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Summary: We learn that the secret behind Scarlett's changed behavior, with the Tarleton twins, is due to her massive crush on Ashley Wilkes. She refuses to believe what the boys have told her and goes to wait for her father to return from the Wilkes' Plantation where he was bargaining to purchase the wife of his Valet(?). We see that Gerald O'Hara is as stubborn as his daughter and they share a special bond due to their mutual nature. Mr. O'Hara tells us that the Wilkes Family is seen as something peculiar in the neighborhood as they care most about education, art, and higher forms of entertainment instead of the more practical things like hunting and gambling.
KatieBug's Response: This is a chapter where we get to see the wheel's turning in Scarlett's head. She developed her infatuation with Ashley at a young age and has tried to manuever herself into being his wife ever since. Her father tries to explain that the Wilkes' are simply a different kind of "folk" and she wouldn't truly be happy with him in the end. I think he has a point, though I find it incredibly awkward that the Wilkes' always marry their cousins, it's almost like they're royalty. There's a certain amount of inbreeding there that I'm just not comfortable with.
Again, I find this part of the book incredibly similar to the opening of the movie and I have a new found respect for the screenwriters.
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KatieBug's Response: This is a chapter where we get to see the wheel's turning in Scarlett's head. She developed her infatuation with Ashley at a young age and has tried to manuever herself into being his wife ever since. Her father tries to explain that the Wilkes' are simply a different kind of "folk" and she wouldn't truly be happy with him in the end. I think he has a point, though I find it incredibly awkward that the Wilkes' always marry their cousins, it's almost like they're royalty. There's a certain amount of inbreeding there that I'm just not comfortable with.
Again, I find this part of the book incredibly similar to the opening of the movie and I have a new found respect for the screenwriters.
SammiDrake's Response: I think the book is slightly different from the movie in this chapter in how it paints Scarlett's love for Ashley. In the movie, we see a woman who wants Ashley simply because she can't have him . . . but you never really understand the big deal about Ashley. Seriously, why him? Now we find out, she's been jonesing on him for about two years now and he's just so different from all the other boys.
But Cher to Nick Cage-style, Gerald says "Snap out of it!" to Scarlett. But here, yet again, is where we start to see *theme* that Scarlett just isn't quite like the other girls in North Georgia. Gerald insists no other boy will want his daughter if she's moon-eyed over some lame guy who won't have her which, *spoiler alert* is really funny when you think about how Gerald scored his hot wife.
Why do you agree with Gerald about his feelings toward the Wilkes?
ReplyDeleteNo, I think that her father is correct in realizing Ashley isn't a good match for his daughter. Otherwise, I think he does respect and value them as neighbors. But I get this feeling like the Wilkes Family is being set up as foil for something.
ReplyDeleteThey aren't like the other neighbors, don't enjoy the same activities even though they excel at them. They do what they must out of duty and honor but, as Gerald said, their heart isn't in it.
They're good at everything even if it's not what they're particularly interested in. This is something I can personally relate to but I don't think the fact that I'm good at everything makes me a bad person.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Gerald thinks they're bad people. If he did he wouldn't socialize with them at all. He just knows that Ashley's personality and Scarlett's are a bad combination. She has idolized the man without thinking about it realistically and that's his point.
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