Scarlette O Hara Charater Analysis - 1432 Words

SCARLETT O’ HARA Analysis Essay 02/13/12 SCARLETT O’ HARA Scarlett O’ Hara is a woman who does what it takes to survive no matter what the case may be. In the book Gone with the Wind, Scarlett O’ Hara plays a role of what most people might think is crazy. This upper class southern belle living in the country side of Atlanta, Georgia just before the Civil War takes place. She embarks on an adventure of turmoil, death, and deceitfulness. In this era of time during the Civil War Scarlett did not care for it, in fact she pitied the fool to do such a act as war. Scarlett went from this simple, but yet complicated teenager to an extremely deep and dark woman of desperate needs. Scarlett possesses a remarkable talent for leadership, optimism,†¦show more content†¦Scarlett repeats variation of this line several times over the course of the novel when hardships plague her. She knows that she often acts immorally and that she faces absurdly difficult circumstances, and to avoid feelings of guilt and help lessness she simply avoids reflecting on her life. Scarlett knows eventually she should mull over her plight, but she always puts it off until another, different day, which never truly comes. But this refusal to reflect is crucial to Scarlett’s survival. Her attitude contrasts directly with Ashley’s obsession with the past and inability to let go of nostalgia and adapt to new times. Scarlett’s determination â€Å"tomorrow is another day† indicates her fundamental optimism about the future. Because Scarlett represents the South, her optimism indicates Mitchell’s general optimism about the South’s ability to survive the face of change. â€Å"An America soon to be upended by revolutions in attitudes toward race, gender and sexual morals† (Keller, 2009). Scarlett manages to overcome adversity through brute strength of will. She emerges as a feminist heroine because she relies on herself alone and survives the Civil War and reconstruction unaided. She rebuilds Tara after the Yankee invasion and works her way up in the new political order, taking care of helpless family members and friends along the way. Scarlett gave birth to Melanie Hamilton’s baby alone and while invasion of the Yankees thru Atlanta was happening. Overcoming