A Character Analysis of Gone With The Wind

Probably everyone who is an adult has either heard of or seen the movie Gone with the Wind. Gone With the Wind is one of the greatest box office smashes of all time and will continue to be for decades to come.

A brief description of the plot is as follows: Katie Scarlett O'Hara is a popular Southern Belle, in love with a man who does not love her - Ashley Wilkes. Ashley Wilkes who's part of a family who always marries their cousins is not man enough to really stand up and openly reject Scarlett's affections. So, he and Scarlett continue to string each other along throughout the movie until both Scarlett has made a ruin of many relationships resulting in the deaths of two of her husbands, and the leaving of her last husband, Rhett Butler. At the end of the movie is a paradox, where Scarlett finally realizes she's not in love with Ashley, but Rhett. However at this point, Rhett is disgusted and leaves her anyway.

Now, for an analysis of the characters of the movie.

Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler - Now that's a mouthful of name isn't it? Scarlett is a woman who wants to be loved by all but doesn't know what the heck love is. She is obsessed with Ashley who is not available for her affections. Therefore, Scarlett has a love addiction. In addition, despite her open boisterous attitude, Scarlett is also insecure. She builds herself up by preying on the affections of others. Therefore, she is manipulative and a driving force to cause people to become codependent around here.

Ashley Wilkes - Ashley is definitely codependent. He doesn't want to rock the boat ever and he has absolutely no boundaries. He wants to be with Melanie, his wife, but blatantly admits his love to Scarlett as well. By trying to please everyone all of the time, he pleases no one and causes Scarlett to become even more consumed with marrying him. In the end, Melanie dies, and Ashley has no backbone to even think about life after her. The few times he tries to stand on his feet in this movie, he's shot down by a combination of Scarlett's tears and Melanie's open support of Scarlett because of her standing beside her. The combination of the two of them are too much for him and what manly characteristics that he has are also "Gone With The Wind".

Melanie Wilkes - Melanie is portrayed as weak, but she is one of the most strongest characters at heart. Loved by all including the outcasts of the town, she is the model of honesty, integrity, and purity. Scarlett takes advantage of Melanie's love and affection by using it to her advantage. Melanie is naive and does not understand the reasons why people do deceitful and dishonest things. She sees the good in everyone and as Belle Whatling, the local lady of the evening says, "She's a good Christian woman." She is the embodiment of unconditional love, peace, and wisdom. Being unable to see her enemies is her weakness. She is one of the most "normal" persons around except for this trait.

Rhett Butler - Rhett is the cocky, confident, totally masculine figure that you would expect him to be in contrast to the other primary male figure, Ashley Wilkes. Because he has a true self identity, he is not overwhelmed by the manipulative tactics of Scarlett and even though he distastes her methods, he finds himself falling in love with Scarlett because she is essentially a lot like him. However, Rhett does not have this evil streak in him that wants to manipulate people. He comes out boldly and says exactly what he says to whomever he wants to say it with no holds barred. To me, Rhett Butler is the most normal character of this entire movie. However, because he refuses to submit to Scarlett's manipulative tactics and actions, he eventually grows weary of being abused and at the end of the movie, he leave her, not giving a damn as he says.

Gone With The Wind has many other characters which exhibit many of these traits, however, these are the most prominent of them all. Despite its extreme time length, this movie is one of the most enjoyable ones of all times.

The scenes with the actions with the Civil War battles and the plantation barbeques are a masterpiece that should be seen on the big screen. Hopefully within a few years, the movie will be re-released again to theatres where we can again watch it properly in it's original width and glamour.

However, even on video, this movie has all the grace and charm of a true Southern classic as well as one of the all time great movies of the past century.

I truly love this movie and will continue to watch it again and again for years to come.