An Analysis on Feminism in Scarlett’s Transformation in Gone With the Wind 从女性主义分析《飘》中斯嘉丽的 蜕变 Abstract Margaret Mitchell is a famous American writer; she was born into a lawyer family in Atlanta, Georgia. Margaret spent about ten years writing Gone with the Wind. The sales immediately broke many records in American publishing when her works was published. Then, the novel won the Pulitzer Prize and the Association of American Publishers Award in 1937. Gone with the Windtells a story in the American Civil War. After the cruelty of war, the decline of home, the death of relatives, Scarlett grows into a strong, brave, independent emerging woman from a selfish, willful, vanity girl. Under the background of the American Civil War, this novel vividly describes people’s different lives before and after the war, and it also reflects lots of questions of that time on American society, especially the awakening of female consciousness. Gone with the Windis a typical novel reflecting feminism. On one hand, the thesis analyzes Scarlett’s transformation from the awakening, developing and maturing of female consciousness. On the other hand, it shows how Scarlett grows up to an independent female in the oppression of material and spiritual, which is developed from Scarlett awakening of female consciousness. Through this thesis, the author hopes the modern women readers can get some sparkling ideas. It is helpful for them to realize their real values and become independent. Key Words: Gone with the Wind; feminism; Scarlett; independence 摘要 玛格丽特·米切尔是美国著名的作家，她出生于佐治亚州亚特兰大市的一个律师家庭。《飘》是玛格丽特·米切尔历经十年创作出来的长篇巨著，作品一经问世，其销售情况立即打破了美国出版界的多项纪录。随后，在1937年小说获得了普利策奖和美国出版商协会奖。 小说讲述的是: 在美国南北战争动荡时期，女主人公斯嘉丽在经过战争的残酷﹑家园的败落﹑亲人的逝去后，从一个自私﹑任性﹑虚荣的娇小姐成长为一个坚强﹑勇敢﹑独立的新兴女性的故事。 小说以南北战争为背景，描绘了战争前后不同的生活画面，反映了当时美国社会的诸多问题。其中，女性意识的觉醒是最显著地一个问题。《飘》是一本典型的体现女性主义的作品。本文将从女性主义出发，从女性意识的觉醒、发展以及成熟来分析斯嘉丽的蜕变过程；从斯嘉丽女性意识的觉醒过程来展现她是如何在物质和精神的双重压迫下成长为一名独立的新兴女性。通过本论文，本文作者希望现代女性能从中受到一些启示，能够在现代社会中实现自己真正的人生价值。 关键词：飘；女性主义；斯嘉丽；独立 Acknowledgements This thesis is the product of the author and the supervisor's three months of efforts. It has been repeatedly revised under the guidance of tutor Xu Feng. It was the joint efforts of both the author and the teachers in Literature and Law Department. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my tutor Xu Feng and the teachers who have helped the author in the process of the thesis writing. I will also give my thanks to my classmates and friends who have helped me revise the thesis. Last but not least, I will give my heartfelt thanks to my parents who have been always supporting and encouraging me. Contents Introduction 3 1 Feminism 3 1.1 Definition of Feminism 3 1.2 Developments of Feminism 3 2 Growing Experience of Scarlett 3 2.1 Before the War 3 2.1.1 The Early Period of Scarlett 3 2.1.2 The Embodiment of Feminism 3 2.1.3 The Reason of Shaping Scarlett 3 2.2 During the War 3 2.2.1 The Growth of Scarlett 3 2.2.2 The Strength of Feminism 3 2.2.3 The Reason for Shaping Scarlett 3 2.3 After the War 3 2.3.1 The Final Scarlett 3 2.3.2 The Double Independence in Economy and Spirit 3 2.3.3The Reason of Shaping Scarlett 3 Conclusion 3 Bibliography 3 Introduction Margaret Mitchell was born into a lawyer family in Atlanta, Georgia in 1900, and her father was the President of the History Society in Atlanta. During the Civil War, Atlanta was occupied by the union army in 1864, so Margaret often heard her father talk about the Civil War with his friends when she was young. When Margaret created the novel about the Civil War, Atlanta had naturally become the background of the novel. Margaret studied in Smith College in Massachusetts for one year, because the death of her mother needed Margaret to return home to look after her father and her brother. She began to write for the Atlanta Journal with the nickname Peggy since 1922. In four years, she wrote a lot of articles in the newspaper. After a failed marriage, Margaret married John Robber Marsh in 1925. A year after their marriage, Margaret had to resign from the newspaper work due to an ankle injury. With the encouragement of John, she began to write novels, and after ten years she created Gone with the Wind. On June 30, 1936, the novelGone with the Wind was published. What surprised persons is that the novel broke all of the published records which a three dollars’ novel fired at sixty dollars. At that time, the monthly rent of a good hotel in the United States was just thirty dollars. The book was translated into twenty-nine languages in the world, and it was sold nearly thirty-million copies in total. Hollywood paid fifty thousand dollars for the film rights of theGone with the Wind, and the movie caused a sensation and became popular all over the world quickly. During the following years, the film received ten Oscar Awards. In 1937, this book won both the Pulitzer Prize and the Association of American Publishers Award. In August 1949, Margaret Mitchell went to see the movies with her huaband, but a traffic accident took her life. The name ofGone with the Windis easier to make people think about the deep meaning. Feelings between Scarlett and Rhett are gone just like wind in the end because of many twists and turns and misunderstanding, where the wind will go? (Ma Shouliang, 1999) It is not limited to love between the hero and heroine, and the topics covering theme is much more than love. This is why Gone with the Windis so popular. The novel makes the thinking of a nation, the confrontation between the North and South during the Civil War, the dignity and humanity throughout a love affair. (Pyron Darden Asbury, 1983) With the Scarlett’s heart journey, that is like a mammoth national development history showing in front of us. This story began in the early 1860s, the American Civil War.Scarlett O’Hara was the eldest daughter of the Tara, who fell in love with the Ashley Wilkes. However, Ashley was soon to marry his cousin, Melanie Hamilton. Scarlett expressed her affection to Ashley in a party, but Ashley refused her; he chose his cousin resolutely. Scarlett was so angry that she slapped him on the face with all the strength she had; then, she threw a bowl on the wall. Rhett Butler saw the scene, and he was attracted by Scarlett. However, Scarlett disliked him because of misunderstanding. Thinking twice, Scarlett decided to marry Charles Hamilton who was the brother of the Melanie. On that night, the American Civil War broke out, and all the men took part in the war. After two weeks Scarlett became a wife, and after two months more she became a widow. Scarlett wished that she were dead when she was pregant. When the child was born, she did not like him at all. Scarlett was sent to Atlanta shortly after that. Charles’ aunt, Melanie and Scarlett, three lonely women lived together. Scarlett met Rhett again in a fundraising party, and raised much money for the war. But her dancing with Rhett made her reputation gone. With the enlargement of the war, the wounded soldiers were full of Atlanta. Scarlett gradually grew up when she saw cruelty of the war. The Confederate army had lost the battle, and was driven back into Virginia. Scarlett had made a plan to come back to Tara, but Melanie’s pregnancy stopped her pace. In order to keep her primise for Ashley, Scarlett wanted to deliver Melanie’s baby alone. When Atlanta was occupied by the union army, Rhett helped her to break through many obstacles back to Tara. When Sarlett returned home, the Twelve Oaks had been burned, but Tara was still there. Her mother was dead, her father was crazy, and her sister was ill. For the whole family, Scarlett showed that people could meet many difficulties. She began to work hard like slaves. She tipped her dancing feet, walking to the neighbor’s yard to pick up the dropped vegetables. Her hands and feet wore out for search to more radishes, and never rest for a moment. One day, a Yankee soldier secretly entered her home; Scarlett took up the pistol and killed the soldier. Finally, she not only got the thief’s money, but also captured his horse. As time passed, her life was slowly getting better. At this time, the Tara encountered the trouble. In order to pay heavy taxes, Scarlett dressed up and asked for Rhett’s help. But Rhett was in jail, and he gave all his fortune to the Yankee government. Scarlett was very disappointed. Fortunately, she met Frank Kennedy who was her sister’s fiance in her returning. He had a store and earned many money. More importantly, the money was enough to pay the tax, so Scarlett got married with Frank quickly. Because Frank was not good at business, Scarlett decided to open a lumber store. One day, Scarlett was attacked by a black man and a white man. At night, Ashley, Frank and the other men were out to kill two men. It led Scarlett to become a widow once again. Rhett asked Scarlett to marry him, and she was struck by his sincerity. Spending their honeymoon in New Orleans, Rhett promised to rebuild Tara. Later, Scarlett gave birth to a daughter, Bonnie. Rhett focused all his attention on Bonnie. Unfortunately, Bonnie died in a vault, and Rhett sank down slowly from then on. Melanie was dying because of her pregnancy again. She told Scarlett that Rhett loved her very much. At this moment, Scarlett found that Ashley really loved Melanie, but her lover was Rhett. So Scarlett ran toward home excitedly, and wanted to tell Rhett that she loved him. But Rhett already felt tired, and decided to give up Scarlett. Scarlett was very sad, but she was full of confidence. Tomorrow was another day, and Scarlett wanted to conquer Rhett again. The thesis aims at analyzing Scartlett’s transformation process under the guidance of feminism from three periods: before the war, Scarlett was a selfish, egocentric, self-centered girl, and the feminism was not obvious; during the war, Scarlett had strong courage to fight with reality for survival, and the feminism was gradually strengthened; after the war, Scarlett broke through the heavy shackles and became independent. From the analysis of the process, this thesis intends to provide some hints for modern women to realize their own values in this world, and achieve their double independence both in economy and spirit. 1 Feminism 1.1 Definition of Feminism Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing and defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. (Merriam-webster.com, 03/02/2014) Feminism theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical or philosophical discourse. It aims to understand the nature of gender inequality. It examines women’s social roles, experience, interests, and feminist politics in a variety of fields, such as anthropology and sociology, communication, psychoanalysis, economics, literature, education, and philosophy. While generally providing a critique of social relations, much of feminist theory also focuses on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women’s interests. Feminist researchers embrace two key ideas: their research should concentrate on the condition of women in society, and their research must be grounded in the assumption that women generally experience subordination. ( Liang Qiaona, 2004) Feminism is the theory which is focused on the study of women’s universal life and devoted to seek for women’s complete liberation from men’s dominations. Therefore, the basic view of feminism is that women generally suffer subordinations and even oppressions from men due to their gender. Feminists thought thatwomen should be treated equally as men and they insist that women should fight for their rights in order to achieve their independence. Besides, female awareness plays an important role in women’s independence process. Female awareness refers to female’s realization about their own identity and position as women. Most of the independence of female characters opens with the awaking of their female awareness. Finally, economic independence is the basis of women’s spiritual independence.Most of the time, women could not achieve completely economic independence because they are not permitted to work in the significant area. Therefore, the women could not obtain their liberation both in economy and spirit until they achieve their economic independence and realize their real independence. 1.2 Developments of Feminism The exploration offeminism includes discrimination, objectification especially sexual objectification, oppression, stereo typing, art history and contemporary art, and aesthetics. The developments of feminism vary with the three waves of feminist movements. The first wave which focused on gaining the absolute rights of women, such as suffrage, took place in the late 19thcentury and early 20thcentury. It was against polygamy and polyandry, emphasizingthat men and women had no difference in intelligence and ability.The second wave which mainly focused on gender equality on law and culture began in 1960s and ended in 1980s. In this wave feminists cast their eyes on the achievements of equality in cultural and they insisted that cultural rights were closely connected with political rights. The third wave began from early 1990s as a response to perceived failures of the second wave and to the backlash against initiatives and movements created by the second wave.It demanded men should help women to get rid of oppressionand achieve real equality. 2 Growing Experience of Scarlett 2.1 Before the War 2.1.1 The Early Period of Scarlett Living in Tara, Scarlett was a sixteen-year-old young lady, and she was naive, charming and carefree. At that time, the only thing for Scarlett was to dress up beautifully and looked for an ideal husband. She could not stand any conversation that she was not the chief subject, and she hoped that every man should pay attention only to her because she had the easily stirred passions of her Irish father and nothing of her mother’s unselfish nature. Whatever she wanted to do, she would do. Scarlett had found the man called Ashley Wilkes whom she wished to marry. She fell in love with him at the first sight. However, Ashley was soon to marry his cousin, Melanie Hamilton. Being miserable, Scarlett was determined to get Ashley back from Melanie. Things did not go according to plan, and when Scarlett found Ashley, he told her that he would still marry Melanie. So Scarlett decided to marry Charles Hamilton impulsively. That night, the American Civil War broke out, the men were involved in the war. Within two weeks Scarlett became a wife, and within two more months she was a widow. More importantly, she gave birth to a baby. Then, she was sent to Atlanta. 2.1.2 The Embodiment of Feminism This period Scarlett’s feminism was not obvious, but still existed. For example, she usually disobeyed her mother Ellen and Mummy Jincy’s orders and words. When twin brothers told her that Ashley would marry his cousin Melanie, Scarlett sat in silence until the two left, without inviting them to dinner. A noble lady was not doing such thing. She planned to have a big meal at the party at the Twelve Oaks and danced with all boys who ignored of her status and her Mammy’s warnings. She found Ashley alone when the other ladies rested in the lunch break. Then, she expressed to Ashley that she loved him, and wanted Ashley to marry her. Her behavior was not consistent with the social system and not allowed by people. The feminism was most obvious which focused on one thing, Mr. Butler took a girl out riding and stayed out nearly all night, the girl’s brother asked Mr. Butler to marry his sister. However, Mr. Butler not only refused to marry her, but also shot the girl’s brother. When Scarlett heard this thing, she had a secret feeling of respect for Rhett Butler for refusing to marry a girl who was a fool. Scarlett ignored people’s sight, and she thought secular specification was a dead letter, she was a rebel. (Lin He, 2012) 2.1.3 The Reason of Shaping Scarlett Scarlett was naive, charming and carefree, but she was also rebelled and stubborn. Her character related to her family environment closely. Scarlett’s father was Irish people, he was kind, but had bad temper. Scarlett’s mother had good family education and strict moral ideas. She held the whole daily affairs of the Tara, even took after black slaves. So the couple was respected by white people and loved by black slaves. Scarlett grew up slowly in this family. Scarlett had the easily stirred passions of her Irish father and nothing of her mother’s unselfish nature. Thanks to her mother and mammy, on the surface she was noble and elegant. The Irish descent made her feel of unstable factors. She usually disobeyed her mother Ellen and Mummy Junky’s orders and words. She planned to have a big meal at the party at the Twelve Oaks and danced with all boys who ignored of her status and her Mammy’s warnings. She found Ashley alone when the other miss rested in the lunch break. In a word, she was a rebel. 2.2 During the War 2.2.1 The Growth of Scarlett Scarlett worked as a nurse in Atlanta, but there was nothing interesting about nursing. To her, it meant groans, death and smells. She just wanted to make herself busy and release her sadness of being a widow. With the enlargement of the war, the wounded soldiers were full of the Atlanta. Scarlett gradually grew up when she saw cruelty of the war. Atlanta was falling; Scarlett had made a plan to come back to Tara. However, Melanie was going to give birth. Without the doctor’s help, Scarlett delivered Melanie’s child. What a brave lady. When the Yankees began their march on Atlanta, Rhett helped her to break through many obstacles back to Tara. When Scarlett returned home, her mother was dead, her father was crazy, and her sister was ill. For the whole family, she began to work hard like a slave. She walked to the neighbor’s yard to pick up the dropped vegetables, her hands and feet wore out for search to more radishes. One day, a Yankee soldier secretly entered her home, Scarlett took up the pistol and killed the soldier. Finally, she got the thief’s money and horse. As time passing, her life was slowly getting better. 2.2.2 The Strength of Feminism This period was an important time of Scarlett’s transformation. She was no longer an overbearing lady, but a brave and determined woman. She understood sympathy and responsibility in life. Scarlett delivered Melanie’s baby without the doctor’s help, just because of keeping her promise. When Rhett left her alone in road, Scarlett was so frightened and angry, but she went home alone with strong determination. She faced many difficulties when she arrived at Tara: the food gone, the crops burned, most of the slaves ran off, her mother was dead, her father and her sister were ill. In a word, all burden of the family fell on her. However, Scarlett did not give up, just as the novel said: “As God is my witness, as God is my witness, the Yankees are not going to beat me. I am going to live through this, and when it is over, I am never going to be hungry again. No, nor any in my family. If I have to steal or kill—as God is my witness, I am never going to be hungry again.”( Margaret Mitchell, 1993: 350) This was sublimation; Scarlett was gone, which was a new Scarlett. She walked to the neighbor’s yard to pick up dropped vegetables, she forced her family and the slaves to till the land and pick cotton. Scarlett worked hard everyday to raise her family. One day, when a Yankee soldier secretly entered her home, she even killed him and took away his treasure. She rebuilt her family soon, and she had already grew up, just as the novel said: “Somewhere on the long road that would through those four years, the girl with her sachet and dancing slippers had slipped away and there was left a woman with a sharp green eyes, who counted pennies and turns her hands to many menial tasks, a woman to whom nothing was left grim the wreckage except the indestructible red earth on which she stood .” ( Margaret Mitchell, 2000: 259) 2.2.3 The Reason for Shaping Scarlett There were three reasons for Scarlett’s transformation. The first reason was promise, and she kept Ashley’s promise to look after his wife.Scarlett delivered Melanie’s child without doctor’s help. When the Yankees began their march on Atlanta, Scarlett led all people to go home by driving an old carriage. She could leave Melanie and her baby, but she could not, just because of her promise. What a great girl. The second reason was the war. The war had destroyed everything, the lazy and luxury old days was gone, never to return. And Scarlett had a family to take care for, and there was no going back and she was going forward. All these sufferings made her realize that the power of food and land was great. She must get rid of poverty and hungriness. When she lived through the war, she was never hungry again. The third reason was responsibility. When Scarlett returned home, the Twelve Oaks had been burned, the food gone, the crops burned, most of the slaves ran off. More importantly, her mother was dead, her father was crazy, her sister was ill, she was one of the master of the family. She never again secured beneath her father’s embrace with the protection of her mother as a child. There was no security she could turn to now. Now, Scarlett O’Hara Hamilton, a nineteen-year-old widow with a little child would take the place of her mother. Ellen, a kind and tender lady, she was Scarlett’s spiritual prop. Ellen’s death was a direct reason for Scarlett’s becoming strong. 2.3 After the War 2.3.1 The Final Scarlett In order to pay heavy taxes, Scarlett dressed up and asked help for Rhett. But Rhett was in jail, and he gave up all his fortune to the Yankee government. Scarlett failed to borrow money, she met Frank Kennedy in returning, who was her sister’s fiancé. He had a store and earned much money. More importantly, this money was enough to pay the tax. She wanted to save Tara, so she lied to Frank that her sister was going to marry someone else. And Scarlett got married with Frank quickly, although she did not love Frank. Because Frank was not good at business, Scarlett decided to open a lumber store. She hired a group of criminals to work and did business with the Yankees. One day, Scarlett was attacked by a black man and a white man. This accident made Scarlett become a widow again. Rhett asked Scarlett to marry him, and she agreed. Later, Scarlett gave birth to a daughter, Bonnie. Everything was on the right track. A few years later, seeing Bonnie’s death and Rhett’s indifference, Scarlett had never known this type of fear before. Melanie’s death made Scarlett understand that Ashley did not love her and had never really loved her. She realized that she loved something her made up, Rhett and home was her really need. She wanted to search for Rhett to explain everything. However, Rhett already lost heart and decided to leave her. Scarlett was very sad, but she was full of confidence. Tomorrow was another day, Scarlett wanted to conquer Rhett again. 2.3.2 The Double Independence in Economy and Spirit Scarlett had stolen her sister’s fiancé for Tara, and she also had a letter from Suellen, a letter full of hate and truthful observation about her character. But Suellen’s words could not upset her that Tara safe, at least from immediate danger. She had too many other matters occupying her mind. She realized that she would easily be able to run the business much better than her husband. The most important thing was how to make Frank realize that his store could earn more money, and she wanted to have a lumber store to sell the materials to build new houses. Of course, this thought was not agreed by Frank. When she developed her plans for the store, she was surprised to see Rhett Buttler walking into store. So she begged Rhett to borrow her money which was enough to buy a lumber store and two carriages, and Rhett agreed. Scarlett usually drove a carriage alone to lumber store, a sight that shocked the town, because a woman was not to be allowed to ride alone. She also hired a group of criminals from the local prison to work, because the lumber workers cost her a great deal of money. She discovered that doing business with the Yankee officers was rather easy, and she found that she could be easy to get what she wanted with them. Although she disliked them, it was not so hard to curse them to their faces. Scarlett was changed. Just like words: “Frank was not only amazed at his wife’s views and her plans but at the change which had come over her in the few months since they had married. This was not the soft, sweet person he had taken to be his wife. She knew what she wanted and she went after it by the shortest route, like a man .”( Margaret Mitchell, 1993: 416 ) After the complete moral collapse, Scarlett paid much more attention to achieve her goal, her own desire was much more important than that of the responsibility to the traditional society. She was a true rebel. 2.3.3The Reason for Shaping Scarlett This period was the summit of the development of Scarlett’s characters, her philosophy made a big change, because of the sufferings of war and life and love of Rhett. She thought that if she wanted to survive in an unstable society and live a good life, money and estate were indispensable. She became more and more independent: had a lumber store, hired criminals to work, drove a carriage alone, did business with Yankees, and drunk alcohol alone. Her acts broke the traditional society in such kind of society, and achieved her true independence in economy. Love between the Scarlett and Rhett made her achieve her independence in spirit. She always took advantage of Rhett to get everything what she wanted. Melanie’s death made Scarlett understand that Ashley did not love her and she loved Rhett. However, Rhett already lost heart and decided to leave her. Scarlett was very sad, she burst into tears on the stairs. At this point, she achieved her independence completely in spirit. Finally, she picked up her natural humanity, and recognized her own heart and got spiritual satisfaction. Conclusion There is no doubt that Gone with the Wind is a successful novel not only in literary world but also in awakening of female consciousness. As a typical feminist, Marlett Mitchell concentrated Scarlett’s growing in just ten years. During these years the heroine in Gone with the Wind has experienced a variety of changes. She became a widow with a baby from a proud princess. During the war, in order to keep her promise, she helped her first lover’s wife and son to return home safely. In Tara, she must to pick up cotton in the field for the sake of the family when black slaves ran away; She must kill a soldier to defend her home when a Yankee broke into her house; she married her sister’s fiancé by cheating to pay the heavy tax. She was a brave lady. And because of the influence of the war, she loved money more than everything. With her intelligence and style of excellence, people usually talked terribly about her, but she never retreated. Finally, she achieved the double independence in economy and spirit through her efforts. Underthe view of feminism to analyze Scarlett, it was not hard to find that Scarlett was a typical woman who overturned the men’s cognitive for women. (Taylor Helen, 1989) On one hand, she was a beautiful lady and easy to inspire men’s consciousness for protection of women. On the other hand, she hided a strong, free and even bullying heart under her beautiful appearance. Therefore, this thesis intends to help modern femalesto reconsider their own values in this world and to change the concept of male chauvinism and ultimately encourage them to realize their own values by striving for their double independence both in economy and spirit. Bibliography Edwards Anne. Road to Tara: The Life of Margaret Mitchell [M]. Dell Publishing Company, 1984. Margaret Mitchell. Gone with the Wind [M]. Publisher Wanner Books, 1993. Pyron Darden Asbury. Recasting: Gone with the Wind in the American Culture [M]. Florda International University, 1983. Taylor Helen. 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