Gone With The Wind Analysis

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“Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell, published in 1937, is known for being a classic love story. But it has many more layers and facets which I hope to bring out through this review. I would like to begin with a tiny disclaimer; that it is a book which is 1000+ pages long and very nuanced, and it is not possible for me, nor is it within my literary capabilities, to cover all its themes in this limited time. The genre of the book is historical fiction, being set in Georgia during the Civil War of 1861. It follows the story of Scarlett O'Hara from her own perspective as she grows up from a typical spoilt Southern belle on a rich cotton plantation to a woman who is forced by circumstances of dire poverty during the War to take over…show more content…
The most prevalent one is the depiction of all African American slaves as happy childlike creatures who needed to be taken care of in sickness and health, and taught what is right and what is wrong. Slaves are shown to be incapable of surviving on their own if they were given freedom. This is a very paternalistic view of slavery as it rationalizes Slavery under the garb of protection, and hence this book is also part of the 'anti-Tom literature'. Another stereotype has been that of the Irish. Scarlett's father who is Irish is shown to be a loud drunkard whose death is also caused by riding his horse while being intoxicated. Overall, Gone with the Wind is a book of its times in some respects, while it is extremely forward looking in other respects. It deals with timeless issues like unrequited love, the end of a civilization, gender dynamics, racial power structures and most of all, with non conformity and adaptability. It is definitely a must read for everyone, and for those who have read it already, the official sequels 'Scarlett' and 'Rhett Butler's people' might prove interesting. Above all, it is a book which gives you strength to face everything, as, in the words of Scarlett O'Hara, “Tomorrow is another

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