A Psychological Approach to the Heroine of Gone with the Wind

闫莉莉

Abstract This paper is a psychological approach to the heroine of Gone with the Wind written by Margaret Mitchell. It attempts an analysis of Scarlett's character from the different social roles she plays， and explains how her complex character affects her life. Scarlett， an electrifying character with a changeable temper， displays her vanity， selfishness， responsibility， courage and intelligence during different stages of her life， thus leaving an ever-lasting deep impression on the reader.

Key words Scarlett; war; courage

中圖分类号：I206 文献标识码：A DOI：10.16400/j.cnki.kjdkx.2015.03.068

Section One   Introduction

Gone with the Wind， a long romantic tale written by Margaret Mitchell， revolves around one woman， Scarlett O'Hara， and describes her life set against the backdrop of the Civil War and its aftermath. Gone With the Wind is thought provoking， sad， tender， exciting， and heartbreaking. It is about the end of an era and the transformation of a people who must find a new way of life to replace the old， relying on their wits and courage alone.

Scarlett OHara， a persistent Southern Belle with a will of steel， a cunning wit， and a tremendous sense of independence in such an oppressive time， knows how her society works， wherein everything she does can and will play a role in the shaping of her life and those around her. She is a woman that knows how to be vain， strong， independent， courageous， all at the same time still presenting herself as a human with human mistakes. What Scarlett wants most of all is to paraphrase life and money， love and friends.

Scarlett OHara is electrifying. You feel as if you know Scarlet personally. You feel as if she is a friend， and sometimes you want to cry with her， sometimes for her， and sometimes for the people that she runs over. As a novelistic person with dramatic experiences， she has complex and multiple characteristics that deserve study.

Section  Two   Brief Plot-narration of the Novel

Gone with the Wind is the epic tale of Scarlet O'Hara's journey from a Southern Belle to a woman of the world.  Right before the Civil War begins， Scarlett OHara， spoiled daughter of a wealthy plantation （called Tara） owner， confesses her love for Ashley Wilkes， who loves and is promised to his cousin Melanie. Rejected by Ashley， Scarlett rushes in a jealous rage to marry Melanies brother Charles， who dies later in the war. After Charles's posthumous child is born， Scarlett goes to Atlanta to stay with Melanie.  In the meantime， Rhett Butler， a businessman that Scarlett meets on the barbecue of Twelve Oaks， begins to develop a friendship with her. He is very like her in that they are both selfish and cynical. When Christmas comes， Ashley returns home from the army to see pregnant Melanie and entrusts Scarlett to look after her. Eventually， Union troops siege and capture Atlanta， forcing Scarlett， Melanie， and her newborn baby to flee to Tara， which has been impoverished by looting Federal troops. From that time on Scarlett experiences the hardest time of her life.  Her mother died and her father addled， and her two sisters recovered from typhoid. Scarlett takes the whole burden of reconstruction of Tara. The war is finally over in the South's surrender. Ashley returns as a dispirited pessimist. When the plight of Tara is in mitigation， taxes are suddenly raised. So Scarlett returns to Atlanta， determined to get more money. From there she meets her sister's beau Frank Kennedy and schemes to make him propose to her. With his money Scarlett saves Tara and begins to do her own business. Shortly after she has his child， Frank dies in a shooting. Hardly a year later， Rhett proposes. However this marriage is a twisty and stormy one. Their daughter Bonnie dies in an accident， the misunderstanding between them causes Scarletts miscarriage， and Scarlett still focus on Ashley， all this contributes to their departure. When Scarlett finally recognizes her love for Rhett， it is too late and Rhett has decided to leave home. Meanwhile Melanie is dead from a miscarriage， and then Scarlett comes to realize her deep love for Melanie and that Ashley isn't worth her loving.

Section  Three   Character Analysis

1. A Headstrong Southern Beauty

Before we analyze her characteristics， let's first make a study of her family background and living surroundings.

Her father Gerald O'Hara is a stocky and forthright Irishman， who flees to America to seek his fortune in the age of twenty-one and wins Tara the fertile land in a gambling play， thus begins his career as a wealthy southern plantation owner. Due to his Irish decent， he is bold and uninhibited， hot-tempered but softhearted. With his wife Mrs. OHara， he has three daughters as Scarlett being the first one. He treats Scarlett in a man-to-man manner， which she finds most pleasant. "There was something vital and earthy and coarse about him that appealed to her （Scarlett）. Being the least analytic of people， she did not realize that this was because she possessed in some degree these same qualities， despite sixteen years of effort on the part of Ellen and Mammy to obliterate them."[1]

Her mother Ellen O'Hara is a Coast aristocrat of French descent， tall and slim， gentle and soft. She is a thrifty and kind mistress， a good mother and a devoted wife， and the best-loved neighbor in the county.

In Scarlett's eyes， father is a close friend to whom she can pour out her small secrets and troubles， and before whom she can reveal her true temper without being blamed， while mother is holy Virgin Mary. To her， Ellen represents the utter security that only heaven or a mother can give. She knows that her mother is the embodiment of justice， truth， loving tenderness and profound wisdom--a great lady. So she wants very much to be like her mother. But it is Gerald's headstrong and impetuous nature in her that can never be erased.

Scarlett is gently brought up in an easy and comfortable life. North Georgia is a world of cotton and slaves. Piles of cotton are produced， bringing to this county wealth and arrogance. The county people enjoy life with a heartiness that Scarlett learns fast. Her vigor and vivacity is a part of her instinct. Her open mind and high spirits are nurtured in the traditional culture of North Georgia. Her views on people and matters are all from her own willful guesses. For example， she thinks that Ashley Wilkes must love her but is too shy to confess. She gets such a conclusion just because she is the first beauty of the county. Her blind confidence arises from her worship of her own. And she is too young to be mature. She knows nothing than clothes， party， and flirting with men. Being sixteen， she is the era's most popular girl， fending off suitors left and right， never knowing a day of hardship. She has a "Mammy" devoted to her needs， and a personal servant Prissy. And all this contributes to her self-centered quality.

She obviously has a problem with impulse control. Let's just see what a manner she takes to confess her love for Ashley. When she goes to picnic in the neighboring plantation Twelve Oaks， she hides herself in the library， waiting Ashley to come by. It is a stimulating and exciting plan， like children's hide-and-seek. From this you can see Scarlett still keeps some traits of children. When Ashley comes in， she adopts the frankest way.

"What is it？" he repeated. "A secret to tell me？"

"Yes--a secret. I love you." [2]

No well-bred lady of that time dares to express love so directly. If so， she nearly loses her face and ruins her reputation. Scarlett never allows social norms to lead her by the nose. She longs to get what she wants， by any means. She knows more clearly than any other girl the way of using women's charm to attract men， but that is no use to deal with Ashley. And when conditions become urgent （Ashley is engaged with Melanie）， her Irish blood acts on her lips. Ellen's teaching falls away.

When she is mildly rejected， her rage breaks out suddenly. She loses her temper to him， hurls insults at Melanie and gives a slap in his face， like a child crying for a new toy. When she answers Charles' proposal out of the anger that Ashley hurts pride and feminine vanity， her impulse and self-willed way are expressed utterly. She does tend toward the spoiled， stubborn， and impulsive young lady， with not an ounce of self-awareness.

“Scarletts whole life centered around her own wants， and what she wanted foremost was attention and adulation in a setting of comfort and security.”[3]“She could never long endure any conversation of which she was not the chief subject.”[4]Exasperated by all the local gentry talking about nothing but the war， she thinks they are foolish in their wishing it to happen. She has no sense of what could become of the home that she loves so much if this talk of war becomes true.

Being absorbed in her own world， she never cares about the coming war or other people's life. She hasn't known the hardships of life and doesn't feel the impending war will change her any.  However， the fact is that Scarlett changes so immensely throughout the course of this book that the Scarlett in the final pages won't even be recognized as the young protected and innocent girl that sits on the steps of Tara flirting with the Tarleton twins. Scarlett virtually undergoes a complete metamorphosis.

2. A Rebellious Widow

Scarlett goes around violating social and sexual taboos， paying a dramatic social price， not only marrying repeatedly but also running her own business with ruthless aggression.

"Widows could never chatter vivaciously or laugh aloud. Even when they smiled， it must be a sad， tragic smile. And， most dreadful of all， they could in no way indicate an interest in the company of gentlemen."[5]

The social conditions and pressures on a woman will condemn a young woman to "having her heart in the grave" when she is widowed and being forced to wear black and not to remarry for many years. This is really cruel. But scarlett is among the most rebellious. She is twice widowed and neither of the two times can make her an obedient widow. When Charles has gone， she is too young to be sad. After all， how can a seventeen years old girl bury her sensitive heart into grave？ It is even more difficult for vigorous and vivacious Scarlett. Now that she can't bear to be a docile widow， or just pretends to be one， her words and deeds must exceed the social bounds.

Scarlett breaks all sorts of social mores when she agrees to dance the Virginia reel with Rhett at a war fund raising benefit. Rhett bids money to dance with her and she accepts although she is in mourning for Charles. Her action equals a public challenge to traditional morality. Standing by Scarlett' side， we know it is her nature of longing to be in the limelight that causes her to do so. In addition， she is inhibited too much， and can no longer endure loneliness. She can't bear dull， boring days flowing endlessly away. Rhett's invitation becomes a blasting fuse for her to break out. Here is where you can see the similarities between Scarlett and Rhett. They both cast social convention aside for their own pleasure or gain.

When she cheats Frank Kennedy to marry her， she has been widowed for almost six years. What' more， Frank is her sister's beau. Her bold deeds induce heated discussion from every corner of Atlanta. "She knew Atlanta was talking but she did not care. After all， there wasn't anything immoral in marrying a man. Tara was safe. Let people talk."[6]Even if she herself knows that the womanly jugglery she plays to cheat Rhett and Frank is not fit for a widow， she doesnt care a bit. She is a true utilitarian， as always attaches great importance to financial security. Addicted in her business to earn more money， she has no spare time to care about her fame. So this is why she appears rebellious and so unwomanly in that old time.

3.  A Courageous and Resolute Warrior

Atlanta's destruction signifies Scarlett's rebirth， somewhat like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Scarlett will never be the same after she flees the burning city.   “Scarlett always has great strength to face the cruel reality and overcome many difficulties.”[7]When Atlanta is burned and Scarlett has to return to Tara， she manages to do a ‘mans work. With the town burning down around her， thousands of men dying， the confederate troupes retreating and all of Atlanta evacuating as fast as humanly possible， Scarlett has the same chance to flee. She could have easily packed her things up and run for safety， perhaps even in time to have seen her mother before she dies， but she doesn't. She remains， and gives Melanie some of her own strength so that she will live through the birth of her son. Scarlett， through her devotion to Melanie （although somewhat unknown to her at the time）， stands by her and then helps her and her son to safety. From this we can see she is not only brave， but also has feminine kindness. And when the powerful and wealthy O'Haras are reduced to poverty and adversity， when they must pick cotton or starve， she reaches deep into her soul and pulls out the courage， determination， and endurance to save everyone.

Scarlett is often faulted for working the prisoners in the lumber mill， and stealing her sister's beau， but she has a whole clan to feed and protect， and she does. No one else steps up to the plate， do they？ It is Scarlett who huddles in terror below the bridge with Yankee soldiers clattering over her head， and Scarlett again who marries a man she doesn't love， so she can rescue her beloved Tara.

From the night she breaks through the smoke-bellowing Atlanta， rushing firmly toward Tara， she can never look back. Something that is beauty and youth and potential tenderness has gone out of her face forever. The lazy luxury of the old days is past， never to return. There is no going back and she is going forward. “She wasnt going to sit down and patiently wait for a miracle to help her. She was going to rush into life and wrest from it what she could.”[8] People tend to be demoralized in a world that is declining and waning， like Ashley back from the enemy prison never to be lively again; or indulge in old days that can't wake up， like Gerald O'Hara wandering in his old dreams. Scarlett does not; she is always active to adapt the new situation， no matter how it changes. She runs enthusiastically in paces conforming to new life， anytime preparing to fight against difficulties， like a courageous and resolute warrior charging and shattering enemy positions. Melanie is her companion， although she doesn't find it， or refuses to recognize it.

"As God is my witness， as God is my witness， the Yankees aren't going to lick me. I'm going to live through this， and when it's over I'm never going to be hungry again. No， nor any of my folks. If I have to steal or kill--as God is my witness， I'm never going to be hungry again."[9]

It is this statement， made by Scarlett O'Hara when facing with the devastation of her estate by the civil war that deeply impresses me. It is a statement about her determination， will， and need for material comfort. And once the vow is made， she has taken all the family on her young shoulders. Scarlett O'Hara， the woman driven by her fear of hunger and poverty， begins to play the role of a strict head and a laborious slave in her family. She has no choice but to be brave and steadfast. From that time on she advances bravely， struggling to survive the postwar hell.

Scarlett is a warrior with indomitable will， and Tara is her mother from whom she can absorb her strength. She is driven and will do anything to get what she feels she needs， struggling to keep what is hers， at any cost.

4.  An Iron-willed Guardian Spirit of Tara

“Land is the only thing in the world that amounts to anything. For'tis the only thing in this world that lasts， and to anyone with a drop of Irish blood in them the land they live on is like their mother. 'Tis the only thing worth working for， worth fighting for - worth dying for.”[10]

These words are from the heart of O'Gerald， who has suffered a lot from the hardship of life and knows clearly the preciousness of land. But sixteen years old Scarlett cannot understand the intonation of her father's words. Land seems worthless for her then. However， when the storm of the war has engulfed Georgia and turned Tara into a desert land flowing on terrible ruin， she suddenly wakes up. The Yankees atrocity stirs her deep love and aspiration to land. The old stories about how her Irish ancestors strived for land appear in her memory， and arouse her willpower to defend Tara.

When a fleeing soldier comes to Tara to steal the last of what they have， it is Scarlett that kills him， for her family， for everyone's protection and the certainty that they will all have food and shelter for tomorrow. She cleans up the mess， and takes the responsibility.

When Union soldiers show up and ransack the house for anything of value they can find， it is Scarlett alone that stands up to them， face to face， and defends her son， telling a Union Captain， right out and to his face that he will not take her son's sword from him. Completely disregarding her own safety， she rushes to save the burning cotton， and even when fire burns on her back， she does not feel.

When the madly hunger and extremely tiredness forces her to have strong repulsion of "eloping" with Ashley， the red earth of Tara evokes her sense of responsibility.

When Tara is going to be taken over by the likes of Jonas Wilkerson， neither Ashley nor Will （an injured soldier taken in by Scarlett） can make out an idea. It is Scarlett still that determines to offer herself up to Rhett as his mistress in return for three hundred dollars taxation. She puts her own feelings and self-respect aside for Tara.

You saw her grow from a young girl with no ambition other than to marry rich into a woman fighting for survival during the Civil War. Scarlett goes from a sheltered rich belle to a woman with nothing but the "curtains" on her back. Scarlett is never perfect and never will be， but she is the strongest woman of her time， she has a spark in her that she won't let die. Even though it may be easy to forget， she has a love of her family and a desire to take care of them， no matter what the price to herself， or to her dignity.

5.  An Ambitious Manipulator

Scarlett is as ruthless， cold and calculating as any man. She always has strong desire of being the first， either to be the center of attention in a dancing party， or to be the winner in a business deal.

Scarlett is a true Southern lady in her ability to wield power. She always possesses the willfulness and selfishness that goes far toward trapping men's hearts. Due to her desire of doing everything well， she can't bear any failure that falls onto her， especially that she fails to win over a man's heart. Thinking her charm can attract all men， she naturally forms a habit of flirting with men and is happy to see other girl's jealousy. Women's vanity and pride displays evidently on her.

Scarlett is ruthless in her pursuit and use of every available man， for she seldom devotes her heart. Charles and Frank are typical examples. One is her tool for revenge， the other for money. On one hand， she does use men for her advantage; on the other hand， she steals other women's beau somewhat from women's jealousy. She is constitutionally unable to endure any man being in love with any woman not herself. Take Frank for example. Except the reason of money， she hates her sister's bright future and deliberately breaks it. It is women's envy that works.

Her marriage with Frank Kennedy seems another turn in her life， which signifies that she takes off the coat of poverty and goes the first step toward her successful business road.  She correctly estimates the postwar market situation， buys a sawmill， which soon produces her large amounts of earnings， and becomes a notorious businesswoman by openly rubbing her companions' business， and hiring prisoners ruthlessly.

Her desire to do business arises from combined reasons. First， Tara is in reconstruction， which needs a steady stream of money. Second， her financial security is too thin to support life expenses in an unsafe postwar time. Third， with the idea that she is as capable as a man comes a sudden rush of pride and a violent longing to prove it， to make money for herself as men make money. Fourth， she has been an active master to operate her own fate， never leaving it to others' hands， even her husband's hands.

Once she enters the door of business， she quickly adapts her role as an intelligent and capable businesswoman. Her talent of conduct and management is well brought into play. She is shrewd and astute in reporting a price of the lumber， active and enthusiasm in soliciting customers. Even her charm becomes a signboard to drum up trade.

Condemns arise from every corner of Atlanta， for opposing her to become in so unwomanly a fashion. Frank tries every method to stop her， only strives in vain. Scarlett's repellent character again reveals vividly. “Her voice was brisk and decisive and she made up her mind instantly and with no girlish shilly-shallying. She knew what she wanted and she went after it by the shortest route， like a man， not by the hidden and circuitous routes peculiar to woman.”[11]

She is guided by no one but herself and is conducting her affairs in a masculine way. Her ambition expands as the price of her lumber and cotton.

6.  A Lost Little Woman

I say Scarlett is lost because she is confused in her own feelings， and can't tell reality and fancy. She always believes herself as a love winner but she is virtually a loser. She doesn't understand the significance of true love. When she is sixteen， her love is no more than a combination of vanity and a confidence to her beauty. When she grows older， she betrays love for financial security. When Rhett presents a true love for her， she doesn't treasure it， leaving it to wither like a flower.

When she is young and unwilling to think， she marries a silly boy who leaves her only a widow's identity; when she has experienced the hardest time and knows the meaning of life， she has to marry an old man to rescue Tara. Obviously she doesn't devote her true heart in these two marriages.

She is all the time trapped in a love fantasy made by her own： She loves Ashley and Ashley loves her. She doesnt know that communication of heart is vital in love while she cannot even understand the least of his thought. The reason she falls in love with Ashley is simple： He is handsome and secret to her. It is the very mystery of him excited her curiosity， and he is handsomely blond， so she puts him easily into her heart， calling her admiration as "love". Factually， It is a young girl's romanticism combined with curiosity， not love.

In her blood there is a strong obstinate component that dominates her character utterly. Once she is infatuated with Ashley and cannot get him as soon as she wants， she can never give him up. Just suppose： If Ashley grovels crazily at her feet and begs her love， or is easily caught by her feminine tricks like Charles or Frank， what will Scarlett see him as？ Most probably she will cast him away like a pair of worn-out shoes. Due to her arrogance， she disdains those who compromise to her. Once Ashley surrenders to her love， she perhaps cannot maintain her feeling for more than two weeks.

To some extent， Ashley stands for the past beautiful time for Scarlett. He is defeated by the war， then obsessed in the past time ever since. But Scarlett soon discards those old beliefs （or she is never saturated by the old South traditional molds of thought）， turning to run after new life. He becomes a bond to attach her with the past， the time she is that green-eyed little Miss sitting in the cool shade of Tara dreaming of her future.  Except Rhett， he is her closest male friend， accompanying with her from childhood to youth hood， sharing some same life experiences， living together with her through the days of no money and no promise of a future. From this angle， Scarlett's emotion toward him can be understood.

Also， it is Ashley's hesitation that nurtures Scarlett's love dream. What if he frankly tells her at the beginning that he loves Melanie but not her？ Although unacceptable for Scarlett， perhaps she can leap out of the trap earlier， not having sacrificed so largely.

While Ashley is an old friend， Rhett is a new stimulation. From the first time Scarlett meets him in Twelve Oakes， they build up a close relationship. In her eyes， he is no gentleman， a rascal that is cynical， cunning and shameless.  His mock and banter always challenges her patience， and arouses her excitement. However， she can't read out of him， can't learn his true feeling and thought， so she doesn't realize his love until the last moment.

Rhett Butler， the only man who truly loves Scarlett for the kind of person she is， is just exactly what Scarlett needs. He can， and does， ignite a flame in Scarlett. He is ruthless， opportunistic and yet practical and affectionate. She is essentially a lot like him. They are fire and fire.  He is the only man in the book who is not intimidated by Scarlett， which makes all their conversations worth reading.  Because he has a true self-identity， he is not overwhelmed by the manipulative tactics of Scarlett.

Scarlett has never been able to see the world at all， because Ashley is in the way. Moreover， she disdains those who love her， cheats them badly and utilizes their love ruthlessly. So， Rhett loves her too much to tell her the truth， in other words， he intentionally hides his love in a fear that she will despise him. Unfortunately Scarlett believes his lie （he doesnt love her）， and this push their marriage to the rim of cliff.

I get caught up in the twists of Scarlett's love life and multiple marriages. Scarlett， the confused and perplexed little woman， finds love and loses love. She has a hard time trying to figure out what Love really is to her.

Section  FourConclusion

Scarlett O'Hara， a headstrong Southern belle who survives the hardship of the war and afterwards manages to establish a successful business by capitalizing on the struggle against tyranny， is an honestly strong and resourceful woman. She is so strong and determined and she lets nothing in this life overcome her： not war， not men， not yearning for love， not the social "norms" of the day. She certainly has her bad points， but those just contribute to her humanity.

From the different roles she plays， we can see her courage， strength， ingenuity， grace， and ambition. She is an especially great woman who deserves study. The various twists and turns of Scarlett's fortunes are as interesting as they are frustrating. Scarlett is a flawed character. She is self-serving， conceited beyond belief， manipulative and an accomplished flirt. Nevertheless， it is her strength of purpose， her determination to keep Tara in O'Hara hands， her love for her parents， and her very vibrancy that keep us rooting for her triumph.

References：

[1][2][4][5][6][9][10][11]Margaret Mitchell， Gone with the Wind [M]， Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press， Shanghai，China， 1980， P32-33， P115-116， P8， P134， P600， P419， P426， P624.

[3][8]李華钰.永不飘逝[D].辽宁师范大学研究生申请硕士学位论文，99级英美文学，辽宁师范大学研究生部，2002.6：8，10.

[7] 孙宇.郝思嘉的现实主义性格特征透析[J].哈尔滨学院学报，2003.10.24（10）：40.