Reading the Chunksters discussion

Please discuss this week's reading here.

I've got a question for everyone -- do you think we're supposed to like Scarlett? I keep going back and forth, whether she's supposed to be a sympathetic character, or if she's painted as such a selfish brat for a reason.

I've heard somewhere that Mitchell herself disliked Scarlett and wanted to write her as spoiled and bratty as she could. But that's just something I heard. I do think that Scarlett isn't supposed to be overly liked, but I find myself chuckling and adoring her childish, stubborn ways. To me she is a character you love to dislike.

I also am going back and forth. She's a terrible brat, very spoiled and dumb on purpose; exactly the character that I hate. But, I also find myself seeing a streak running underneath, fueled by deep pride, which I think may come out as some serious resiliance later on. It's foreshadowed already that she's going to be brought low and I guess we'll find out whether she can pull herself together or not.

I think that she is tragic. She is so manipulative and I think that there is a great intelligence to her, but no one ever raised her to believe that anyone would find her intelligence of worth, and so she could never understand why Ashley would chose Melanie over her. Ashley may have been entranced by Scarlett, but he would have eventually been bored of her.

I remember feeling many of those emotions at 16- the drama of first love. Only, I feel with Scarlett,that all of these emotions are enhanced because a)their only entertainment came from interactions with other people and b) because she is a spoiled brat.

I am very interested to see how Melanie-Ashley plays out.

Can somebody explain to me the notion of not being received in chapter 6, when Scarlett and Cathleen are talking about Rhett Butler? I'm a bit torn on definitions.

Isn't that just when you are not officially invited into the house? he wouldn't have been welcome to stay with anyone for the usual periods of time when Southerners traveled. I don't know if entailed more than that though.

I'm not sure, I was considering both not being invited to the house for barbeque, or in a bigger sense, being shunned by the high society altogether. Am I overthinking?

No I think its both, because if you weren't being shunned by high society than your presence at the BBQ would be welcome.

“Arrogant devil, isn’t he?” he observed, looking after Butler. “He looks like one of the Borgias.”

Scarlett thought quickly but could remember no family in the County or Atlanta or Savannah by that name.

“I don’t know them. Is he kin to them? Who are they?”

An odd look came over Charles’ face, incredulity and shame struggling with love. Love triumphed as he realized that it was enough for a girl to be sweet and gentle and beautiful, without having an education to hamper her charms, and he made swift answer: “The Borgias were Italians.”

“Oh,” said Scarlett, losing interest, “foreigners.”

She turned her prettiest smile on Ashley, but for some reason he was not looking at her. He was looking at Charles, and there was understanding in his face and a little pity."

Ouch! Scarlett never realized the burn! I just had to post this part, because it's so damn funny. Poor Scarlett, and most importantly, poor Charles.

First of all, since no one has tackled the question asked, I will try. I believe Mr. Rhett Butler's not being well received refers to his bad reputation. In those days, a lady's servant announced her gentlemen callers. If she did not wish to be called upon by said gentleman, he could not visit her.

With that, I will add that I really like Rhett Butler. He is immediately drawn to Scarlett from the get go. He is unpopular with the ladies due to his bad reputation, and with the men due to his opinion on southerners, which they find offensive. Obviously, Scarlett is smarter than she lets on, and Rhett knows this.

I don't think we're supposed to like or dislike Scarlett at this point: she's being introduced as a young, foolish, spoiled brat at this point. She "steals" men from other women on a whim (although my opinions on the type of man that can be "stolen," if that's even possible, are another matter) and is terribly spiteful, literally not thinking past the next moment.

Rhett I don't think is supposed to be entirely likeable either, but he's blatantly forward and honest, which I think is what Scarlett finds appealing. He doesn't like to "play the game" that she detests so much, and that speaks well for him.

Alana wrote: "I don't think we're supposed to like or dislike Scarlett at this point: she's being introduced as a young, foolish, spoiled brat at this point. She "steals" men from other women on a whim (although..."

I'd agree with this. That Borgias thing made me laugh big time too. I'm glad to see that action is finally picking up and that scene in the library was pretty awesome in my opinion when Rhett let her know that he was there.