 |
Scarlett O'Hara Returns from Hollywood: Correcting the Misinterpretations of Mitchell's Political Novel, Gone with the Wind
| |
| | Unformatted Document Text:
her strength” (Ch. LXI, pg. 997). And after hearing Ashley’s confession of his love for
Melanie, Scarlett realizes that her connection with Ashley was purely imaginary, and that
“ ‘[Ashley] never really existed at all, except in my imagination….I loved something I
made up, something that’s just as dead as Melanie is’” (Ch. LXI, pg. 1004). She sees,
too, that in a world without Melanie, only Rhett can provide the redemption she
desperately desires.
Scarlett’s epiphany, her grand moment of reflection and her reevaluation of her
life take her only so far. Until the moment of Rhett’s final departure, the possibility
exists that Scarlett will escape her old thought patterns and break through the barrier of
selfishness to a live a new life of self-reflection and generosity. But as Scarlett begins to
plot how she will win Rhett back, it becomes clear that she has learned nothing. Her last
line in the novel, so often quoted and so eloquently spoken by Vivien Leigh in Selznick’s
picture, “Tomorrow is another day” is a damning condemnation of Scarlett’s inability to
think what she is doing. At least 20 times throughout the novel
43
, Scarlett wards off
negative thoughts and fears by insisting to herself that, though she can’t handle them
today, she will make time for them tomorrow
44
. The phrase “Tomorrow is another day”
is Scarlett’s “charm” (Ch. XXXVIII, pg. 654), which allows her to survive the most
difficult moments of her life. Yet her pathological aversion of life’s complexities is also
what prevents her from understanding herself or those around her. By dismissing all
criticism, all sadness, grief, confusion, and crisis as something to be dealt with “later,
43
See Ch. IV, pg. 76; Ch. XI, pg. 208; Ch. XX, pg. 341; Ch. XXI, pg. 351; Ch. XXIV, pg. 387-88; Ch.
XXIV, pg. 400-401; Ch. XXIV, pg. 403; Ch. XXIV, pg. 408; Ch. XXIV, pg. 414; Ch. XXV, pg. 415; Ch. XXV, pg. 417; Ch. XXV, pg. 419; Ch. XXVI, pg. 438; Ch. XXXII, pg. 531; Ch. XXXII, pg. 533; Ch. XXXIII, pg. 547; Ch. XXXIII, pg. 548; Ch. XXXV, pg. 580; Ch. XXXVIII, pg. 654; Ch. XXXVIII, pg. 678; Ch. XLIV, pg. 779; Ch XLVII; pg. 822; Ch. LIII, pg. 910; Ch. LIII, pg. 917; Ch. LIV, pg. 921; and Ch. LVII, pg. 956.
44
The narrator tells us that “[Scarlett] had learned to say, ‘I won’t think of this or that bothersome thought
now. I’ll think about it tomorrow.’ Generally when tomorrow came, thought either did not occur at all or it was attenuated by the delay it was not very troublesome” (Ch. XI, pg 208). As a result, she was neither assaulted by her conscience nor immobilized by fear (except in her nightmares).
19
|
| |
| |
|
|
her strength” (Ch. LXI, pg. 997). And after hearing Ashley’s confession of his love for
Melanie, Scarlett realizes that her connection with Ashley was purely imaginary, and that
“ ‘[Ashley] never really existed at all, except in my imagination….I loved something I
made up, something that’s just as dead as Melanie is’” (Ch. LXI, pg. 1004). She sees,
too, that in a world without Melanie, only Rhett can provide the redemption she
desperately desires.
Scarlett’s epiphany, her grand moment of reflection and her reevaluation of her
life take her only so far. Until the moment of Rhett’s final departure, the possibility
exists that Scarlett will escape her old thought patterns and break through the barrier of
selfishness to a live a new life of self-reflection and generosity. But as Scarlett begins to
plot how she will win Rhett back, it becomes clear that she has learned nothing. Her last
line in the novel, so often quoted and so eloquently spoken by Vivien Leigh in Selznick’s
picture, “Tomorrow is another day” is a damning condemnation of Scarlett’s inability to
think what she is doing. At least 20 times throughout the novel
, Scarlett wards off
negative thoughts and fears by insisting to herself that, though she can’t handle them
today, she will make time for them tomorrow
. The phrase “Tomorrow is another day”
is Scarlett’s “charm” (Ch. XXXVIII, pg. 654), which allows her to survive the most
difficult moments of her life. Yet her pathological aversion of life’s complexities is also
what prevents her from understanding herself or those around her. By dismissing all
criticism, all sadness, grief, confusion, and crisis as something to be dealt with “later,
43
See Ch. IV, pg. 76; Ch. XI, pg. 208; Ch. XX, pg. 341; Ch. XXI, pg. 351; Ch. XXIV, pg. 387-88; Ch.
XXIV, pg. 400-401; Ch. XXIV, pg. 403; Ch. XXIV, pg. 408; Ch. XXIV, pg. 414; Ch. XXV, pg. 415; Ch.
XXV, pg. 417; Ch. XXV, pg. 419; Ch. XXVI, pg. 438; Ch. XXXII, pg. 531; Ch. XXXII, pg. 533; Ch.
XXXIII, pg. 547; Ch. XXXIII, pg. 548; Ch. XXXV, pg. 580; Ch. XXXVIII, pg. 654; Ch. XXXVIII, pg.
678; Ch. XLIV, pg. 779; Ch XLVII; pg. 822; Ch. LIII, pg. 910; Ch. LIII, pg. 917; Ch. LIV, pg. 921; and
Ch. LVII, pg. 956.
44
The narrator tells us that “[Scarlett] had learned to say, ‘I won’t think of this or that bothersome thought
now. I’ll think about it tomorrow.’ Generally when tomorrow came, thought either did not occur at all or it
was attenuated by the delay it was not very troublesome” (Ch. XI, pg 208). As a result, she was neither
assaulted by her conscience nor immobilized by fear (except in her nightmares).
19
|
|
 Convention | | All Academic Convention can solve the abstract management needs for any association's annual meeting. | | Submission - Custom fields, multiple submission types, tracks, audio visual, multiple upload formats, automatic conversion to pdf. | | Review - Peer Review, Bulk reviewer assignment, bulk emails, ranking, z-score statistics, and multiple worksheets! | | Reports - Many standard and custom reports generated while you wait. Print programs with participant indexes, event grids, and more! | | Scheduling - Flexible and convenient grid scheduling within rooms and buildings. Conflict checking and advanced filtering. | | Communication - Bulk email tools to help your administrators send reminders and responses. Use form letters, a message center, and much more! | | Management - Search tools, duplicate people management, editing tools, submission transfers, many tools to manage a variety of conference management headaches! | | Click here for more information. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
