Gone With the Wind

Julia Pearson

Gone With the Wind

Margaret Mitchell

Historical Fiction/Epic

Just Right

pg. 597

1. Right now, the main character Scarlett is at Fanny Elsing's wedding in Atlanta. The Civil War is over, and all of the South is struggling to find money (except for Rhett Butler). Scarlett is desperate for $300 to save Tara- the Yankees raised the taxes extremely high because the old overseer, Jonas Wilkerson, wants the plantation. He is now part of a Bureau that helps the freed slaves, and has power to do this. Scarlett would rather die than see him in her house, so she goes to Atlanta to try to get money from Rhett Butler, a scandalous man she hates. When that doesn't work, she by chance meets her sister's beau, Frank. Frank is doing rather well and has more than $300. Scarlett decides to make him love her so she can marry him and have money to save Tara. She does not care about her sister's feelings and lied about Suellen (the sister) already being married, because she was engaged to Frank. Right now Scarlett is pretending to love Frank.

2. I like this book a lot. I love all the historical detail that Mitchell adds in the story-about the war, the times, the clothes. I also think the plot is very exciting and engaging. It is hard to put the book down, and I don't get bored with it, which is very good because it is a big book. The characters are very interesting, and it is not similar to other books I've read because Scarlett, the protagonist, is not very nice. She is selfish, vain, and ignorant, yet you can still relate to her most of the time, (though not at this point) because she is also brave, determined, and lively.

3. The theme of the book at this point is desperation. Scarlett will do anything, even give up her pride and honor, to save Tara. She tries everything, even bargaining with Rhett Butler. She ends up stealing her sister's fiance just for his money, which is very desperate.

4. My favorite character is Melanie, Scarlett's sister in law. Melanie is very sweet and kind and just as brave and stronger mentally than Scarlett. She loves Scarlett even though Scarlett can't stand her most of the time. Melanie always finds the best in people, even Rhett. At Tara, she always does more work than everyone else, even though she is sick and in more worse condition than the others living there.

5. My least favorite character is Rhett Butler. He is a very slimy person. He is scandalous and selfish, and was a blockader just for the money, and is not patriotic at all. He joined the army much later than anyone else, and has heaps of money which he keeps to himself when he could of helped the army more. He does something only when he can benefit from it. The only good trait about him is that he admits all this and is honest about it and other things.

6. I predict that Scarlett will marry Frank and save Tara from the taxes. I also think that things are not settled between Rhett and Scarlett, and that Rhett will not be hanged but will come back to Scarlett. I think Rhett really does love Scarlett, despite the fact that he always acts indifferent around her.