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On The Character Of Scarlett

[Abstract] Gone with the Wind is one of the most popular American novels, which is written by American female writer Margaret Mitchell. When it was published, its sales broke many records among the publishing circles, and it is famous all over the world. The novel mainly describes the life of Scarlett who is the daughter of Tara’s master during the American Civil War. Meanwhile with the hint of a triangular love between Scarlett, Ashley and Rhett, the novel depicts a wide and prosperous picture of the social life of the South in America. Not only the rich content of the novel but also the complex plots and the contradictions between the figures of the novel have an important artistic effect on shaping the characters in the novel. Among all the roles, Scarlett, is the most successful one who is full of conflicting and complicated features. This article analyzes the character of Scarlett from three aspects: the first one is her attitude towards life during the Civil War; the second one is the exterior and internal reasons for the shaping of her character; the last one is her attitude towards her love and marriage. The analysis aims at showing the eternal charm of the image, Scarlett in the novel.
[Key Words] Scarlett’s character; exterior reason; internal reason; Gone with the Wind

1. Introduction
Gone with the Wind has been hailed as a triumph of American literature and film. In1937, Margaret. Mitchell won Pulitzer Prize, for her sweeping portrayal of the crumbling of the Old South. Since then, the novel has sold millions of copies. The film, a production by David O.Selznick, exceeded all expectations, receiving critical and public acclaim that included an unprecedented ten Academy Awards.[1]   Even today, Gone with the Wind, despite its many historical inaccuracies, forms the basis of American popular memory of the Old South in the years since the Civil War, but Margaret Mitchell’s tale is the one that is most deeply embedded in American culture. The novel...