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intheflow

(30,172 posts)

16. I don't think Melanie was a doormat.

Reply to applegrove (Reply #13)

Sun Jul 19, 2015, 01:17 AM

Jul 2015

Although that's the way Scarlett saw her. I think Melanie had an inner strength that Scarlett completely lacked, she was kind to everyone, even the town prostitute, even wounded Yankees because she wanted to think that somewhere up north there was a Yankee woman who might be being kind to her husband who was a POW. And yet, she didn't shirk her responsibility to protect her family when she killed the Yankee who was threatening to rape Scarlett. And she also didn't complain when she had to give birth during a bombing raid and subsequent evacuation of her hometown as a war refugee. Melanie was the strongest damn character in the book, in my opinion.

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Gone with the Wind [View all] WestCoastLib Jul 2015 OP

Good post. Very insightful. n/t jaysunb Jul 2015 #1

I've never watched Gone With the Wind or Birth of a Nation Uncle Joe Jul 2015 #2

I saw it when I was 18 or 19 almost 60 years ago and I thought it was a crap movie then tularetom Jul 2015 #3

Scarlett was a classic stereotypical Southern belle, drawn with a very broad brush dixiegrrrrl Jul 2015 #4

I feel the same way about "The Outlaw Josie Wales." Archae Jul 2015 #5

Josie Wales was written by the speach writer for George Wallace. His most famous Hoppy Jul 2015 #7

I'm not surprised at all. Archae Jul 2015 #10

The Civil War in Missouri produced no heroes on either side Ex Lurker Jul 2015 #15

Totally agree. I've always hated that movie. BillZBubb Jul 2015 #6

The one thing Sherman had in his favor is that he didn't just slaughter civilians. Igel Jul 2015 #8

Lee was an abolitionist? Adenoid_Hynkel Jul 2015 #27

Robert E. Lee was a slaveowner who had his slaves whipped. blue neen Jul 2015 #29

I think you're supposed to have a love/hate relationship with Scarlett. intheflow Jul 2015 #9

Very perceptive. senseandsensibility Jul 2015 #14

Scarlett is actually a very strong female character. alphafemale Jul 2015 #18

I never said she wasn't a strong female. intheflow Jul 2015 #19

That pawing at the dirt for a raw turnip. alphafemale Jul 2015 #23

Yes there is perceptable hint of female empowerment WestCoastLib Jul 2015 #26

"Frankly m'dear I don't give a damn" oasis Jul 2015 #11

I'd strongly suggest reading the book CountAllVotes Jul 2015 #12

And he's about 20 years old in the movie than in the book NT Ex Lurker Jul 2015 #17

I think I will WestCoastLib Jul 2015 #25

I read the book as a teen. Totally naive about American history. I didn't applegrove Jul 2015 #13

I don't think Melanie was a doormat. intheflow Jul 2015 #16

I saw that. But she believed in Scarlett. No matter what Scarlett did. applegrove Jul 2015 #20

True. intheflow Jul 2015 #21

Neat theory. applegrove Jul 2015 #32

Great points!!!!!! Tumbulu Jul 2015 #22

I can't remember seeing the movie, Blue_In_AK Jul 2015 #24

I am proud to say ann--- Jul 2015 #28

I'm not sure if I ever watched the movie all the way through Revanchist Jul 2015 #30

The movie was re-released in theaters in the late 60's and my AP History class mnhtnbb Jul 2015 #31

As for Scarlett, think Erica Kane and all the similar soap opera characters of the 70s onward. Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2015 #33