浅析《飘》中思嘉丽的性格及对现代女性的影响

1、【标题】浅析飘中思嘉丽的性格及对现代女性的影响 【作者】刘仁丹 【关键词】斯嘉丽的性格；外因；内因；影响 【指导老师】游 伟 【专业】英语 【正文】I. IntroductionGone with the Wind has been held as a triumph of American literature and film. In1937, Margaret Mitchell won Pulitzer Prize, for her sweeping portrayal of the crumbling of the Old South. Since then, the novel ha

2、s been sold millions of copies. The film, a production by David O?Selznick, exceeded all expectations, receiving critical and public acclaim that included an unprecedented ten Academy Awards. Even today, Gone with the Wind, despite of its many historical inaccuracies, forms the basis of American pop

3、ular memory of the Old South in the years since the Civil War. Margaret Mitchells tale is the one that is most deeply embedded in American culture. The novel mainly describes the life of Scarlett who is the daughter of Taras master around the American Civil War. Meanwhile with the hint of a triangul

4、ar love between Scarlett, Ashley and Rhett, the novel depicts a wide and prosperous picture of the social life of the South in America. An important element of the storys popularity is Scarlett OHara, the outstanding heroine who is full of conflicting and complicated features. Her unique characters

5、not only attract men, but also attract women. Nowadays, more and more women like Scarlett for her charming characters. Her positive characters set a good example for modern women.  II. The Characters of ScarlettA. RebellionScarlett is a hybrid, who exhibits more of her Irish fathers hard-h

6、eadedness than her mothers refined southern manners. Although initially she tries to behave prettily, her instincts rise up against social restrictions. Girls at that time are taught such things as: a hearty appetite would never catch a man. Thus, when going to a party, they would stuff themselves w

7、ith food at home. Then they would be able to eat only the daintiest morsels at the party. Also, women were taught to act ignorant, to hang on every word a man said as if she knew nothing herself, in order to make him feel superior. They were never to say what they actually thought. Scarletts mother

8、Ellen and Mammy also teach her all that a gentlewoman should know, but Scarlett never learns nor does she see any reason for learning it. Scarlett shows her disdain for the artificial manners. She does as what she says with the development of the novel:Im tried of everlastingly being unnatural and n

9、ever doing anything I want to do. Im tried of acting like I dont eat more than a bird, and walking when I want to run and saying I feel faint after a waltz, when I could dance for two days and never get tired, Im tired of saying, How wonderful you are! to fool men who havent got one-half the sense I

10、ve got, and Im tired of pretending I dont know anything, so men tell me things and feel important while theyre doing it. Some day Im going to do and say everything I want to do and say, and if people dont like it I dont care.1Scarlett does not like the other girls at that time, who lead a life of wa

11、iting. They wait for mens allegiance and acceptance; they wait for love and they wait for appreciation and compliment. Scarlett is completely different from them at all; instead, she strives for love and happiness actively. When she hears the news that Ashley, the man she loves, will marry his cousi

12、n Melanie, she confesses her love for him without prudence and she even mentions she will elope with him. She knows she must let him understand her love, thus it is possible for her getting his love. Her action is not different from the modern people. Scarlett hates the rules of the society. Wh

13、en she becomes a widow who has to wear black weeds and cant show her face in the public, she is very displeased. She accepts Rhetts invitation to dance with him openly and undoubtedly at the charity ball. When people are talking about her and scolding her, she doesnt care at all. After the war, in o

14、rder to rebuild and protect Tara, she even goes outside to manage a sawmill herself and does other business successfully. Although people at that time cant endure women to appear in public for earning money, especially to the men, they cant tolerate the women who can defeat them. Scarlett disregards

15、 what people say, and just does what she believes. Scarletts success proves that woman has the same intelligence and brightness as men. And her action is a heavy blow to the society that is man-centered. Her effort also breaks the traditional prejudice, which is admired by many readers.B. RealismSca

16、rlett has the courage to face the reality and overcome the difficulties. In Twelve oaks, after her proposal declines by Ashley, she does neither break down nor escape under the intolerant shame. This approves her courage for the first time. Under the extremely difficult circumstance of war and post-

17、war, her courage and bravery has been fully revealed. During the war, when everyone evacuates from the dangerous Atlanta to safe areas in the south, she lefts to take care of Melanie who is about to give birth because she has promise to do that. In the state of helplessness, under the condition of e

18、ndless bombing and turbulence, she finally decides to stay and help Melanie to deliver a baby. In the way back to Tara, Reiter leaves her alone. Although it was hard, she still chooses to come back. What is waiting for her is loneliness and desolation. Her mother is dead, and father is mad. The land

19、 is deserted. The two sisters are still struggling in the disease. Tara is penniless after the sack. The day of living like a child is gone, and nobody can protect her from being injured anymore. She decides to take on the burden of her family by herself. Facing the harsh reality, she changes hersel

20、f from an innocent and simple girl to a woman who is working for a living; even she has to do the work which is done by the black slaves before. A series of blows, such as the death of Bonnie, the death of Melanie, the failure in love with Ashley and the left of Reiter, has not conquered her, and sh

21、e tells herself “I do not think about this now, and I will think when I can stand”. She chooses to face bravely rather than cry. That time can change everything and bring hope is her firm belief. It is her realistic character that attracts the readers.C. SelfishnessScarletts struggle with sever

22、e environment reveals the selfishness of the capitalist. She would sacrifice others interest for her own benefit. She steals others boyfriend even her sisters fiance because of vanity. In order to get the tax money of Tara farm, she comes to negotiate with Reiter who she is strongly resented: “

23、If she could only coax Rhett into marry her, all would be perfect”2.After that, she tries every means to win the sympathy and trust of her sisters fiance, and get married with him with the purpose of the money:That he was sullens fiance caused her no qualm of conscience. After the complete moral col

24、lapse which had sent her to Rhett, the appropriation of her sisters betrothed seemed a minor affair and one not to be bothered with at this time.3Scarlett uses various means to lure her younger sisters fiance and marries him in a few weeks. Eventually, it leads to another unfortunate marriage. She t

25、otally doesnt care other peoples view about her. She only cares about whether she can get 300 dollars from Frank to pay the tax of Tara. When it involves money, she will do everything regardless of morality. From this, the Selfishness and cold-blood of the capitalist are revealed thoroughly. D.

26、 StubbornnessScarlett falls in love with Ashley at her first sight. Through the relationship with Ashley she is affected by the love and all the struggles and lessons that go along with it. Scarlett loves Ashley because he is different from all the young man she flirts with. He is the only one who s

27、eems to have the character she admires. The difference between Ashley and the other boys is that Ashley is well educated, intellectual, artistically and musically talented, and does not put him at the mercy of every pretty face. He is also tall and handsome, and somewhat aloof. Scarlett doesnt under

28、stand anything he talks about, but she is drawn to his dignity and his charm. In fact, Scarlett doesnt understand him at all. What she sees is just his surface merely, knowing nothing about his disposition and thought.Although Scarlett dislikes the people with weak character, she still loves Ashley.

29、 She regards him as her prince since she is a young girl and offers her pure love blindly. Even if she cant get him, she never gives up or changes her love to him through the repeated tribulations. Her love to him is so loyal, clinging and self-sacrificing that she is willing to do anything for him.

30、 When Ashley is leaving away for the war, he asks Scarlett to look after his wife Melanie, Scarlett is very depressed but she still complies. In order to keep promise to Ashley, Scarlett stays by the side of her lovers wife in dangerous Atlanta and escorts her and her baby to Tara. Unfortunately, he

31、r dearest mother is dead before the day she comes back. When the war is over, Ashley cant adept the postwar new life, and he cant do anything but just lives in the dreams of the past. He even doesnt have the ability to support his own family. However, Scarlett doesnt look down upon him but she helps

32、 him support his family silently with her own money. In order to defend Ashleys self-respect as a man, Scarlett undertakes the loss of money of her sawmill, which is given to her lover Ashley to manage. She spends no time to accompany her husband and her children, for the reason that she is occupied

33、 by the thoughts of earning more money or making appointment with Ashley. These are all to display the stubbornness of Scarlett in love. The Reasons of the Formation of Scarletts CharactersPortrayal of a character cant be separated from the natural environment she is in, and the social environment p

34、lays the same important role as the natural environment to portray the characters of the figures. It is the same to portray the figure of Scarlett, which must also rely on both the social and the natural environment. A. The External ReasonThe transition of the living environment is the exterior

35、 reason for Scarletts changing her character, which causes Scarletts distinctive characters. Before the war, Scarlett lives in the traditional and conservative plantation and the life style forms the characters of loving land than anything else in the world and her rebellious character spontaneously

36、. She leads an extremely poor life during and after the war, and that abominable environment molds her character to confront the reality bravely; and her independence and selfishness to overcome difficulties. The rich life experience before war; the unstable life during the war and the extremely poo

37、r life after war provide the foundation to form the characters of Scarlett. And thus in such environment, Scarletts characters can be complicated.B. The Internal ReasonMeanwhile the triangular love between Scarlett, Ashley and Rhett is another element to influence the developing of Scarletts charact

38、er; it is also the internal reason for the mature of her characters. Scarlett is in love with two men, one is Ashley, and the other is Rhett. Her love for Ashley undergoes three processes: from being blind to being stubborn and to being disillusioned, and she also experiences the change from being c

39、hildish to mature. When she meets Ashley for the first sight, his mysterious and complex character attracts her, which is a kind of simple and childish emotion. However, when Ashley refuses her at Twelve Oaks, her pride and vanity is bruised strongly, which deepens her blind love for him, so does th

40、e war. Although she cant understand Ashleys ideas at all, she still regards him as an idealized lover obstinately. This unreal image supports her to stand up in the horrible environment and to overcome difficulties in life. And because of this spirit backbone, she can confront the difficulties and s

41、etbacks in life. However, Scarlett cannot face the reality on the spirit aspect until the death of Melanie. Ashley is a man who still lives in the past and cant face the reality. His cowardice and decadence break Scarletts dream, thus Scarlett begins to understand that Ashley is not the man she want

42、s, and at the same time her realistic character is displayed both on her spiritual life and material life.At last, Scarlett realizes that she and Rhett are the people with the same characters, and he always loves her and supports her. Scarlett looks down upon him and mocks him, and she doesnt know h

43、is love for her. However, they do have something in common and she likes to be with him. Under the tolerance of Rhett, she shows her rebellion, her vanity and selfishness. She cant realize her true feeling and she avoids facing the reality of the spirit. Until her dream for Ashley is broken and Rhet

44、t is too tired to love her and is going to leave her. When she realizes the value of Rhett, it is too late. Although her realistic character unites together both on the material and spiritual aspects and she realizes what the true love is, she must face the reality that Rhett will leave her alone. L

45、ife is filled with various contradictions, and when a contradiction is over; another is coming, so the plots of the story will develop further and the portrayed image will be more charming. It is better to see her not being blown down. She always encourages herself that “Tomorrow is another day

46、”4. And” Things always look better in the morning”5.She still believes that she can get him back finally. All these reasons form her complicated and unique characters.IV. Influences of Scarletts Characters on Modern WomenA. Career 1. InnovationNowadays, innovation plays an important part in a p

47、ersons success of business. Innovation is the essence of the high-tech society. People who like reading newspapers, surfing the Internet or watching TV are familiar with the reports about people who become rich overnight. Some one has once said that at the beginning there is no way in the world, but

48、 the roads are formed when there are more and more people walking on it. However when too many people walk on the same road, the road disappears. This saying is quite philosophical. Then how to find a new road when there is no way for us to walk? The answer is “to be innovative”!Todays society

49、is full of serious competitions, which is an important motivation to the whole societys improvement and development. Competition means that you have to struggle against others maybe just for a job, a promotion or money or a good living. People often think it difficult to find a good job, not to say

50、a stable job. Sometimes women job-hunters in reality are looked down upon or discriminated by the interviewers and employers. So how can women have their own field in this world?Women should believe that men are not the only persons who can do the job; women can also do it and even do it better than

51、 men. Scarlett could run the mill which was considered as mens work. Women in todays society can also do such kind of work which is traditionally regarded as only mens work. To be innovative, women should collect the current information about what is a promising job. Knowledge is necessary. Nowadays

52、 the society is one with information. Women should read magazines, newspapers or spend enough time in searching information through Internet. It will be easier for you to succeed if you gain information before others. So innovation is the key for womens success.2. Confidence and Self-trustBesides in

53、novation, women should also have confidence and self-trust. “Self-trust is the first secret of success”6, said Emerson. It is known that ones life couldnt go smoothly without difficulties. Difficulties or frustration are the obstacles on the road to success. Now that we can not avoid these terr

54、ible factors, why not be confident to overcome them. Scarlett always said “tomorrow is another day”7. Why can not the women say that “Today I meet and fight against the difficulties, tomorrow I will meet the success?” There is a saying that confidence is half the success. Be confident mean

55、s that you should also be optimistic. Confident and optimistic people can bravely face the terrible difficulties. When you have thought out a dream or plan you should have the confidence to realize it. Dont just think every day. Women may dream that one day they will be a rich, elegant lady with fas

56、hionable dresses and expensive jewelries. But they seldom put their heart into making them come true. They do not believe themselves. Why can Scarlett do everything she dreams of? Because she is a confident woman. Charles Chaplin said “you have to believe in yourself”8. That is the secret of su

57、ccess. Nothing in the world is too difficulties if you put your heart into it.B. Interpersonal RelationshipInterpersonal relationship is an initial part of life. Every one is a part or an unit of this integrated society. Nobody can live in the society without communication with others. So interperso

58、nal relationship is what women should care about. In terms of interpersonal relationship, Scarlett sets a good example to a woman who intends to achieve success in this field to learn from Scarlett and use ones beauty properly to attract others. Scarlett in Gone with the Wind attracted almost every

59、man she met. Just like in the first paragraph of Gone with the Wind:Scarlett OHara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarlaton twins are. In her face were two sharply blended the delicate features of her mother, a coast aristocrat of French descent, and the heavy ones of her florid Irish father. But it was an arresting face, painted of chin, square of jaw. Her eyes were pale green without a touch of hazel, starred with bristly black lashes and slightly titl