(Above is a video I came across over the summer of screen tests from several actresss and actors auditioning for various roles. It's very interesting to see all the choices for Scarlett. Even though none of the other women hold a candle to Vivien Leigh, I think that Paulette Goddard was a good second place. I've always loved Gone with the Wind and Vivien Leigh, so I thought this was a great find!)
For every gerneration that has existed since the birth of cinema, there has been a woman in film that shows great independence and courage. Possibly one of the greatest examples of one of these brave women is that of Scarlett O'Hara from the 1939 film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's bomebshell of a novel, Gone With the Wind. Seemly only a petite and gorgeous Southern Belle, she is really a shrewd business woman who is out for her own success and security. Even though most audiences today view Scarlett's story with an air of nonchalance, for the time the film was made, and not to mention and the time period it was set, a woman of her character would have been viewed as very risque and shocking. Even though she is shackled by the constraints of 19th century Antebellum society, Scarlett O'Hara still does all she can to gain and maintain wealth, social standing, and love, all while staying fiercely independent, intelligent, and beautiful. From the get-go, film viewers see that Scarlett O'Hara is not like all the other Southern Belles, who are quiet, demure and ladylike. Scarlett is flirty, stubborn and independent. In the opening scene, the audience sees a young and flirtatous Scarlett, played by the ravashing Vivien Leigh, toying with the hearts of the Tartan brothers and joking about talks of war "spoiling every party this spring". However, her face drops and a close-up ensues at the mention of Ashley Wilkes getting married to his "mealy-mouthed" cousin, Melanie. Scarlett is secretly in love with Ashley, and makes attempts throughout the whole film to win his heart with no success. Since her love and desire lie with Ashley, she seems capable of marrying anyone who will aid in her gain or advancement. For instance, she marries Charles Hamilton, who had been the beau of India Wilkes, only to get back at Ashley for marrying Melanie and after the war. She later marries Frank Kennedy to save Tara after Yankee carpetbaggers raise the taxes on Tara and Rhett Butler, who had been a successful blockade runner and gambler during the war, is unable to help her financially.
After their marriage, Scarlett seems to take control of Frank's business, which would have been unheard of in the 1860s. She encourages Frank to expand his lumber business and wants to include Ashley under the illusion that she needs help running the business, but most film viewers can see that she really just wants to keep him nearby. While it may appear that the men own the business, it is clear that Scarlett runs it. There are scenes of her going over books and inspecting convicts for her the business's labor force. When Frank pleads with her to relenquish her controlling air for sake of social norms, she refuses. She swore she would never go hungry again and she meant it.
During and after the war, Scarlett shows great strength, independence, and stubornness. She moves to Atlanta at the urging of her mother to live with Aunt Pitty Pat after Charles's death of measles and pneumonia whilst serving in the Confederate army. In a daring and risque move, Scarlett accepts Rhett Butler's bid to dance at a charity ball for the Confederate even though she is a widow, which was another act that would have made her seem very bold and uncivilized given her upbringing. Rhett, whom Scarlett first met at Twleve Oaks, is a notorious cad. However, he fancies Scarlett and knows one day she will fancy him. He knows they are "alike. Bad lots, both of us. Selfish and shrewd, but able to look things in the eyes as we call them by their right names". Eventually, Scarlett does marry Rhett, but initially it was only for money and security. However, the two have a daughter, Bonnie. As with many other cases of independent women, Scarlett seems to be punished by the death of Bonnie, who dies while jumping her horse, much like Scarlett's father some years earlier. She is also punished when she finally realizes she loves Rhett, who winds up leaving her shortly after her epiphany. Scarlett's story, as well as many others from films at the time, seem to subliminally suggest to women viewers that they would have to pick between an independent live and career or love and family and that it is impossible to have both. Even though Scarlett struggled through war and hardship, it is evident that fate never destined her to be fully happy.
After the war comes to Atlanta, Scarlett knows she must leave with a feeble Melanie and her newborn baby or face the wrath of the Yankees. Scarlett is exhaused by this point. She has just quit her job as a nurse due to the horrific sights, sounds, and smells of decaying men, and she has basically single-handedly devivered Melanie's baby, which is no easy task for anyone, let alone a wealthy and spoiled girl of plantation-wealth and status. Rhett, who has decided to join the army, leaves her with a buggy and a sorry horse to take them back to Tara. She then travels by horse and buggy with a house slave (Prissy), Melanie and her newborn baby over war-ravished countryside to return back to Tara and Scarlett's family when the Yankees march though Atlanta. Fianlly arriving to Tara, she finds her mother dead, her father crazy from the strain, most of the slaves gone (save Mammy and Pork) and her family impoverished and starving.
Shortly after the war's end, her father dies trying to junp a fence with his horse after their old overseer, Jonas Wilkerson, threatens to take Tara for the Yankees. Scarlett takes on full responibility for rebuilding her family and homestead for survival after war. She sends what few slaves she has left along with her sisters and herself out to the fields to pick cotton. After the Yankees raise property taxes on Tara, she is at a loss. She cannot lose her home. Where will her family and she go? At her whits end, he shrewdly visits Rhett Butler, a notorious blockade runner and gambler during the war, to try to get him to help her financial support to save Tara. Unable to find the help she needs from Rhett, she is temporarily stumped. However, as luck would have it, she runs into Frank Kennedy. Frank, who is her sister Sue Ellen's beau, owns a general store and small lumber mill in Atlanta. The wheels in Scarlett's brain begin turning. She lies about her sister "getting tired of waiting" on Frank and says Sue Ellen married a new beau. Scarlett fliratiously asks Frank if she can out her hand in his pocket during a buggy ride, and the next thing you know, they are married. After Frank's death in avenging an attack on Scarlett, Scarlett goes on to marry Rhett, who leaves her after Bonnie dies much like her grandfather in a horse jumping accident and Melanie dies from complications resulting from a pregnancy. Rhett seems to realize that he can never win Scarlett from Ashley. Even though Scarlett is heartbroken (she has just realized that she loves Rhett), she remains strong and returns to Tara.
Even though some of Scarlett's actions are of little shock and awe to movie goers today, for a woman in the late 1800s, she would have been considered very provocative. She is out-spoken and not afraid to go after what she needs to survive. She seems able to put her feelings aside for advancement, such as when she marries for reasons other than love. Much like the brave men who have gone away for the war, Scarlett protects and watches over her family and friends even though she may not want to. She is a great-risk taker and businesswoman. Selfish, brave and shrewd, Scarlett O'Hara may be one of the finest examples of an independent woman in cinema.
No comments:
Post a Comment