1. Looking at the development of Scarlett Hao’s character from the changes in the background of the times
From the whole story, Scarlett Hao seems to be a stubborn, unruly, and even savage woman. Sometimes she does not distinguish between good and bad, good and evil, and does whatever it takes to achieve her goals. Therefore, although Scarlett Hao is charming, some of her actions are shameful and even disgusting. However, when we place the growth and changes of her personality in the context of the great changes in the era of the Civil War, we will find that Scarlett Hao's character changes with the changes in life and environment. The author Missier integrates Scarlett Scarlett's personal destiny into the major historical changes in the United States, showing the logical development of Scarlett Scarlett's character over time and space transformation.
On the eve of the Civil War, Scarlett Scarlett was a willful and ignorant 16-year-old girl, living in the rough and poetic Taole Farm far away from the hustle and bustle. She was born into a wealthy manor family, and her mother was of French descent, requiring her to abide by the tradition of being a lady. But since she was a child, she "liked to play with the little black charcoal in the field and the boys from the neighborhood. Moreover, she could climb trees and throw stones, just like those wild children." Her father was an Irish immigrant who wanted her to Can marry any wealthy kid nearby. But she dared to disobey her father's orders and marry for love like a Yankee. She also laughed at her father's pedantic political views.
When the Civil War broke out, Scarlett Hao changed from a girl to a young woman in less than two weeks; and from a young woman to a widow in less than two months. She dared to break through the shackles of old traditions and bite her way out of the widow's cocoon. She is unruly and unruly, and is like "a fiery traitor". During the war, the Southern Army was retreating steadily. Because of her commitment to Wei Xili, she took care of Melanie and helped her give birth to the baby smoothly. With the help of Rhett Butler, he risked his life and took them back to Taole, which had become desolate due to the war.
At this time, Scarlett Hao experienced a turning point in her life. The poverty and family trauma caused by the war dealt a heavy blow to her. She suddenly found that she, who had been favored by thousands of people, was suddenly thrown into a complete stranger. and the cruel world, she suddenly discovered that poverty turned out to be so ferocious and terrifying. She was helpless and at a loss. Not everyone will face the same predicament as Scarlett Hao. People who have never experienced poverty may never understand the true taste of poverty, so they cannot understand why some people want to sell their bodies or souls to escape it. When Scarlett Hao is frantically looking for food in the barren farmland and is hungry, when Scarlett Hao faces the sky and calls out never to succumb to fate, I believe that no audience will not be moved by her strength. Faced with the miserable situation, she did not get discouraged or retreat. She did not accept everything cowardly. Instead, she broke out in silence and moved forward resolutely. Scarlett Hao, who was once as innocent and ignorant as a child, has matured in her own way.
Scarlett Hao's character is full of the grandeur and roughness of her father's generation of southern planters. She does not seem to have inherited any of her mother's character - a typical reserved woman who has worked hard for her family all her life. female. In that era in the United States, if a woman lacked these, she would be regarded as an unqualified person, a rebellious person, and a person who could not be tolerated by ethics. However, Scarlett Hao is exactly like this. Her character determines that she will not be unknown and will not live an ordinary life like other women. Therefore, after a moment of despair after losing her home, she did not fall into despair, but swore to God that she would get through the difficulty. After losing her mother, her father, and the slaves who served them, she finally climbed up with her stubbornness and refused to bow her head, reached the upper echelons of society, and gained her initial wealth and status. But equally, due to her sharp-edged personality in the eyes of others, the difficulties she experienced were unimaginable to others, whether it was her career or her love. Scarlett Hao has the spirit of never giving up in any difficult situation, and no difficulty will knock her down. Even if there is nothing but Tara, as long as you stand on that red soil, you will still have strength.
The author Margaret Missiel did not blindly praise Scarlett Hao. She also wrote about the dirty side of Scarlett Hao. As Rhett Butler said, she is unscrupulous and sometimes even acts like a despicable hooligan.
She has killed people, snatched other people's husbands, and even taken advantage of others... However, we should see that she did not intend to be a gangster. She had imagined that she was wearing an elegant long skirt like her mother since she was a child, and she could not help but be busy serving others. , in order to win the love and respect of others and become a superior woman. Scarlett Hao was born in troubled times, and she shot deserters for her own safety; if she didn't kill, others would kill her. She knew deeply that "land is the only thing in the world that lasts forever!" If she didn't steal her sister's lover, she would lose Tao Le; if Tao Le was lost, the conditions for a dozen people to survive would be lost... Scarlett Hao has experienced hardships , hardship, knowing that money is the basis of survival, so in order to survive, I have to put aside "irrelevant things" such as self-esteem, pride, honesty, kindness, good manners and morality. She said: "When I have a lot of money, I will be able to be a good person, and I will behave myself." Michelle once said: "If there is a theme in this novel of mine, it is Survival." Scarlett Hao's image powerfully reflects this sense of survival. She walked out of her boudoir and went into business herself. Her courage, courage and talent were like dropping a bomb on the upper class society.
Scarlett Scarlet, who was once a pampered wealthy lady, experienced the hardships of war and the hardships of life in just 12 years from 1861 to 1873, and finally became a capable and professional woman. The strong one. Her work and lifestyle were adapted to the social needs of the Reconstruction period and represented the new capitalist South. Her dominant character shines with perseverance, outstanding talent, and the ability to reverse the situation. And selfishness, despicability, coldness, cruelty, etc. are also the imprints left on her by the competition law of survival of the fittest in the context of war.
2. Scarlett Hao's love
Although Scarlett Hao eventually became a strong person in her career, her fate in love and marriage was very bumpy: she got married three times, but there was no love at all. When she was in her youth, she got married twice. Became a widow. The third husband brought her wealth and affection, but she lost it because she didn't cherish it. The competitive Scarlett Hao didn't understand the true meaning of life until she was alone at the age of 28.
Scarlett Hao's love is often misplaced. She always thought that Wei Xili, whom she loved deeply, not only did nothing, but also did not love her. When Scarlett was 14 years old, Wei Xili came back from studying in Europe. Wei Xili's hazy gray eyes full of laughter, like Her musical voice, deep character, and indifferent attitude toward people all fascinated her. Poetic first love is often unforgettable and affects life, which paved the way for Scarlett Hao's persistent pursuit of Wei Xili. She didn't understand Wei Xili, but because of her lack of understanding, there was a mystery that aroused curiosity, like a door without a lock or key. Scarlett Hao is "as innocent as fire, like the wind, and like wild things." She always confesses her love to Wei Xili frankly and wants to elope with him again and again without any scruples. How to analyze Scarlett Hao's feelings? It seemed that her heart could not tolerate the slightest doubt, and she could not deliberately conceal any true thoughts in her heart, because it would mean great pain to her. It is precisely because of this that after she was convinced that she fell in love with Wei Xili, no matter what troubles appeared around her, no matter how far apart they were, or even if he had married her, she never thought of compromising on this. and give up. Because in her opinion, this was betraying herself and the reason for living.
So, Scarlett Hao always showed an inner resistance to Rhett Butler. She has always longed to be a lady like her mother, so she was attracted by Wei Xili's gentlemanly demeanor. If her love for Ashley is passionate, pure, and persistent, then her love for Rhett Butler Seduction stems from the desire to possess, use and manipulate, even though they have dated before, and have been together through life and death amidst the sound of gunfire and war, even though they are actually so similar: the same selfishness, the same unscrupulous means to achieve their goals. , as Rhett Butler said, "We are so similar. We are both rebels, selfish, cunning, and able to see things through. We do whatever we want to do, and we are never hypocritical. As long as it is profitable, we can do whatever it takes. Reputation is Worthless." However, Scarlett Hao turned a blind eye to all this and never knew the true love in her heart.
Because of Scarlett Hao's long-term indifference to this relationship, and also because of Rhett Butler's inappropriate cynicism and caution and cowardice, this true love eventually withered due to malnutrition and was unable to survive. It was Scarlett Hao's blind persistence and the flaws in their mutual characters that both led to the breakdown of their relationship.
Scarlett Hao is competitive and competitive, and has a strong desire to control even in love. Rhett Butler, on the other hand, cannot bravely confess his love. In his own words, his confession to Hao Sijia will become a whip in her hand, used to beat him mercilessly. And this is actually Rhett Butler's way of covering up his cowardly character. Women need men's confession and commitment, even if it is false. Rhett Butler did the opposite. When interacting with Hao Sijia, he constantly emphasized his celibacy to cover up his true feelings for Hao Sijia. Even after getting married, she still tried to win Hao Sijia's heart only through the stimulation of money and material desires. And this is obviously counterproductive. So in Scarlett Hao's eyes, she could never beat him. He was always so calm and unfathomable. She could never guess what he was thinking. But in Rhett Butler's heart, it was: Why does everyone know what I want? What is it that only she doesn't understand? At the end of the film, Rhett Butler sighs from the bottom of his heart after experiencing the vicissitudes of life for a long time. He loves Scarlett and knows her strengths and weaknesses best. However, he has been too tired and boring on the road of life. He is like a long-distance runner who chooses to give up at the last moment when he reaches the finish line. But at this time, Scarlett Hao suddenly understood that the soul she lost was not Wei Xili, but Rhett Butler. She began to understand that Rhett was her true love and the one who had the same connection with her. She pursued the love she was meditating on. , little did they know that the true love of life is always by their side. Facing Rhett Butler's departure, she wanted to keep him, but she was so helpless and unable to do so. People who blindly pursue illusions do not know how to cherish real emotions. This is the tragedy of Scarlett Hao. If Rhett Butler had never left, "Gone with the Wind" would not have become a classic.
Summary
"Gone with the Wind" has luxurious scenes, grand and realistic war scenes, distinctive and strong characters, delicate and layered psychological portrayals, and the turbulent background of the great era has a profound impact on the heroine. The growth process is well highlighted, and this epic masterpiece can tightly control the audience's emotions from beginning to end, rising and falling with the changes in the relationships between the people in the play.
"Gone with the Wind" vividly demonstrates the national spirit of Americans struggling in adversity, pursuing personal independence, dignity, love, and always being optimistic and enterprising. Scarlett Hao, this weak woman from a middle-class family, has gone through a series of huge difficulties and setbacks such as failure in love, civil strife and war, rebuilding her home, the death of her beloved daughter, and her husband running away, but she has never bowed to fate. She has never been timid, time and time again. Take back the initiative in life into your own hands.
"After all tomorrow is another day."
——"No matter what, tomorrow is a new day!" This is the last sentence Scarlett Hao left for the readers, and also the last sentence. Evocative words, this sentence sums up her attitude towards life and love. It is the best expression of her optimistic and self-reliant life, and it is also her endless interpretation of destiny.