Books:

The dawn of feminism in literature

A Review of Gone with the Wind:

From depictions of a ravaging war to the revelation of strength in women, Gone with the Wind is a masterpiece of women's writing. Its heroines are capable of achieving success in daily chores as well as victory in the forlorn hearts of war victimised Southern America.

With the life of Scarlett O'Hara in the centre, the story is studded with bravery, intelligence and courage of women facing dire circumstances brought about by a series of events sprung out through war.

The characters are faced with unexpected situations, falling from comforts, gaiety and joy to starvation, abject poverty and insecurity along with the onset of war. Scarlett, raised as a lady, only used to the life of parties and balls wearing beautiful dresses and jewellery is thrown away into chaos when she is forced to witness the burnings and demolishing of her native place by Yankee soldiers.

Her thriving need to save her father's estate from enemy forces and rebuild the land is spread throughout the novel. She is quick in decisions and not hesitant to make sacrifices. She submits herself to a marriage with a man she doesn't love just because she couldn't see her estate go into the hands of the enemy. Hers is a true soul of a strong woman. One of the strongest the world of literature ever created.

Scarlett O' Hara is an early symbol of feminism. During the time when women had no proper rights, nodding their heads to whatever a man says, Scarlet's character brought about much controversy.

Her quick wit and undeniable intelligence during times of discomfort outrun that of a man. Men are surprised by the difference between her appearance and her inside soul. She appears lovely and as an ordinary woman full of delicacy but her inner knowledge is a vast and expanded one.

Her mind arrives at decisions faster than that of a man. She knows what should be done and not be done to escape the dark forces of the Yankee armies. While men obey the state and lay their concerns only with war and patriotism, she sees its futility. She knows that war will not leave anyone happy.

Scarlett possess not only physical strength but also emotional strength. She loves Ashley Wilkes from the very depth of her heart but she is never united with him. Except for her occasional emotional outbursts concerning her love for Ashley, she maintains proprietary within her social circle by hiding her secret love. Her decent lifestyle is only destroyed with the brave steps she takes to make money by getting into the business of selling lumber.

She takes this brave step during a time when women were expected to stay at home and knit. Her unlady-like behaviour is questioned by many in her neighbourhood but she heeds no attention.

She rises victorious while many other women drown themselves in poverty. Melanie Wilkes (Melly) is another woman of strength. Her character can be also taken as that of a feminist but not for the same reasons like that of Scarlett O'Hara. She is fragile and tender hearted. She doesn't find fault with war. In fact she obeys the social norm of that time; 'women should not have opinions on politics'.

But Melly owns a set of realistic ideas about life and treatment towards soldiers who have returned home injured. She violates the social norm that all Southerners should not treat Yankee soldiers with kindness by opening up her opinion on the need to pay respect to the graves of Yankees buried in the South.

Gone with the Wind focuses more on feminine virtues and the rise of feminist ideas in the backdrop of merciless life-altering events brought about by war. Margaret Mitchell's depiction is sublime and realistic as she weaves the plot of the story through real incidents extracted from the history of a country struggling for new reforms in political, social and cultural aspects.

- Ruvindra Sathsarani