This novel is unlike any I have ever read. It is a story of survival and sorrow. It shows triumph over tragedy as well as tragedy over triumph. The way that Margaret Mitchell brings the Old South to life through these pages is, undoubtedly, the best of all time. The novel is captivating in all its aspects. This story takes place right before, duration of, and the Restoration through, the Civil War. The story itself is centered on a southern belle named Scarlett O’Hara.
At the very beginning of the book Scarlett is a sixteen year old child that dreams only of a life of love and luxury. She is obsessed with a southern gentleman named Ashley Wilkes. He however, does not feel the depth of love he has for Scarlett is enough to break his engagement with his then fiancée, Melanie Hamilton. Ashley and Melanie are truly in love. Because of this Scarlett hates Melanie. There is another man who comes into the story named Rhett Butler. When Scarlett professed her love for Ashley Rhett was lying down on a couch unseen. He makes his presence be known to Scarlett after Ashley rejected her and slapped him across the face. It is through this problem of love that the story begins to take off in a strong, yet uncertain way. To try and makes Ashley jealous, Scarlett marries Melanie’s brother, Charles. This in turn, had no real effect on Ashley. Scarlett felt trapped. However she has a son and becomes a widow before the age of twenty.
Scarlett is forced into a period of mourning. Although she is crying on the outside no one knows she is truly crying on the inside because she can’t go to any parties or wear any colors. When she appears in public at a bazaar held for the Cause, Rhett Butler bids on her to be able to dance with her. Both Rhett and Scarlett shock the Confederacy by dancing together almost the entire night. This begins to darken her reputation as a