It’s been
perhaps two weeks since I have finished the fourth part of Gone With The Wind,
however I have felt too annoyed to write my thoughts then. So, now, while my mind
has been calming a bit after taking two other beautiful books, I will jot
down my brief thoughts about events taking place throughout Part 4.
Reconstruction
era followed the Civil War. Under the new government and new laws, the
Southerner suffered just more. For Tara, it came as a much higher taxes. Jonas
Wilkerson, the ex overseer at Tara came one day to collect the taxes, and
threatened Scarlett to buy Tara if she could not get the money to pay it.
Enraged, Scarlett made a vow that she would never—never have to release Tara
and got hungry again. After thinking hard—and as usual put aside any consciences—Scarlett
decided that her only chance to save Tara was marrying Rhett Butler—the only
man who possessed money—or at least became his mistress. So went Miss Tara once
again to Atlanta, only to find that Rhett was in prison after being accused of
killing a black man.
One of the “best”
moments in this part, for me, was the scene of Scarlett used her charm to
seduce Rhett. Almost got trapped in Scarlett’s trick, Rhett finally found her
true purpose, and ungallantly refused her proposition. Ha! This could be a good
lesson for Scarlett. But…did she learn from it? Of course not! :) Unsuccessful
with Rhett, Scarlett—who possesses a good sense towards money—found the smell
of cash in Frank Kennedy’s new store. Despite the fact that Frank fell in love
with Suellen—Scarlett’s sister—and have been engaged to her, Scarlett unashamedly
seduced Frank although she has never attracted to him at all (the same case as
she first married Charlie). Scarlett lied to Frank that Suellen has engaged to
other man because she could not wait for Frank any longer, and finally, in his
heartbreak, Frank agreed to marry Scarlett. And finally, Scarlett could get
cash to save Tara.
From a
plantation owner, Scarlett has transformed into a business woman. She
manipulate Frank to build the iron business, something Frank had been dream on
for quite a long time, but she took it over from Frank, and run the business by
herself. And she ran it in a harsh and ruthless way, ignoring ethics and
conscience. Atlanta at that time was not a safe place for white people,
especially for women who travelled alone. This was the time when the Northerners
freed black slaves and planted the idea that they have the right to do whatever
they liked to white peoples, including raping white women. These situations persuaded
white men to join in the Ku Klux Klan, to take avenge and to protect their
women.
Between
these times Gerald died, and Scarlett returned to Tara in her pregnant
condition. Everyone imposed the guilt on Suellen, who they believed triggered
Gerald’s heart attack. Everyone but Will Benteen, who finally decided to marry
Suellen! Not that he loved her, he loved Tara more than anything else, and
marrying Suellen gave him the right to live and manage Tara—which he has been
proven to be very skilful during Scarlett’s absence. If I must choose one favorite
man protagonist from this book, Will would be my pick. Not only he’s smart and
kind hearted, Will was the only one who would make Scarlett ashamed of what she
had done to Suellen. Will did not scolded her or mocked her in Rhett’s style,
he did not pointed at her in his accusation, he just reminded her that ‘she
knew how she had cruelly hurt Suellen and manipulated Frank’s true love.
While at
Tara, Scarlett persuaded Ashley to come with her to Atlanta, to manage one of
her lumber business. It was Scarlett’s way to keep being closed to Ashley.
Here, once again, Mitchell emphasized Ashley’s incapability to adapt to the
changing world. Ashley was the old times’ product, and it would be difficult
for him to find his place in this new world, one thing that Ashley knew very
well. Frankly—despite of his incapability, I admire Ashley for his frankness to
recognize his own weakness. I think Ashley was Ashley, it’s not his fault that
he had grown up in the old times. What he needed was to accept his weakness and
what life has offered him. He should be thankful (and I believe he did) to
Melly, because without her, he won’t be able to survive. Ashley was meant to be
with Melly, they made a perfect couple in this story. Sometimes (or often) love
is not the most essential element in a marriage, understanding and accepting
each other are. Ashley and Scarlett loved each other, but just imagine what
would happen when they marry each other. A catastrophe!...
So, Scarlett
returned to Atlanta together with the Wilkes—after Melly convinced Ashley to
move on. Unconcerned of all the danger—as Scarlett only focused her little mind
to make money and money—she kept travelling alone to run the business, in spite
of Frank’s and the others’ pledge for Scarlett to reduce her frequent outings.
Then one day when Scarlett travelled alone, some black slaves attacked her and almost
raped her, if one of Tara’s ex slave did not come to help her. Another good
thing for her, something to open her eyes to the real world. You were not the
only person worthy to live in this world, o Miss O’Hara! Grow up!!
Scarlett’s
incident triggered a reaction from the guys in Ku Klux Klan to do some “action”.
This was a blow for Scarlett, and made another huge change in her entire life.
Rhett’s and Melly’s co-action in the rescue were superb. And to end the
turbulence of Scarlett’s life, Rhett Butler came to propose her to marry him.
Part four is
the longest and the most interesting of Gone With The Wind. Here Scarlett’s
life has changed completely and abruptly. I could feel a little pity for her,
things must have been tough for her, but still, I could not feel sorry for her.
She was much more annoying here, knowing that she should have been more mature
and learned a lot of lessons now, but she seems never learned at all. =__=
