Gone With The Wind: Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Summary: Scarlett's married life is as short-lived as the wedding preparation as the men go off to war.  Despite her mother's concern, Scarlett moves her wedding date up so that she gets married the day before Ashley and Melanie.  She spends a total of two weeks with Charles Hamilton before he goes to war and his death is reported less than a month after that.  At the age of 16 Scarlett finds herself in the role of mother and a widow, neither of which suits her and she is faced with the reality of her hasty decisions.  She loses her appetite and interest in life since she has to confine herself to "grown-up" pursuits and life without Ashley.  Her mother recognizes this behavior, from her own heartbreak, and sends Scarlett on a Southern Tour of her maternal family.  This does nothing to ease her sorrow and it is decided she should stay with her Husband's Aunt Pittypat in Atlanta.  The idea of staying with Melanie isn't pleasing to Scarlett, but she is drawn to the excitement of life in Atlanta.



 KatieBug's Response:  I think this chapter moves as quickly as it feels for Scarlett.  She even says she doesn't remember much after she agreed to marry Charles and that it was all a blur.  MAJOR difference between this and the movie though: Scarlett and Charles have a son, Wade Hampton Hamilton, and she makes a tour of her own family before being sent to Atlanta.  She doesn't decide she wants to go to Atlanta either, but is told by her mother to go.  There isn't that hope that she'll see Ashley if he comes home from war and no wise advice from Mammy about being a "spider."  It's sad to see that Scarlett has no interest in her own child, but at the age of 16 I guess that's to be expected.  In this entire situation, knowing how the movie goes, the luckiest of them all right now is Charles Hamilton.  He dies at a young age without seeing anything of war and believing that the most beautiful girl in the county loved him.

SammiDrake's Response: