Rhett Butler’s Rebellion against and Return to the Traditional Southern Spirit in
Gone with the Wind
By Wen Min
In partial fulfillment of the requirement
For the B. A. degree
Department of English
College of Liberal Arts
Nanjing University of Information Science amp; Technology
June, 2018
Acknowledgments
I am really grateful to those who have been so generous to help me when I write this paper.
First and foremost, my deepest gratitude goes to my supervisor Prof. Zhao Yamin because she has offered me professional and conscientious guidance and constructive suggestions all the time. I want to thank her for instructing me how to collect materials and develop ideas in a paper.
I am also lucky to attend Ms. Jiang Ping’s class, in which she has taught me how to write papers and collect necessary materials on the internet in grade three. Without her, I would not master the writing skills about this kind of papers easily and quickly.
Besides, I also appreciate my college which provides me with good environment and sufficient materials to finish this thesis. The online library of our school offers valuable information and reference, which deepens my understanding of the background of Civil War of America and therefore enhances my comprehension of the complicated personalities of characters in Gone with the Wind.
Finally, I really appreciate my dear friends and my supportive families. They give me endless encouragement and inspirations which support me throughout all the process.
Contents
Abstract. 1
摘要……………………………………………………………………………………………...….1
1. Introduction 2
2. The traditional southern spirit 2
2.1 The source of the traditional southern spirit 2
2.1.1 The geographical location and the favorable climate 2
2.1.2 The plantation economy 3
2.1.3 The slavery system 3
2.2 The traditional southern spirit in Gone with the Wind 3
2.2.1 Merits of the traditional southern spirit 4
2.2.2 Demerits of the traditional southern spirit 5
3. Rhett’s rebellion against the traditional southern spirit 6
3.1 Refusing to follow the traditional rules 6
3.2 Different attitude toward the war 6
3.3 Rhett’s love for Scarlett 7
3.4 Making profit in the war 7
3.5 Rhett’s help for Belle Watling 7
4. Rhett’s return to the southern spirit 8
4.1 Fighting for the south 8
4.2 Rhett’s chivalry spirit 8
4.3 Rhett’s assistance to Ashley and Frank 9
4.4 Rhett’s efforts to return to the southern spirit 9
5. Conclusion 9
References……………………………………………………………………………...………….10
Rhett Butler’s Rebellion against and Return to the Traditional Southern Spirit in
Gone with the Wind
Wen Min
Department of English
College of Liberal Arts
Nanjing University of Information Science amp; Technology
Abstract: Rhett Butler, a chief character in the famous Civil War novel Gone with the Wind, has a controversial reputation for his complex personalities. As a southerner deeply affected by the southern spirit, he holds this spirit with contempt, which insults and irritates the southern people. He is described as a rebel at the primary stage. After the war starts, Rhett suddenly determines to join the army and fight for the south, which manifests his return to the southern spirit. To some extent, Rhett represents the southern spirit and he can never get rid of the spirit where he was born and raised whether he rebels or returns. From this character, we can see the connotation of the traditional southern spirit and how the war changes the southern people’s values and attitudes. Rhett’s return in the end shows that any individual is a product of his or her culture no matter how rebellious or obedient he or she seems, which will be of some inspiration for the youth in China.
Key words: Gone with the Wind; Rhett Butler; the southern spirit; rebellion; return
摘要：白瑞德是美国著名内战小说《飘》中的主要人物之一。因其性格的复杂性，读者历来对其褒贬不一。白瑞德作为一个南方人，却一向对南方文化不屑一顾，表现出对南方精神的叛逆，因而不受周围南方人喜爱。然而，在目睹战争给南方造成的创伤后，他又毅然从军为南方而战，看似矛盾的行为却表现了他对南方传统精神的回归。无论是初期的反叛还是后期的回归，白瑞德始终摆脱不了传统南方精神根深蒂固的影响。他身上体现着南方精神与文化，他前后期的巨大转变也反映南北战争对于南方传统精神与价值观的影响。白瑞德对南方传统精神的回归揭示了任何个人都是其所处文化精神的产物，每个人都应该从其文化中汲取精华，完善自我，进而改造社会。这对于拥有五千年文明史的中国和中国青年具有极大的现实意义。
关键词：《飘》；白瑞德；南方精神；叛逆；回归
1. Introduction
Gone with the Wind is M. Mitchell’s world-known novel on the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. The novel mainly tells a triangular love story among Scarlett, Rhett and Ashley, revolving around the social life of people and social changes in the American south during that period. Meanwhile, from many aspects, it presents how people in the south live and how the civil war changes their attitudes and values with the hint of people’s life in different period. This book is the epitome of southern life and culture during the civil war.
Whether a novel is successful or not mainly depends on the characters created in it. For many years, Gone with the Wind has attracted more and more readers. Each character in the novel has his or her own special personalities. Most of them have complicated traits and no one is perfect. That’s why they are so real and impressive, such as Rhett Butler. He is a cunning man and knows what he needs and wants. He is skilled at handling people and issues and benefiting from them. He never lets the traditional southern spirit limit him and his rebellion makes the other southern people furious. However, he also fights for the south during the war and helps the reconstruction of the south after the war. He is at the same time an honest and loyal man with a noble chivalry spirit. Therefore, this character is controversial but also attractive.
2. The traditional southern spirit
- The source of the traditional southern spirit
Environment plays an essential role in nourishing cultures and human spirits. People living in a certain place have their own habits, customs, and values. In the south of America, people boast the special southern spirit which is formed in the southern culture. Southern culture of the United States is a distinctive one because of its uniqueness in the geographical location, climate character, slavery system and plantation economy.
2.1.1 The geographical location and the favorable climate
The south is usually defined as including the south-central and southeastern United States, which occupies the excellent geographical location. The climate in the south is mild and humid compared with the north and it is advantageous for agricultural production. [1] Crops in the south grow quickly and enable people to live a self-sufficient life. Cotton supports the local economic development before the civil war. In this environment, people live a slow life of leisure and comfort and they are careless. Before the war, they care about nothing but social activities. Traditionally, boys are cultivated to be gentlemen while girls to be ladies. This living environment cultivates a mild and nice temper and hard-working spirit, which support the southern people and enable them to survive during and after the war. For example, Melanie is a decent and noble lady before the war who is not supposed to do rough work, but she can work hard in the cotton field when facing living problems during the war. However, this fertile land is also deceptive, making the noble southerners believe that they are wealthy and strong enough to handle a war and therefore resulting in ignorance and arrogance. Most of them are indulged in ideals and romance, ignoring the industrial development in the north, which partly leads to the failure in the war
2.1.2 The plantation economy
The plantation economy in the south affects the southern sprit. Plantation economy provides the plantation owners with sufficient natural and human resources, which enables them to live in comfort and wealth. The southern men, who are the family leaders, are responsible for taking care of the plantation economy. They are the guarantee of family income and the authoritative power of society before the civil war. Mr. Wilkes, Scarlett’s father and Mr. Tarleton, have been living a typical life of southern plantation owners: planting cotton, drinking, hunting, horseback riding, and holding rallies. The second generation of the manor-owners lives a more comfortable life. [2] Men are superior in this economic system, and women know nothing more than dancing, clothing and admiring men’s accomplishments blindly. However, the plantation economy only guarantees a minority a careless life. Many southern people, especially the black slaves, live a miserable life. The plantation owners are born with an innate superiority while the black people are their private property. Meanwhile, the plantation economy is incompatible with the trend of industrialized development in the north and limits the economic development.
2.1.3 The slavery system
A large amount of labor force is needed in the south because of so many plantations. In early 17th century, black slaves were first brought to the United States to satisfy the demand for the labor force, and the black people were sold and owned as individual property, eventually cultivating the slavery system. In the American south, the planter class, nurtured by the long-established plantation economy, has played a dominant role for many years. The black people are exploited and oppressed and racial conflicts exist between the white people and the black ones. Slavery limits the economic development in America and therefore becomes the main cause of the civil war. The slavery system has also bred the southerners’ inherent arrogance and pride. Under such a system, rich plantation owners live comfortably but slaves and the poor just struggle.
- The traditional southern spirit in Gone with the Wind
The civil war changes people’s life and values, but the southern people always hold the distinctive southern spirit although their houses and families have been destroyed by the war. In the novel, all of the main characters such as Rhett and Scarlett, Ashley and Melanie represent the traditional southern spirit in one way or another. This spirit is rooted in the southerners and affects them all the time. Their customs, political attitudes, etiquette, behaviors, etc. are formed because of the southern culture and spirit. Like other things in the world, this spirit has merits but it also has disadvantages. The good qualities enable the southerners to fight and survive during and after the war, but the bad ones lead the south to failure in the war and destroy many southern people’s life.
2.2.1 Merits of the traditional southern spirit
Firstly, the southern people love their land and home deeply. Scarlett’s father tells her that land is everything in the world and is the only thing in this world that lasts and the only thing worth working for [3]. They make wealth on the fertile land and fight for it bravely in the war. The land also nurtures the hard-working and earthy southerners. During the war, Scarlett insists on going back to her land Tara even though it means that she may lose her own life. When she finds that Tara is destroyed in the war, the initial noble lady suddenly becomes strong and takes the responsibility of protecting her land. Her love for the land supports Scarlett to survive and overcome many difficulties in the war. [4] Secondly, the southern people worship honor and good reputation. They would never do anything that may damage their reputation and honor, especially the upper class. They even hate to be with those who have a bad reputation. That’s why Rhett is not popular among the southern people. People’s attitude towards the war also shows that they worship honor. Before the war, the southerners look forward to the war, especially young men. They believe that they would win the war so that those who fight for the war will win admiration and honor. Therefore, at the beginning of the war, most of the men get thrilled, and spread the news with great excitement, even forgetting that they are still at a barbecue. Though they have wrong thoughts about the war and believe in themselves blindly, their determination shows that even though they are indulged in dreams and romance before the war, when the war comes and threatens their home, they will fight bravely and never retreat. Thirdly, the southerners are traditional and treasure chivalry spirit so sincerely. Men who are brought up in a fine family are usually gentle, kind and polite and they always treat ladies with great courtesy. They have a good heart and are responsible for their behaviors. Mr. Gerald O’Hara, Scarlett’s father, has a bad temper. As an Irishman, he easily loses his temper and often shouts at his slaves. But the slaves at Tara are not afraid of him, because they know clearly in their heart that he is a warm and kind man inside. He buys a black woman for his slave Pork so that the black family can be together. This short man with a violent temper has chivalry spirit and is always proud of himself. Therefore, he is popular among the southern people in spite of his bad temper.
2.2.2 Demerits of the traditional southern spirit
Though the southerners have many good qualities, they also have some apparent weaknesses. Comparing with the industrial development in the north, the south still follows the traditional agricultural model. The southerners ignore the trend of times and still live in an ideal world. It is these deep-rooted qualities of the people in the south that ultimately lead to the failure of the south.
To begin with, the advantageous environment and climate in the south provide the southern people with sufficient agricultural products and wealthy life. Many of them inherit wealth and slaves from their ancestors. They are absorbed in a pleasant world. In their narrow mind, this world will last forever. When the north is building cannon factories and iron foundries, the southerners are enjoying the balls and barbecues. At the balls, they would talk about the war as if they will certainly become winners and dream about licking the northern troops in a month. The superficial peace in the south is deceptive and makes the southern people underestimate their enemy.
Second, the slavery system in the south puts the white in a higher place, which makes them feel superior and also results in arrogance. In addition, only the rich are respected. Black slaves in big plantations such as Tarleton despise the poor white people so openly as to call them “trash”. Since even slaves dare to look down upon the poor white people, the rich ones feel more proud and arrogant. Their arrogance is also shown by their blind confidence. When they talk about the war, everyone feels enthusiastic and excited and thinks that one southerner has the ability to lick twenty Yankees. Rhett satirizes that all the southerners have is just “cotton and slaves and arrogance”. However, his warning does not work but irritates the southern people. Instead, these arrogant people dislike him and treat him as a southern traitor.
Third, as mentioned above, the southerners worship chivalry spirit. They treat women with kindness. In their eyes, women need protection all the time. It also means that men discriminate women. They think they are dominant in society and a woman’s duty is taking care of the family and her husband. But many women do better to support the war and the war awakens many new women, such as Scarlett.
Fourth, some southerners are so vulnerable that they do not have the courage to face the reality. They are truly brave before and during the war, but they haven’t figured out the present situation and their blind confidence makes them believe in themselves. The war breaks their illusion and forces them to face the cruel reality. The war brings them a new environment and new opportunities. However, some southerners are unwilling to accept the new world. They cannot forget the old day’s glory and get rid of the shadow and trauma of the war. Therefore, they are unable to adjust to the world and they themselves become a failure. Ashley Wilkes is a typical example. Before the war, he enjoys the life of a wealthy plantation owner. He is interested in the classic literary and there is romance in his bones. He fights for the south in the war and witnesses the war destroying his hometown and his spiritual world. He used to be charming and attractive and was Scarlett’s hero. However, this hero cannot accept the reality and is reduced to working for Scarlett. He cannot run the business well and support his family. Instead, Scarlett, a woman who is supposed to be protected, leads her family to survive the war and succeeds in protecting her land and family. [5]
3. Rhett’s rebellion against the traditional southern spirit
Rhett Butler is a character with complex personalities in Gone with the Wind. He is forthright, wise, tactful, and confident, but he seldom behaves according to the traditional social standard on gentleman and he always behaves impolitely and immorally. [6] On the one hand, he scorns the traditional southern spirit and refuses to follow it. On the other hand, born in the southern land and brought up by a traditional southern family, he is deeply affected by this spirit and the failure of the south disappoints him. Therefore, he decides to join the southern army and fights for the south, though he has known that the south is doomed to be beaten down. We can say that he finally returns to the traditional southern spirit and defends for it.
3.1 Refusing to follow the traditional rules
Rhett once takes a ride out with a Charleston girl, but the carriage breaks. They are lost on their way in the woods, so they come back home very late. In most of the southerners’ opinion, Rhett and the girl are outside alone for almost a whole night, and as a responsible gentleman, Rhett should immediately marry the girl to save her reputation. However, Rhett refuses to follow the traditional standard. The girl’s brother even forces Rhett to promise the marriage with a gun. However, he says that he has done nothing to that girl and he is not supposed to be responsible for her and he would rather be shot to death than marry a fool. The southern people emphasize the chivalry spirit and responsibility, especially men. They may have to take responsibility even for something that they have not done to save their face and reputation. However, it is absurd for Rhett and never would he do that. He decides to rebel against such a ridiculous rule, even though it means that his reputation would be damaged. Because of his bad behavior and reputation, he is thrown out of his family, and the society.
3.2 Different attitude toward the war
Actually, Rhett is wise and smart and his judgement about the war is right. He is a reasonable and pragmatic businessman. As a southerner, he spends a lot of time in the north, so he knows the industrial development in the north and has predicted the result of the war. However, unlike him, most of the southern people are still indulged in their pleasant world and dream about winning the war. At the Twelve oak, Rhett mocks those who are talking about the war. He tells the truth but therefore irritates the southern people. As a matter of fact, Ashley also knows the situation well and the weakness of the south, but he is still respected by the south and becomes a leader in the war. Different from Rhett, Ashley is a sincere advocate of the southern spirit. His daily behavior corresponds to the social standard and he is ready to fight for his home and southern spirit though he knows that it is hard. He expresses his ideas in a gentle way. Rhett has already held the traditional spirit with contempt and he has had enough of the southerners’ arrogance, so he says the truth and tells the southern people about the development in the north in a direct way, which shows his difference and rebellion.
3.3 Rhett’s love for Scarlett
Rhett’s love for Scarlett also shows his rebelling spirit. Scarlett shares similar characters with Rhett. She is a capricious girl and is brave enough to rebel against the old tradition. [7] In her deep heart, she does not like traditional rules and does not want to behave like a lady. Rhett meets Scarlett when she is confessing love to Ashley face to face. At that time, it is inappropriate for a girl to do this. Normal southerners would look down upon Scarlett’s behavior but Rhett is attracted by her, which manifests that Scarlett and Rhett are similar. Rhett himself also says that he and Scarlett are the same. She views him “no gentleman” and he replies that she is “no lady”. Later, the two declare a “war” against the traditional values and morality. Scarlett marries Charles at first. In a few weeks, she becomes a widow because poor Charles dies in the war. At that time, because of the moral constraints, a widow can only wear monotonous black clothes, living a bitter life. However, Rhett helps open the cage of Scarlett’s life as a widow. At the charity party for front soldiers, Rhett perceives Scarlett’s thoughts and asks her to dance, which does not conform to the traditional social value. [8] Rhett also buys Scarlett a beautiful green hat and encourages her to take off her mourning clothes and participate in all the social activities. All such behaviors show their rebellion against the traditional southern spirit.
3.4 Making profit in the war
As the war starts, most of the southern men join the army and fight for the south. However, Rhett is thinking about taking advantage of the war to make profit. In other southerners’ eyes, the war is a good opportunity to show their bravery and make contribution to their land. However, Rhett knows exactly what people need most in the war. During the four-year war, he takes advantage of the situation caused by the collapse of the south, crossing the cordon, transporting cotton to both the north and the south. Later, he speculates on food and makes a great fortune. Such behavior would be disdained by traditional southern people, which precisely shows that Rhett does not care about the traditional values of the south.
- Rhett’s help for Belle Watling
Belle is a prostitute in the novel. She is hated by all the people in the south, except Melanie. As a prostitute, what she does violates the traditional southern spirit. Every time when the people talk about her, they feel disgusted. During the war, Belle wants to donate some money for the southern army, but other women reject it. It is the kind Melanie that takes the money and thanks her. It is such a woman who has induced too much hatred that becomes a good friend with Rhett. Rhett shows sympathy and often offers her help, which does harm to his reputation. Rhett does not care about others’ thoughts and does what he wants to. He has his own values and the traditional southern spirit is not important for him.
4. Rhett’s return to the southern spirit
4.1 Fighting for the south
At the beginning of the war, Rhett is busy making money. However, as an innate southerner, however hard he has tried, he cannot get rid of the deep influence of the southern spirit. Therefore, he also provides military supplies for the south army in the war. On the one hand, he hates the traditional southern spirit. On the other hand, he feels sad for the south. He has tried to remind the southern people of the development in the north before the war stars but that does not work. We can say that his rebellion is also an aspect of return to some extent. Because he wants to change the backward situation and the old values in the south but he cannot, he chooses to rebel. But when he witnesses the failure of the southern army on the way taking Scarlett home, he is provoked to fight for the south even though the south cannot avoid the fate of being defeated. Obviously, Rhett still wants to do something for his home because he knows that he is a southerner. Even though the result of the ending cannot be changed, he still wants to make some contribution to his home and land. He still wants to save the south.
4.2 Rhett’s chivalry spirit
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