Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind is the quintessential southern movie.  All little southern girls grow up wanting to be just like Scarlett O'Hara.  We love the romance of the time period, the hoop skirts and the frivolous barbeques, parties and dance card dramas.

But, today, I was thinking of the love story encapsulated in Civil War troubles and post-war hard times.  And, unlike before, it made me sad.

Does anyone really know how to love in that story?  Does anyone ever find happiness, really?  I don't believe so.

Take Scarlett, for instance.  She is all full of fire, fury and passion, but it is directed towards Ashley who is promised to Melanie.  She wants what she can't have and she chases after it with single minded determination most of her life.  She fails to see the love around her and spits in the face of society and friendship by chasing a man who belongs to another.

And, then there's Ashley.  He's weak.  He's promised to Melanie, and even marries her, but he is constantly drawn to Scarlett and never quite dismisses her advances.  He passively leads her on by not forcefully declaring his love and faithfulness to his wife.  He is drawn by her fire and passion, but knows that he is too weak to truly contain it.  And, so he siphons her energy and fails to be a real man.

But, as "real men" go, none could seem to compare to Rhett Butler.  Upon his entry to the story, all women, everywhere, swoon.  He's rough, strong and determined.  He sets his sights on Scarlett and he moves heaven and earth to win her love.  He tries every tactic in his arsenal, yet he ultimately fails to live up to the ideal image of a man Scarlett has created.  In the end, he is spent, used up, and barely escapes with any dignity at all.

In this crazy, mixed-up love story where everyone seems to be chasing after the wind, the only one who really shows grace, friendship and love is Melanie.  And, yet, she is betrayed at every turn.  She dutifully loves her husband, all the while knowing his head is turned by the overt advances of Scarlett.  She is betrayed by her friend and sister-in-law who chases her husband and uses up her innocent and naive brother.  And, yet, she takes it all in stride, continues to love, forgives and offers grace.  She is not the "Belle of the Ball", but perhaps she should be.  Perhaps her southern gentility should have been front and center.  Although, some cynics would say she was a naive, abused doormat who was taken advantage of at every turn.

I must confess, I've often wanted to be Scarlett.  I've wanted to have that same fire for life.  Somehow, I glanced over the glaring character flaws and saw only her spirit and drive to survive, no matter the cost.  But, today, I was a little surprised at my view of the story and which character seemed to reflect my own heart.

What do you see in this story?  Are you one of these characters?  Take a step back and think about it.  What is your character saying about you?  What does your love story say about who you are?  It's really a cautionary tale, isn't it?  What pitfalls can it help you avoid?

Just a little something to think about on this windy spring day.