of the war? A gleeful look forward: “We’ll plant more cotton. Cotton will go sky high next year.” Unlike Ashley, who represents the Old South, Scarlett (and Rhett) thrives by firmly keeping one foot in the past, and the other firmly implanted in the New South. Unlike Ashley, who represents the Old South, Scarlett (and Rhett) thrives by firmly keeping one foot in the past, and the other firmly implanted in the New South.