Gone with the Wind story
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic historical romance film adapted from the 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell. The film was produced by David O. Selznick of Selznick International Pictures and directed by Victor Fleming. Set in the American South against the backdrop of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era, the film tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, the strong-willed daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, following her romantic pursuit of Ashley Wilkes, who is married to his cousin, Melanie Hamilton, and her subsequent marriage to Rhett Butler.
32 total · 3 choice · 17 major · 12 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| female independence | choice | The heroine Scarlett was a fiercely independent and strong-willed individual. After the war, she become hellbent on becoming financially self-reliant. She acquired a lumber mill and ran it ruthlessly by exploiting prison labor. Scarlet's decision to run a lumber mill herself was questioned by her husband. Scarlet driving her own horse and carriage was frowned upon by a woman of high-standing. |
| selfishness | choice | The heroine Scarlett was vain and self-absorbed. Rhett repeatedly scolded her for having no consideration for anyone but herself and caring for nothing but money. |
| unrequited love | choice | Scarlett was in love with Ashley from the very start, and Ashley felt for her too, but Ashley felt bound by moral duty and honor to his wife. Rhett was in love with Scarlett and despaired because he couldn't make her reciprocate the feeling. In the end, however, the roles were reversed. |
| American Civil War | major | The story is set in the American South against the backdrop of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era. |
| civilians suffering in war | major | The story portrays the desperation that people of the South experienced during the closing phase of the American Civil War. In particular, it was portrayed what it might have been like for the people of Atlanta during the extended assault by Union forces on the city. At the party, Rhett proclaimed that he hoped the North would relent because wars were awful affairs and afterwards no one knew why they had been fought. The remainder of the story showcased at least the first part of this assertion. |
| coping with a failing marriage | major | Scarlet and Rhett's marriage turned into a shambles owing, in no small part, to Scarlet's heart being with Ashley. |
| coping with the death of a child | major | The second half of the story leads up to the turning point when Scarlet and Rhett's young daughter, Bonnie, tragically broke her neck and died in a pony riding mishap. |
| coping with the defeat of one's people | major | The story shows various people of the Confederate South dealing with the realization that the Yankees had won. |
| EQ vs. IQ | major | Selfish and unsympathetic Scarlett was contrasted with Rhett who was able to see deeply into people and understand the motivations for their actions. Scarlett, by contrast, was often befuddled by what people thought and felt even though she was highly intelligent. |
| gold digging | major | Scarlet admitted to Rhett that money was a consideration in her decision to marry the wealthy general store owner Frank Kennedy. Scarlett presumably married Rhett because of his immense fortune. |