Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Gone with the Wind, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Civil War and Reconstruction
Looking Forward vs. Looking Back
Classism and Racism
Practicality, Tenacity, and Selfishness
Women and Power
Summary
Analysis
The war goes on. The South does pretty well, though people stop expecting the war to end any day. The hospitals in Atlanta are overflowing with sick and wounded soldiers. Confederate funds are low, which means food and clothing are scarce. Everyone eats simply and wears homespun cloth. The hospitals worry about medical supplies. For Scarlett, however, the war means excitement. Now that her mourning period is over, the war means extra parties and more boys anxious to propose.
Realistically, the South is faring worse and worse by the day; supplies are slowly running out, and the fighting drags on. To Southerners, however, the Confederacy is still invincible; they expect everything to be alright and they seem to party accordingly. This is good news for Scarlett, as it means she can finally take advantage of the freedom she enjoys in Atlanta, now that she’s finished mourning.
Themes
During these war times, men call on girls without any of the proper conventions. Mrs. Merriwether fears the South is heading towards moral collapse when she finds her daughter Maybelle kissing her fiancée. But the men, afraid of dying, can’t wait. Scarlett loves this new informality. Childbirth and marriage haven’t affected her, and she’s back to who she was before marriage. She flirts and parties, though she continues to wear her mourning dress. Even though Ashley is married, he’s so far away that he belongs to her as well as to Melanie.
Because the war disrupts normalcy, many Southern conventions are dropped. Marriage, mourning, childbirth, and courtship—which usually have strict rules—are now casual institutions. Scarlett even applies this new informality to Ashley and Melanie; because Ashley is away at war, she decides that his marriage to Melanie is less binding, and so fantasizes that he’s still hers.
Themes
Scarlett pays brief and disappointing visits to Tara. Ellen and Gerald are so busy running the war commissary that Scarlett has no time to talk to them, and Suellen and Carreen are caught up in their romances. Scarlett is always relieved to go back to Atlanta to have fun again. Ellen thinks Scarlett goes back to help the war effort, which makes Scarlett feel guilty.
While Scarlett is enjoying her freedom and her morals are becoming “loose,” she doesn’t have her mother’s guidance to limit her. Ellen—like Melanie—is avid about the war effort and has no time for her daughter. Scarlett’s hope of being like her mother one day slips further away.
Themes
After the bazaar, Rhett Butler regularly takes Scarlett riding or dancing. Scarlett is still humiliated that he knows her deepest secret, and he frustrates her because nothing ever surprises or hurts him. Sometimes she threatens to end their relationship, but he wins her over with presents. She grows to look forward to seeing him. He’s handsome and his personality challenges her. Confusingly, she feels like she loves him—though she knows she doesn’t. Pittypat doesn’t approve of Rhett; she thinks he’s improper and disrespects women. However, Rhett wins her over by bringing her gifts from the blockade.
Scarlett claims she doesn’t like Rhett Butler, but she can’t resist him. She sometimes feels that she’s in love with him, but knows she isn’t because her feeling around him is much different than her feeling for Ashley. Scarlett and Rhett have many of the same opinions, they engage in lively banter, and he showers her in presents. However, Scarlett believes that this isn’t love because she loves Ashley.
Themes
Get the entire Gone with the Wind LitChart as a printable PDF.
Melanie insists that Rhett is a gentleman. She secretly feels sorry for Rhett, believing that some heartbreak has made him bitter. She believes people speak poorly of him because they don’t understand him. Scarlett agrees with Pittypat that Rhett is disrespectful and looks at women as though they’re his property. But around Melanie, Rhett is respectful and kind. Scarlett tells Rhett she doesn’t know why he’s nicer to Melanie when Scarlett is prettier. Rhett laughs and says that Melanie is the only sincere and selfless “great lady” he’s ever met. Scarlett, on the other hand, is no lady. Scarlett tries to insult him, but this is impossible because Rhett admits to everything calmly.
Every respectable person except Melanie disapproves of Rhett, so the respectable side of Scarlett disapproves of him too. This suggests that Rhett is a bad influence on Scarlett. However, Melanie—who resembles Ellen, the epitome of respectability in many ways—defends Rhett. This suggests that there’s good in Rhett. Further, the fact that Melanie likes Scarlett and Rhett despite their bad reputations suggests that she unifies the respectable and unrespectable people of society.
Themes
Scarlett wants to think she’s charmed Rhett, but unlike all her other beaus, Rhett remains aloof. When he comes to town, he stirs excitement. No one has ever seen him do anything improper, but people say he’s “loose” with women, that he killed a man, has been disowned, and was a professional gambler. He wouldn’t be received anywhere if it weren’t for the war. But he’s also rumored to be recklessly brave in the blockade, which makes many people overlook his reputation. He is dashing and stylish.
Rhett is a mystery; no one seems to know his family is or what his history is. This is unusual in a society in which gentility is based on family. His obscure origins make him exciting and give him a self-made character. The fact that he’s made his own money from the blockade is unusual as well because most other wealthy Southerners are wealthy by birth.
Themes
Even Mrs. Merriwether caves and invites Rhett to dinner after he finds a bolt of satin from England for Maybelle’s wedding dress. He presents it as a gift and tells Maybelle about the current fashions in Paris. He’s so masculine that he can get away with knowing this sort of thing. All the ladies turn to him for the latest fashion tips from his travels.
Many people like Rhett against their better judgment. Although he mocks most Atlantans, and only does things for his own benefit, he has moments of generosity that baffle people. As the blockader, he’s made himself indispensable to society.
Themes
Rhett Butler is popular for many months despite the rumors about him. After a few months, however, he starts to antagonize everyone in Atlanta by mocking their patriotism. He looks down on everyone and likes to make himself look bad. He casually admits that he would blockade for Yankee women, and that he’d sell spoiled and compromised goods if money were involved. Scarlett knows he’s insincere.
Among his many questionable attributes, Rhett’s disdain for the Cause is unforgivable to Atlantans. When he says that he would consort with Yankees, Carpetbaggers, and Scallawags—the enemies of the Confederacy—he is viewed as a traitor. All Southerners, this suggests, are expected to be faithful to the South.
Themes
At Mrs. Elsing’s musical for convalescents, Rhett ruins his reputation for good. Melanie and Scarlett sing a duet and perform a skit about the Confederate victory. Afterwards, Rhett makes Willie Guinan fume by saying the Cause is not sacred. Rhett then comments on Willie’s bravery. Willie blushes because he’s one of the Home Guard under question for not being at the front. Dr. Meade jumps in to defend the sacredness of the South and States’ Rights. Every Cause is sacred to whoever’s fighting, Rhett says, and wars are always about money. He bows ostentatiously and walks out. Scarlett starts after him, but Mrs. Elsing grabs her skirt and shouts “traitor!” after Rhett. Rhett shoots Mrs. Elsing a look, grins, and exits.
Rhett picks on Willie Guinan because he represents one of the hypocrisies of pride in the Confederacy. Willie acts like a heroic soldier, but he is only part of the Home Guard, and therefore hasn’t actually endangered himself for the Cause. Rhett also suggests that everyone feels pride in one’s country during a war, as both sides in any war believe that their Cause is sacred. In this way, Rhett suggests that viewing a Cause as sacred is near-sighted and self-centered.
Themes
In the carriage on the way home, Mrs. Merriwether scolds Pittypat, Melanie, and Scarlett for their association with Rhett, “the traitor,” and demands that they cut contact with him. He should be in jail for speaking ill of the Confederacy. Scarlett is upset, but she keeps quiet out of fear that Mrs. Merriwether will write another letter to Ellen.
Mrs. Merriwether believes that Rhett’s opinion about the war is a crime. This depicts Southern society during the Civil War as a place where freedom of opinion isn’t valued. The war only seems to exacerbate the South’s strict social conventions.
Themes
Melanie, pale and wide-eyed, said she will continue to speak to Rhett Butler. Scarlett admires and envies Melanie’s outspokenness. Shaking, Melanie says that what Rhett said was rude, but it’s how her husband, Ashley, feels about the war. Ashley is no coward, but he thinks there’s nothing glorious about war. According to Ashley, Melanie says, the South is deceived into believing in the war by the government, but the war will change them for the worse. Mrs. Merriwether says Melanie must have misunderstood the letter; it was horrible to compare Ashley with the traitor Rhett. Melanie insists that she never misunderstands Ashley.
Melanie reveals that she is not merely sweet and obedient. Defending Rhett Butler goes against what society deems proper, which is surprising coming from a “perfect” member of society like Melanie. Over her loyalty to society, Melanie prizes her loyalty to Ashley. She is willing to shock society to stand with him and his opinions. Scarlett rebels for petty reasons, but Melanie rebels with her convictions; Scarlett envies her this.
Themes
Mrs. Merriwether gets out at her house, threatening that they’ll be sorry. Miss Pittypat, strangely calm, says she’s grateful that Melanie stood up to Mrs. Merriwether. But should she have said that about Ashley? Melanie cries and says it’s true. Scarlett is shocked that Ashley has anything in common with Rhett Butler. Neither believe in the war, and yet Rhett Butler had the sense not to fight while Ashley can’t accept the truth. It’s bewildering.
Scarlett is surprised by the connection Melanie draws between Ashley and Rhett. She catches herself thinking it was sensible of Rhett not to fight when he didn’t believe in the war, suggesting that she thinks Ashley’s compliance is foolish. She doesn’t consider what these thoughts mean about her feelings towards both men, and only feels confused.
Themes
