After all, tomorrow is another day. Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the wind (1939)
Summary of Gone with the Wind and Scarlett O’Hara
Introduction to the Novel and Scarlett O’Hara
Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind (1936) is a sweeping historical novel set during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era. It follows the life of Scarlett O’Hara, the headstrong daughter of a wealthy plantation owner in Georgia.1
Early Life and First Marriages
In Chapter 1, Scarlett is introduced as a spoiled, beautiful sixteen-year-old obsessed with Ashley Wilkes. However, Ashley becomes engaged to Melanie Hamilton, devastating Scarlett. In retaliation, Scarlett impulsively marries Melanie’s brother, Charles Hamilton, though she soon becomes a widow.2
The Civil War and Transformation
As the war progresses (Chapters 7–14), Scarlett moves to Atlanta, where she struggles with the hardships of the Civil War. Here, she meets Rhett Butler, a charming and roguish blockade runner who becomes fascinated by her unyielding spirit.3
Return to Tara and Survival
Following Atlanta’s fall (Chapter 23), Scarlett returns to her family’s plantation, Tara, which has been ravaged by the war. She exhibits incredible determination, vowing, “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again”—a pivotal moment that showcases her resilience.4
Scarlett’s Ruthless Rise and Tumultuous Marriages
In Chapters 36–43, Scarlett, now pragmatic and ruthless, manipulates her way into wealth to protect Tara. She marries Frank Kennedy for financial security and later Rhett Butler himself, though their marriage is passionate and turbulent. Scarlett’s enduring love for Ashley blinds her to her true feelings for Rhett.5
Tragedy and the End of the Novel
Scarlett’s complex character evolves from a self-centered girl to a hardened survivor, though she never fully sheds her selfish tendencies. By the novel’s end (Chapter 63), after tragedy strikes—including the death of her daughter Bonnie—Rhett leaves her, famously stating, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Scarlett, however, remains defiant, vowing to win him back, believing “Tomorrow is another day.”6
Conclusion: Scarlett’s Legacy
Through Scarlett’s journey, Mitchell paints a vivid portrait of the Old South’s decline and the emergence of a new, harsher reality. Scarlett’s survival instincts, ambition, and emotional stubbornness make her one of literature’s most iconic heroines.7
Footnotes
- Mitchell, Margaret. Gone with the Wind (Goodreads Overview) ↩
- SparkNotes: Gone with the Wind Summary ↩
- LitCharts: Gone with the Wind Overview ↩
- Encyclopædia Britannica: Scarlett O’Hara ↩
- Tomorrow Is Another Day: The Woman Writer in the South (Library Entry) ↩
- Scarlett Girls: The Redefinition of the Southern Belle (Google Books) ↩
- PBS American Masters: Gone with the Wind Retrospective ↩
After all, tomorrow is another day. Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the wind (1939)
