APPENDIX
The story describes a peaceful life at. cotton
plantation before the American Civil War, the collapse of
the Old South peaceful life during the American Civil
War, and its rebuilding at Reconstruction era after the
American Civil War. It centers on the beautiful,
high-spirited willful Scarlett o'Hara, a daughter of
Gerald O'Hara , the owner of Tara, a large cotton
plantation in Georgia. At the beginning of the story,
Scarlett falls in love with Ashley Wilkes, a sensitive
and sophisticated son at a neighboring plantation, but he
does not reciprocate her love. When Scarlett discovers
that Ashley is going to marry his soft-spoken cousin,
Melanie Hamilton, she impetuously marries Melanie's
brother, Charles Hamilton, who dies in war two weeks
later.
Leaving Tara, Scarlett .travels twenty-five
miles to Atlanta to stay with her dead husband's
relatives. They live in poverty now, because the city
falls under the complete control of Northern
invaders. Later, when Atlanta is besieged by Sher man's troops, Scarlett, Melariie, and her sons return to
Tara through the battle lines at night. Approaching
Tara, Scarlett sees most of the plantation mansions are destroyed, the cotton bales are burned or looted, and even hogs, cows, chickens are killed by the enemy.
However, Scarlett faces all bravely, and makes the vow that she tries to fulfill all the rest, of her life, "I'm
never going to be hungry again."
In struggling to survive after the American Civil
War, Scarlett herself must work hard in order to support
her family, because her mother dies and her father loses
his mind. She also supports Ashley and Melanie, the two
weak-willed persons, who are unable to adjust themselves
to the harsh realities of the New South. Scarlett is
determined to keep Tara and to win financial security at
any cost. She works at the fields, does other menial
tasks, and marries Frank Kennedy, her sister's fiance, in
order to get. money for taxes. With Frank's money and her
own unscrupulous determination, Scarlett establishes
lumber business in Atlanta, and forces Ashley to become a
manager of one of her mills. It shows that Scarlett,
remarries for money and scandalises Atlanta society by
becoming a ruthless businesswoman.
After the death of her second husband, Scarlett
marries the war profiteer, Rhett Butler, who attracts her
because they have similar qualities . He is a cynical,
materialistic blockade runner who consorts openly with
the enemy and scoffs at patriotic ideals. Besides, he is
a forceful and masculine man who is accustomed to taking
what, he wants. Because Scarlett is so like him, they quarrel a lot. When their daughter Bonnie dies, Scarlett, and Rhett. separate. Rhett assures her that he will return to her often enough to prevent gossip, but he is,
in fact, leaving her. To Scarlett's pleading objections
and questions, Rhett delivers the immortal line, "My
dear, I don't give a damn, " and makes his exit.
However, Scarlett does not mind losing everything,
because she still has Tara. At the end of the story, she
says: I'll think of it all tomorrow, at Tara. I can
stand it then. Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."