Outraged at Gone With the Wind Ending!
I finished the book and I am outraged! Tired, exhausted in fact, from this 1000 plus page emotional journey that ended so badly! I wished I had stopped reading when Scarlett was running home, overjoyed with her new realization that it had been Rhett all along! No amount of words could express my sad feeling of loss at the end of this book. It almost makes me wish I had not read it.
March 19, 2010 @ 11:44 am
The outcome of the book is definitely disheartening. Given Rhett and Scarlett’s character I suppose it should not be so surprising. As I shared with Heidi yesterday good can come from the reading of this book. There are many llife lessons, food for thought we can take away from the book.
Interestingly enough at the present time in the women’s Bible study that I am in, we are covering the book of Ecclesiastes written by Solomon. Although Solomon was the richest man in the world, he speaks saying, “all is vanity, a chasing after the wind”. Riches do not bring happiness or peace of mind. Man toils, achieves much and in the end has to leave it all to someone else who didn’t work for it, won’t appreciate it and most likely will schwander it all.
On page 923 in the book Scarlett comes to the conclusion that money/wealth is never enough. Scarlet is talking with Ashley and he asks her where she wants to get. The following is her response.
Money and security, of course. And yet – Her mind fumbled. She had money and as much security as one could hope for in an insecure world. But, now that she thought about it, they weren’t quite enough. Now that she thought about it, they hadn’t made her particularly happy, though they had made her less harried, less fearful of the morrow. If I’d had money and security and you, that would have been where I wanted to get, she thought, looking at him yearningly.
So one lesson for us is to keep in the forefront of our minds that money and things will not satisfy us. Scarlett was never content or appreciative with what she did have. Her thoughts always went to if I had just this one more thing, such as having Ashley,she would be happy.
Her parents did her no favor by spoiling her and pampering her either.
For myself living in these trying financial times, dealing with the death of a few dear people at church, and several individuals battling cancer, the Lord has reminded me of the importance of living in the moment and appreciating what I have.
It is ironic that through all of the struggles Scarlett went through at Tara through the hands of the Yankees, she ended up hardnosed, lacking any compassion for the abuse of the convicts in her mill. It was all about her own selfish gain and comfort.
Another lesson would be to watch out for false pride. How tragic that Rhett and Scarlett out of false pride would not admit to one another how they truly felt. If they had only put the other persons feelings and interests first how different the outcome would have been.
March 22, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
With the way life ended up for Scarlett I can’t help but be reminded of a verse of scripture. Matthew 16:26 For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Interestingly enough Rhett even told Scarlett that she had gained the world but lost her soul in the doing.
Scarlett lost sight of what in life is truly important. Her blindness, greed, pride, and self-centeredness cost her family members, friends, loved ones, and the joy and peace of contentment. Just as the book of Ecclesiastes says it was all vanity, a chasing after the wind. Scarlett reaped what she sowed. Galatians 6:7-9 speaks of this. So another good lesson to hold on to is to not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap harvest of righteousness if we do not grow weary.
January 11, 2012 @ 4:06 am
I loved the ending and found it very real and satisfying. Scarlett suffered from a destructive histrionic personality disorder and Rhett realised this and that she didn’t and could never love him or anyone else. He left and went no contact to save himself. One might hope that eventually through solitude and struggle Scarlett finally found the help she needed to grow, change and be happy.