Scarlett O’ Hara is an enigmatic woman. I saw in her, greed and passion; the emotions of life. She wanted Ashley Wilkes, the one thing which she couldn’t have, in spite of her charm, which made fools of other men. She had everyone under her feet, and she should have been extremely happy to have been blessed so. Yet, she wanted something which was beyond her reach.
Why is Scarlett so anxious to get her man Ashley? She could have chosen to be happy with Rhett Butler from the beginning of the days of their marriage. Yet, , it seems that her heart was bequeathed to Ashley Wilkes. This could be explained in terms of the mysterious factor called love, the alleged one thing which can’t be taken, but can only be received.
I beg to differ. We are all like that, most of the time, aren’t we? I am not talking about love. I am talking about desire for things which we don’t possess. In Scarlett’s case, she wanted the one thing she couldn’t have. If Ashley had willingly given himself to her in wedlock, she would probably move on to the next challenge, now that he is something which she’d conquered. We are a race of beings, who are rarely content with what we have. We always dream, greed and struggle for more. We want to satisfy our desires. The quirky nature of desire is, however, a bit hard to tame.
Finally, when she had lost both Rhett and Ashley, she falls back to Tara. Tara becomes her purpose. The future might have seen her recapture Rhett Butler’s heart.
Its common knowledge that, the satisfaction of one desire, leads to the creation of another one. There is always something more to be done, something better to be attained. It gives us purpose, and purpose is what life’s about, in a sense. A purposeless person is driftwood in the ocean of life. We may feel purposeless at times; yet we find reasons for continuance. Sometimes mundane things of life can become one’s purpose, even though one may feel that there is no purpose left in him/her. I believe that being content is the key to happiness; if one really wants to be happy.
‘Gone with the wind’ is an epic. Vivien Leigh’s portrayal of Scarlett O’ Hara is a feast for the senses. It makes you gaze in wonder at the intricacies of human behaviour.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Scarlett
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22 comments:
hmmm.. i loved gone with the wind..
>>We are a race of beings, who are rarely content with what we have.
So true...
I beg to differ. Ashley was Scarlett's true love. They would have been a perfect pair as she was vivacious and lively while he was the perfect foil for her personality.In the movie though Scarlett isn't the type of girl for a mature and intense man like Ashley. And it was the ghost of Ashley that came between Scarlett and Rhett.Even if Rhett were to come back, he would always have to contend with the fact that Ashley's shadow would always linger in their lives.
I havent Seen Gone with the wind.
SO I cant comment on the story per se.
But from what you have written I can make some inferences of my own.
There are lot of complex emotion which gets passed of as Love. The problem here is It could be that in the Scarlet's mind she had decided that this is the best person for her for very many reasons. Its not exactly a decision.
All said and done we dont live life exactly for any seen purpose. What purpose would exactly a new born baby has. Still doesnt it fight for its life they way it can. The so called purpose etc are abstract bullshit.
Desire as I understand is something which according to you will be most helpfull your cause of life. It need not be like that for others and a mans perception changes by evey instant.
I am also one of those who have not seen the movie nor read the book. Have to rectify it soon.
i simply love that movie & book!
its great to study american history, civil war and slavery etc.
Scarlett might look like a loser for u. but she is mainly loved by women!! coz many of us experience such devious love between 2 guys, even after marriage.
Rhett was so cool and loyal!!
@ hope and love -
me too!
@ geo -
yea! but, on 2nd thoughts, man's inability to remain content is the cause of any kind of advancement in any field!
@ silverine -
it seems that, i will never understand the concept of love! but ur probably right that ashley's shadow would linger in scarlett's life even if rhett were to come back..
@ aravind -
a newborn's purpose is to try to grow up. it has to breathe for achieving that. it cries for food, and when in pain to get help. it tries to maximise its chances. that should constitute a purpose, though it isn't as apparent as a grown up's purpose.desires do vary for different people, aided by perception.sometimes people will go ahead with unhealthy desires, even though they know that it would be detrimental to their well being.but then, in their perception its pros would probably outweigh the cons.
@ alexis leon -
true. if only everyone could force themselves to be content. it would be utopia. but it would also curb any further advancement in scoiety as a whole. as you have pointed out, setting realistic goals and balancing that with contentedness should be the ideal course.
@ mridula -
the movie is good. i haven't read the book!
@ niki chan -
the basic problem that i face here is that i am not at all knowledgable of american history! :) at first i was thinking that the crazy americans were fighting the british :D...it took me some time to understand the gist of the movie..and abt scarlett, i have never looked upon her as a loser. on the other hand, she is someone to be admired indeed! :)
reading the book was an experience! The only american classic..it was a really long book..but when i reached the last page, i din want the story to end..i felt like i cud read on forever..
thanks poi-chan
fighting the british? awww~ so indian!(*^o^*)
glad u admire her!! good understanding of girly heart...lol
@ lost optimist -
i got that feeling when i watched the movie! :)
i wonder if the movie is as good as the book...
@ niki chan -
;)) me and understandin ne one's heart? lol!!! ask kickassso abt my insensitivities towards matters of the heart.. :-S
:D
hey dude, how have u been?
So true, that satisfaction of one desire leads to the creation of another one, till we reach a stage of either complete happiness or complacence.
you described that well, poison -- desire, purpose, and men.
ah, is viven leigh lovely. :) it has been a long time since i've watched the classic, but i still remember the characters. how odd.
btw, would you be happy if scarlett was after you? just asking ;) as for me..maybe. hehe.
@ invincible -
i was net-less for sometime!
i would say that complacence occurs more often than happiness..
@ corsarius -
viv is indeed lovely! and if scarlett were after me, that'd be lovely! if someone actually wants you to be theirs, what more could you want?
yeah, quite a woman indeed...
Gone with the wind is incomparable!
**Its common knowledge that, the satisfaction of one desire, leads to the creation of another one
Spot on! what a sweet web of poison it is ;-)
Keshi.
Rhett is the only one who understood her. From the start. You ought to read the sequel 'Scarlet' written by Alexandria Ripley. Interesting read, for, it is just one of the version that makes you want to know how the characters are lead. But not quite satisfying though. Would have loved to know what Mitchell thought about it.
Gone with the wind
I loved your line, "Its common knowledge that, the satisfaction of one desire, leads to the creation of another one". Very aptly put. Clark Gable also makes an equally notable prescence.
Have blogrolled u :)
Yes, GONE WITH THE WIND is an epic .. and it is not judt about the emotional content ...
Scarlett is what most women aspire to be , but few reach there .
I honestly believed she loved neither Ashley nor Rhett. She loved herself more than anybody. And only when she lost Rhett , did she realise how much she NEEDed him
Ashley tried to be , but couldnt ( unlike Howard Roark .. right ?? )
'gone with the wind' sounds familiar, but can't remember if I've watched it. I think, i should watch it and then comment on this.
@ the monk -
indeed!
@ keshi -
sweet web of poison huh! ;)
lemme weave some more..
@ incognito -
absolutely right tht rhett understood her from the beginning.i wonder what made rhett go after scarlett..
gary cooper was the 1st choice as rhett..apparently he thought tht it wud flop.gable clicked!
@ deepa -
scarlett is what women aspire to be? really?
true .. she is a driven, calculating machine.
roark might have fit right in as scarlett's man!
@ venus -
i guess.. :)
plz dun poison me awww :(
Keshi.
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