oh T2T, such a long time since i visited you, and what wonderful memories you have stirred up!! my first introduction to GWTW (as its often now abbreviated), was when i was well past my teens, and it was the book rather than the movie – though when i did see the movie i thought the casting was so perfect – having read and reread the book a couple of times by then i recognized most scenes begrudging the few that were new to the film version – dont remember those now.
But unlike you and most others here Judy i had my sneaky sympathies and admiration for Scarlett – she had to do the dirty work of pulling the family together, scraping together something to eat from the unyielding earth, or using her wits or charms such as ithey were, to cajole lenders, or prospective suitors into giving her what her family needed – though she seemed selfish and single- minded it was just so she could preserve Tara and the old order even as she was the first to make the needed shifts demanded by the new order… Part of my reasons were deeply personal with my own family going through a wrenching change of similar magnitude and while i envied Melanie her warmth and generosity of spirit (she too could be made of steel if you remember her handling of the confederate soldier who’d wandered by..), it was Scarlett who carried them through with grit and just plain perseverence.
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