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A review by funnellegant
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
2.0
"Gone with the Wind" is a story about an idyllic, mostly mythological antebellum South and the destruction of its culture through the observations and experiences of a plantation belle.
As a historical fiction novel, there were parts that were educational, especially regarding how the conquered southerners saw themselves and what perverted points of view could lead to the rise of the KKK, the opposition of the black vote, and the defense of slavery itself. The book inspires real dialogue about moral objectivism in desperate circumstances as Scarlett's
In its 1000 pages, there were a lot of funny dialogues to enjoy, steamy love scenes to make you swoon, and scenes of heroism to keep you page-turning. I can see why it captured the imagination of the country.
But the book had several flaws. First, the glaring racism was not simply descriptive of the time or tongue-in-cheek, but most obviously came from the perspective of the author herself. This racism was in nearly every chapter, comparing black people to animals, calling them savages or children, patronizing and demonizing, and never giving such elaborate backstories as were afforded some of the most tertiary white characters. Second, it quickly began to read like anti-reconstruction, pro-plantation slavery propaganda. Third, the toxic romances (not the sex - the psychological abuse all around) left me feeling dirty and highly unsettled.
In defense of the well-loved American classic, I must say that I couldn't put it down - it was nuanced and intricate and riveting. But I was also left with the sense that it is a dangerous book that may have bolstered the racism of an entire generation.
As a historical fiction novel, there were parts that were educational, especially regarding how the conquered southerners saw themselves and what perverted points of view could lead to the rise of the KKK, the opposition of the black vote, and the defense of slavery itself. The book inspires real dialogue about moral objectivism in desperate circumstances as Scarlett's
In its 1000 pages, there were a lot of funny dialogues to enjoy, steamy love scenes to make you swoon, and scenes of heroism to keep you page-turning. I can see why it captured the imagination of the country.
But the book had several flaws. First, the glaring racism was not simply descriptive of the time or tongue-in-cheek, but most obviously came from the perspective of the author herself. This racism was in nearly every chapter, comparing black people to animals, calling them savages or children, patronizing and demonizing, and never giving such elaborate backstories as were afforded some of the most tertiary white characters. Second, it quickly began to read like anti-reconstruction, pro-plantation slavery propaganda. Third, the toxic romances (not the sex - the psychological abuse all around) left me feeling dirty and highly unsettled.
In defense of the well-loved American classic, I must say that I couldn't put it down - it was nuanced and intricate and riveting. But I was also left with the sense that it is a dangerous book that may have bolstered the racism of an entire generation.