Difference between revisions of "329--Week 6 Questions/Comments"

I think the characters do a fair job in symbolizing the bigger ideas of gender roles during the Civil War and Reconstruction period. Scarlett and Melly take over their households, raise money for the war, and work as nurses. Scarlett, especially, has to handle all the aspects of caring for her family, friends, and Tara. At the war’s end Melly is perfectly content to go back to being subservient to men, like most women. Scarlett, however, is in the minority who didn’t go back to their normal roles. Though she does remarry, she clearly doesn’t give Mr. Kennedy any control over her, and she pretty much takes over his business and starts up another in lumbering. Despite all that, the movie suggests that even someone as strong as Scarlett wants to be dominated by a man (to a certain degree). She was awfully happy the morning after Rhett threatened to kill her and forcefully carried her up those stairs, after all. For the men, Ashley comes back from the war having to rely on Scarlett and unable to provide for the people he cares about, causing him to feel useless and emasculated. He’s also depressed (at least his words suggest this, though he acts depressed the whole damn movie) at the loss of the Old South he once knew. Mr. Kennedy, as mentioned above, is dominated by Scarlett. Even Mr. O’Hara is rendered ineffective by the war. I think Rhett is the only man to remain “manly” the entire time, but he ain’t no gentleman. In fact, I would say that Rhett and Scarlett also provide a contrast to the Old South image of ladylike and gentlemanly conduct. As Rhett says, “Bad lots, both of us. Selfish and shrewd.” Perhaps it’s appropriate in a movie that depicts the downfall of the Old South for the leads to be cads, but it’s still interesting as the film also glorifies that moonlight and magnolias Southern comfort way of life. --Taylor Brann

I think the characters do a fair job in symbolizing the bigger ideas of gender roles during the Civil War and Reconstruction period. Scarlett and Melly take over their households, raise money for the war, and work as nurses. Scarlett, especially, has to handle all the aspects of caring for her family, friends, and Tara. At the war’s end Melly is perfectly content to go back to being subservient to men, like most women. Scarlett, however, is in the minority who didn’t go back to their normal roles. Though she does remarry, she clearly doesn’t give Mr. Kennedy any control over her, and she pretty much takes over his business and starts up another in lumbering. Despite all that, the movie suggests that even someone as strong as Scarlett wants to be dominated by a man (to a certain degree). She was awfully happy the morning after Rhett threatened to kill her and forcefully carried her up those stairs, after all. For the men, Ashley comes back from the war having to rely on Scarlett and unable to provide for the people he cares about, causing him to feel useless and emasculated. He’s also depressed (at least his words suggest this, though he acts depressed the whole damn movie) at the loss of the Old South he once knew. Mr. Kennedy, as mentioned above, is dominated by Scarlett. Even Mr. O’Hara is rendered ineffective by the war. I think Rhett is the only man to remain “manly” the entire time, but he ain’t no gentleman. In fact, I would say that Rhett and Scarlett also provide a contrast to the Old South image of ladylike and gentlemanly conduct. As Rhett says, “Bad lots, both of us. Selfish and shrewd.” Perhaps it’s appropriate in a movie that depicts the downfall of the Old South for the leads to be cads, but it’s still interesting as the film also glorifies that moonlight and magnolias Southern comfort way of life. --Taylor Brann

== b Inaccurate/issues: ==

== b Inaccurate/issues: ==