斯佳丽：“旧”时代的“新”女性

1、https:/斯佳丽：斯佳丽：“旧旧”时代的时代的“新新”女性女性AbstractThis paper mainly discusses Scarlett O Haras particular characters, hersecret of survival, her relations with other roles and why she is alwayscriticized. Scarlett, whos clever, coquettish, stubborn and diligent, is differentfrom other aristocratic woman. She

2、 has been married for three times and killeda thieving Yankee soldier; then buys sawmills, peddles timbering herself andearns money openly. The worst thing is she succeeds in business while othergentlemen lead poor lives. She is different, and also damned. But she isjudged as a new woman in the old

3、time.Undoubtedly, if Scarlett were in our society, she would live comfortably.Meanwhile, she is a good example of survival. But we can not imitate Scarlettin all her ways. On the other hand, critics nowadays should criticize Scarlett ina new way, the way of how to survive in modern society.That is t

4、o say, “be different0-is not equal to0be damned0-.Key WordsRebellious; different; new woman摘 要不同，因此被谴责，但却是“旧”时代的“新”女性。毫无疑问，如果斯佳丽生活在当今社会，她会很幸福，同时也是我们学习的好榜样。当然，我们不能效仿她的一切；另一方面，当今的评判家应该从怎样在现代社会生存的角度，来对她作出全新的评价。与众不同，并不意味着该被批判。关键词反叛；与众不同；新女性IntroductionKatie Scarlett OHara, the leading role of Gone with

5、the Wind by MargaretMitchell, always gets mixed reception. However, no matter how selfish,indifferent and cunning or strong, able and clever she is judged as, she is anew woman in the old time.Scarlett OHara, the daughter of a well _x0013_bred South Carolinamother and a rich self _x0013_made planter

6、 father, beautiful and charming,https:/has many beaux. But she only “loves”Ashley Wilkes, “Since that day two yearsago when Ashley, newly home from his three years Grand Tour in Europe, hadcalled to pay his respects, she had loved him. It was as simple as that”(Margaret, 27). At that day, in Scarlet

7、ts eyes, Ashleys “drowsy grey eyes widewith a smile and the sun so bright in his blond hair that it seemed like a cap ofshining silver”(Margaret, 27). From then on, the aureole on Ashleys headshining all along in her heart until she finally realizes that what she has reallyloved and pursued for such

8、 long time is not Ashley himself but the aureole onhis head. Because of the “love” to Ashley, Scarlett has “hated” MelanieHamilton, the wife of Ashley Wilkes, for many years. Simultaneously, becauseof the “love” to Ashley, Scarlett has neglected and refused Rhett Butlersgenuine love. And not until M

9、elanies death does she realize whom her closefriend, firm partner is and whom her real lover, stable supporter is and alsowhom she truly and steadfastly loves.Through the war and during the reconstruction Scarlett acts as a heroine.“She survives trial by fire and hunger” (Dawson, 10). But unlike oth

10、er epicheroes, Scarlett loses, she misses the best friend and lost the best husband inher world. However, Scarlett is Scarlett, a stubborn woman who always says,“Anyway, tomorrow is another day” to herself and then solves the problems.This time, “with the spirit of her people who would not know defe

11、at, even whenit stared them in the face. She raised her chin. She could get Rhett back. Sheknew she could. There had never been a man she could not get, once she sether mind upon him” (Margaret, 1011). This is Scarlett, rebel, willful andstubborn, different from other aristocratic woman; she is self

12、-confident,independent, sagacious and candid. These characters make Scarlett bescolded much by critics, “be different and be damned”(Margaret, 663).Description of Scarletts Special Characters and StylesBefore the Civil War, Scarlett lives in a nearly perfect family. A gentlemother, a rich father, an

13、d a black mummy look after her well, and they makeher a beautiful but spoiled girl. On the other hand, shes clever, diligent, braveand stubborn. Owing to these characters, her actions make her very welcomein gentlemen but unwelcome in ladies.A. The Background of Scarletts FamilyScarlett shows her di

14、fference at the right opening of the novel. She has a“gently bred Creole mother from the seacoast” (John, 253). Ellen OHara, hasnever been seen“stirred from her austere placidity nor her personalappointments anything but perfect, no mater what the hour of day or night”(Margaret, 42). “There was a st

15、eely quality under her stately gentleness thatawed the whole household” (Margaret, 43). Scarlett regards her mother as“somethingholyandapartfromalltherestofhumankind” and“theembodiment of justice, truth, loving tenderness and profound wisdoma greatlady.” Young Scarlett, or Scarlett antebellum, wants

16、 very much to emulateEllen, but in order to avoid missing joys of life, she will follow her mother onlyhttps:/on condition that “some day when she was married to Ashley and old, someday when she had time for it”(Margaret, 62). Nevertheless, Ellen doesinfluence Scarlett much.On the other hand, Scarle

17、tts father, Gerald OHara, a little, hard-headedand blustering Irish man, is not well educated, he believes that a man whowants to be rich should be strong and unafraid of work. And Gerald is hardy.“When Gerald wanted something, he gains it by taking the most direct route”(Margaret, 48). This conclus

18、ion seemed to fit for Scarlett, too.B. Scarletts Different Attitudes to the Social Life and Her HappinessAntebellumC. Scarletts Rebellious Activities in Atlanta during the Civil WarThen comes the Civil War. After her impulse (marry Charles Hamilton to“retaliate” Ashley Wilkes marriage to Melanie Ham

19、ilton) Scarlett is soonwidowed, to her dismay, motherhood follows. Of course Scarlett can not fellcontented in her widow life, she still wants to dance, laugh and be courted asScarlett OHara, not Scarlett Hamilton. And so, with the help of Rhett Butler,Scarlett begins to search for another paradise

20、in her life. When she is still inmourning, Scarlett “tossed her head and sped out of booth” (Margaret, 189),hurriedly steps into the dancing floor, and begins her another rebel life. Shebegins to think for herself instead of letting others think for her again. At thatvery time, she forgets herself a

21、nd her rearing neglects the look on thechaperons faces, cares not what she will be criticized, she just wants to dance,to release her partly from mourning.D.Scarletts Pursuit of Freedom and HappinessOne whole year after Charles Hamiltons death, Scarlett is partly liberated.Despite wearing mourning,

22、she is back again where she has been before shemarries Charles, as if she were Scarlett OHara again, the belle of the county.Careless of the disapproval of others, “she behaved as she had behavedbefore her marriagewent to parties, danced, went riding with soldiers,flirted”(Margaret, 215). Life is st

23、ill attractive, like she is. She enjoys hernormal-like life again. She, Scarlett, energetic and animated, how can she bedefined forever? Much less, the man she married has never gained her love atall! So that Scarlett, who is willing to, and destined to, pursue a passional life.Obviously, she is dif

24、ferent, and still is scolded for being different from thesocial code. However, in modern society, no one has the right of obstructing awidowed lady from pursuing happiness, especially remarriage.E.Scarletts Bravery and StubbornnessNot long later Ashley goes back to team, he is captured. Meanwhile,Me

25、lanie finds herself pregnant. As the battlefield situation gets worse, theresidents of Atlanta begin to flee away. Same as the others, Scarlett wants togo back to Tara, too. But Melanies dangerous health condition retains her athttps:/Atlanta to accompany, protect and help her. Originally, Scarlett

26、fears Yankees,fears bombs and misses Tara, especially her mother terribly. She has plannedto leave to Tara, but when Melanie refers to her promise to Ashley, andpraises her for her bravery and sturdiness, and begs her to stay there, Scarlettnods. Then during the siege, Scarlett is fidgety to live in

27、 Atlanta City with thehomesick biting her heart. In those days, she can leave Melanie with othermadams and she herself goes back home with her son. In fact, Scarlett doesthink it over, but because of various reasons, the chief one of which is herpromise to Ashley that she will take care of Melanie f

28、or him, she stays withMelanie, whose time is approaching during the shelling. Is it a kind of foolishchivalry? Certainly not! It is the kindhearted aspect of her nature. That is to say,Scarletthasnotonlybraveryandstubbornness,butalsosenseofresponsibility in her characters. This time, she is still di

29、fferent, but this is theonly time she is not scolded for the difference. Maybe it is because she isnursing a generally acknowledged ladyMelanie.Soon comes the first“the end of the world” in Scarletts life. Thats a sultryday, from the very morning has she known that Melanies pains are gettingharder a

30、nd she surely will have a hard time. At this emergent moment, thedoctor can not come because he has to deal with hundreds of woundedsoldiers. And at that very nasty day, the Yankees will take the city in no time.Nevertheless, the worst thing is, she has to face the reality, she will deliver thebaby

31、by herself!Till the night falls, Scarlett succeeds to have Melanies baby bathed thefirst time. Melanie too, succeeds to fall asleep. “Now that the excruciatingordeal of helping Melanie through childbirth is over, Scarleets self controlcollapses.” Fear overwhelms her, turns her into a hysterical chil

32、d who wants“to bury her head in her mothers lap.If only she was home! Home withmother”(Blanche,7).AgainwiththehelpofRhettandhishard_x0013_earned stolen horse, Scarlett is led through the burning city and thedangerous countryside until she can go on safely aloneat least in Rhettsview she can. The res

33、t distance is lightless, bumpy and endless to her, andthere might be North and South Armies on her way home. Due to her braveryand stubbornness once again, after a day and nights painful journey, Scarlettand others, safely arrives at Tara, her home.F. Scarletts Wisdom and Diligence in the Reconstruc

34、tionOut of Scarletts expectation, the more terrible disaster occursEllenOHara, her gentle, amiable mother, has died; her father has turned to aterribly old man with schizophrenia. Now he is like a child, no longer a strongman, the backbone of Tara. Both of her sisters are ill in bed; slaves have run

35、away, with only three darkies still remaining. There remains not enough food,and all their cotton has been burnt to ashes. Meanwhile, their lot ofConfederate cash becomes worthless. The most important is that she,Scarlettt Hamilton, will continue to carry her burdens.https:/The long road from Atlant

36、a to Tara has ended, “in a black wall, the roadthat was to end in Ellens arms” (Margaret, 409). Never again can Scarlett liedown, as a child, secure beneath her fathers roof with the protection of hermothers love wrapped about her like an eiderdown quilt. “There was nosecurity or heaven to which she

37、 could turn now” (Margaret, 410); there is noone on whose shoulders she can rest her burdens. Now Scarlett is seeingthings with new eyes, for somewhere along the long road to Tara, she has lefther girlhood behind her. She is a woman now and youth is gone. The OHarasdo not take charity. The OHaras lo

38、ok after themselves. Her burdens are herown and they are for shoulders strong enough to bear them. She can notdesert Tara, “She belonged to the red acres far more than they could everbelong to her. Her roots went deep into the blood _x0013_colored soil andsucked up life, as did the cotton” (Margaret

39、, 411).The next morning Scarlett forces her to endure bodys stiffness and sore,goes out to search for some food. In the Negroes garden patches of Wilkesplantation, she is licked down by hunger and tiredness. When she arises atlast and sees again the black ruins of the plantation, her head is raised

40、highand something that is “youth and beauty and potential tenderness” has goneout of her face forever. The lazy luxury of the old days is gone, never to return.“There was no going back and she was going forward throughout the South forfifty years there would be bitter _x0013_eyed woman who looked ba

41、ckwardBut Scarlett was never to look back” At that moment hunger grows at herempty stomach again and Scarlett says aloud: “As god is my witness.theYankees arent going to lick me. Im going to live through this, and when itsover Im never going to be hunger again. No, nor any of my folks. If I have tos

42、teal or killas God is my witness, Im never going to be hunger again”(Margaret, 419). This is her dauntlessness.What an announcement of struggle! Indeed it is a day that is worthy ofcelebration. That symbolizes the birth of a completely new woman, a heroinein the old time. From then on, the shell of

43、hardness, which has begun to formabout her heart when she lies in the slave garden, is slowly thickening. Scarlett,who is more advanced than others, firstly realizes that her mothers orderedworld is gone and a brutal world has taken its place. “She sees, or she thinksshe sees that her mother has bee

44、n wrong, and she changes swiftly to meetthis new world for which she is not prepared” (Margaret, 425). This is herperceptivity.Both of Scarletts two sisters and the slaves all refuse, or do not dare, toface the reality. Melanie, who can face the situation, but only endures andsuffers passively, and

45、she is not willing to, or can not, struggle against the badluck positively and energetically. That is to say, once again, Scarlett is differentand complained by everyone except Melaniewhy does she become so cool,so chilly?As for her courage and fieriness, Scarlett kills a thieving Yankees soldier,im

46、perturbably and determinatelyright before the Yankees shoot. Such anhttps:/act is mass criticized by the critics, they accuse her of brutality and murderer.They condemn her living by hook or by crook, not like a fair lady. But actually,she only “does what under the circumstances must be done if she

47、is tosurvived” (W.J, 109). In modern society, that is called “legitimate defense,” istherefore guiltless. Anyway, Scarlett saves other three sick girls and the babies.That is worthwhile. Even if Melanie were in the same situation, “shed havedone the same thing” (Margaret, 431).But in any case she wi

48、ll not give up Tara, and her folks. “She will seduceher sisters fianc in order to get his memory” (W.J, 108)If her sister is a littleless selfish than her, Scarlett will need not to marry such an old man. After all,she victimizes herself.To get and save enough money, Scarlett buys a sawmill herself.

49、 Sheshuttled back and forth in Atlanta city with the whole town talking about her.And she makes a success. Simultaneously, she is excluded out of socialcontacts. All she has done is to be different from other women and she hasmade a little success of it. That is the one unforgivable sin in any socie

50、ty.0Bedifferent and be damned0-. As Rhett says to her, “Scarlett, the mere fact thatyouve made a success of your mill is an insult to every man who hasntsucceeded. Remember, a well-bred females place is in the home and sheshould know nothing about this busy brutal world”(Margaret, 663). By now, wekn

51、ow, perhaps only partly, the reason why she is 0different and damned0-.G. Scarletts Secret of Survival.The Relation between Scarlett and Other Important CharactersSurely, Scarlett is the soul figure in the novel, however, there are manyother important roles accompany her. Among them, Rhett Butler is

52、 Scarlettsgenuine lover, Melanie is her true friend, and Ashley actually is her illusion.A. Scarlett and Rhett ButlerIn the final chapter of the novel, Rhett tells Scarlett why his feeling for herhas changed: “I wanted you to play like a childfor you were a child, a brave,frightened bull-headed chil

53、d. I think you are a child. No one but a child wouldbe so headstrong and so insensitive.I like to think that Bonnie (their daughter)was you, a little girl again” (Margaret, 1004). Rhett tells Scarlett this after sheadmits that her image of Ashley has been a little girls illusion. In discardingthe il

54、lusion, the image from the past, Scarlett discards completely her girlhood;she becomes an adult, the point toward which the novel has been moving. Andby the time she has been an adult, Scarlett also loses Rhett.Rhett wanted, inother words, “to be the master., the father of the child-woman, allowing

55、herthe benevolence of his paternity” (Dawson, 17).In the final scene between two adults “this was the first time he had evertalked to her in this manner, as one human being to another, talked as otherpeople talked, without flippancy, mockery or riddles” (Margaret, 1003), in thishttps:/final scene, S

56、carlett matures, Melanies death buries the old pattern ofbehavior(like she has done). Time has brought changes that call for newmodes of behavior. The female parent, the old order has passed away.Scarlett, the woman, is free to exert her own vital self; she is emancipated(gratifying or lamentable?).

57、 “And only completely so after Rhett leaves”(Dawson, 17). According to this, Rhetts leaving is not sad, we should, instead,be pleased. “Hes got to go as long as she feels that Scarlett should haveremained a child.” His leaving is not a mask of strength, but of weakness andof blindness, the blindness

58、 that tradition has produced (Dawson, 18).B. Scarlett and MelanieBut it is this quiet, pliable and delicate Melanie who is the tower ofstrength of Scarlett. With Melanie, there is the strength upon which Scarletthas relied unknowing for so many years. Melanie “is the only woman friend”Scarlett ever

59、has, “the only woman except mother who really loved” Scarlett(Margaret, 988). Melanie “had always been there beside her with a sword inher hands, unobtrusive as her own shadow, loving her, fighting for her withblind passionate loyalty, fighting Yankees, fire, hunger, poverty, public opinionand even

60、her beloved blood kin” (Margaret, 988). Melanie is the only one whonever criticizes Scarletts being different for she knows that only people likeScarlett can survive. What a pity that she can not follow Scarlett!The reason is that Melanie belongs to the old order. She, of course, is “theideal of sou