"Gone With the Wind" Reflection

"Gone with the Wind" movie poster featuring Scarlett & Rhett

Prior to this class, I had never watched the movie Gone with the Wind before. I usually enjoy both old and modern movies, but I wasn't sure what to expect. The movie started off a little boring, but as it went on, I'll admit it became more interesting and did well showing parts of American history such as the Civil War, slavery, and Reconstruction.

Scarlett & Ashley (left) - Rhett & Scarlett (right)

The film begins as the South was heading into the Civil War, and focuses on a character named Scarlett O'Hara. From my point of view, Scarlett is a spoiled brat who is used to getting anything she wants. This is made clear through her continued interest in a married man, Ashley Wilkes, even though she keeps rejecting her better match Rhett Butler. 

I'd say one of the most compelling parts of the film is how the antebellum South is portrayed in the film. Since the film is centered around Scarlett, we see more of her side through living on a plantation, which is more graceful than it actually was for the slaves. 

Scarlett & slave Prissy

Another interesting part of the film was how Scarlett's character developed during both the war and Reconstruction. I got to see her turn from a spoiled young girl to a young woman both having to and willing to do physical labor for her own survival, which exemplified how the war truly changed her for the better.

The burning of Atlanta scene

I was also impressed by the scene where Atlanta was burning, considering the time period in which the movie was filmed. I'm very into mystery movies and thrillers, so I've seen many effects in the modern world of CGI and those sorts of things. Knowing that at the time of the film was mostly in 1939, what the filmmakers were able to achieve with their limitations was truly amazing.

Overall, Gone with the Wind is a very impactful film when looking at American history. The engaging story along with the technical achievements for the time were very impressive. I'm glad I had the chance to watch this film for my class, especially since it helped me understand different perspectives and roles during the time periods we learned about in our lessons.