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A review by penguinna
Lalu Bersama Angin by Margaret Mitchell
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I never had a favorite book until I read Gone with the Wind. It took me a month and a half to read the book, as I savored every word, attempting to prolong my stay within its pages. I could talk about this book endlessly, but I'll attempt to be concise.
Gone with the Wind touches upon all existing discourses, among which are love and hate, gluttony and hunger, war and peace, life and death, the north and the south, right and wrong, freedom and slavery.
Each character in the story is portrayed as a genuine human being, full of strengths and weaknesses. At times, you feel immense pride for Scarlett, a courageous young woman who refuses to surrender and adapts to the horrors brought about by the Civil War. Her favorite phrase, “I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow,” showcases her resilience. Scarlett sacrifices much to survive and protect her loved ones. However, there are also moments when you hate and despise her as she goes over people’s heads to achieve her own selfish ambitions.
Scarlett fights relentlessly for wealth and the beloved person, believing they will bring her happiness. But once she has it all, she realizes it isn’t what she truly needed. Despite enduring many formidable trials throughout her life, she manages to grow up only in the end of the book.
This novel shows us that there is no winner in any war. The Yankees, who fought to abolish slavery, resorted to burning down entire cities and families in the name of what they believed to be right. Once the slaves were freed and began voting for the Republicans, the Union discarded them as unwanted, giving rise to a fresh wave of racism. The Confederates, however, treated their slaves with a paternalistic attitude, but “only if they knew their place.” Several characters in the book even join the Ku Klux Klan to reinstate the old order. There were no winners in this war, only losers who treated slaves as mere possessions, forgetting that they were humans.
Another significant topic of "Gone with the Wind" is love. This powerful feeling weaves its way through the lives of the characters, leaving a lasting impact on their journeys.
Scarlett finds herself irresistibly drawn to Ashley, the only person who rejects her charms. However, her love for Ashley is met with heartbreak when he chooses to marry Melanie, a woman whom Scarlett despises. As the war enters their lives, the women build a strong bond that Scarlett rejects due to her selfishness. Blinded by her infatuation with Ashley, Scarlett does not notice that Melanie is the only person who is always by her side, willing to do anything for her.
Chasing money and prestige, attempting to reclaim a bygone epoch, Scarlett fails to recognize the wealth of love surrounding her. Throughout her life, she is violent and dismissive towards those who genuinely love her, perceiving love as a weakness. Despite facing numerous challenges, her greatest fear remains vulnerability. Cloaked in spikes and sarcasm, she denies herself the truth that she deeply loves those closest to her.
The only entity she truly loves and protects with devotion is her home, Tara – the red soil that gave her strength in the toughest moments of her life. Tara becomes her sanctuary, a place that shapes her pride and dignity, where she feels strong and alive. Scarlett repeatedly sacrifices herself for Tara, going so far as to take lives to defend it. Regardless of the circumstances, she is certain of one thing: no one can wrest her home away from her.
By forging her own path through life, Scarlett finds herself alone. She defies people's expectations about her just to prove her point. And the only person who can truly understand her psychology is Rhett. He sees her unfiltered, comprehending her motivations and flaws with an intimacy she herself cannot grasp. He loves her for all her imperfections, yet their pride and selfishness ruin everything.
Through Scarlett's journey, we witness the tragic impact of missed opportunities, selfishness, and the destructive force of pride. “Gone with the Wind” enlightens us about the nuances of the world, showing that it is not simply black and white. To truly live and understand, we must embrace the multitude of shades and complexities it presents.
Gone with the Wind touches upon all existing discourses, among which are love and hate, gluttony and hunger, war and peace, life and death, the north and the south, right and wrong, freedom and slavery.
Each character in the story is portrayed as a genuine human being, full of strengths and weaknesses. At times, you feel immense pride for Scarlett, a courageous young woman who refuses to surrender and adapts to the horrors brought about by the Civil War. Her favorite phrase, “I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow,” showcases her resilience. Scarlett sacrifices much to survive and protect her loved ones. However, there are also moments when you hate and despise her as she goes over people’s heads to achieve her own selfish ambitions.
Scarlett fights relentlessly for wealth and the beloved person, believing they will bring her happiness. But once she has it all, she realizes it isn’t what she truly needed. Despite enduring many formidable trials throughout her life, she manages to grow up only in the end of the book.
This novel shows us that there is no winner in any war. The Yankees, who fought to abolish slavery, resorted to burning down entire cities and families in the name of what they believed to be right. Once the slaves were freed and began voting for the Republicans, the Union discarded them as unwanted, giving rise to a fresh wave of racism. The Confederates, however, treated their slaves with a paternalistic attitude, but “only if they knew their place.” Several characters in the book even join the Ku Klux Klan to reinstate the old order. There were no winners in this war, only losers who treated slaves as mere possessions, forgetting that they were humans.
Another significant topic of "Gone with the Wind" is love. This powerful feeling weaves its way through the lives of the characters, leaving a lasting impact on their journeys.
Scarlett finds herself irresistibly drawn to Ashley, the only person who rejects her charms. However, her love for Ashley is met with heartbreak when he chooses to marry Melanie, a woman whom Scarlett despises. As the war enters their lives, the women build a strong bond that Scarlett rejects due to her selfishness. Blinded by her infatuation with Ashley, Scarlett does not notice that Melanie is the only person who is always by her side, willing to do anything for her.
Chasing money and prestige, attempting to reclaim a bygone epoch, Scarlett fails to recognize the wealth of love surrounding her. Throughout her life, she is violent and dismissive towards those who genuinely love her, perceiving love as a weakness. Despite facing numerous challenges, her greatest fear remains vulnerability. Cloaked in spikes and sarcasm, she denies herself the truth that she deeply loves those closest to her.
The only entity she truly loves and protects with devotion is her home, Tara – the red soil that gave her strength in the toughest moments of her life. Tara becomes her sanctuary, a place that shapes her pride and dignity, where she feels strong and alive. Scarlett repeatedly sacrifices herself for Tara, going so far as to take lives to defend it. Regardless of the circumstances, she is certain of one thing: no one can wrest her home away from her.
By forging her own path through life, Scarlett finds herself alone. She defies people's expectations about her just to prove her point. And the only person who can truly understand her psychology is Rhett. He sees her unfiltered, comprehending her motivations and flaws with an intimacy she herself cannot grasp. He loves her for all her imperfections, yet their pride and selfishness ruin everything.
Through Scarlett's journey, we witness the tragic impact of missed opportunities, selfishness, and the destructive force of pride. “Gone with the Wind” enlightens us about the nuances of the world, showing that it is not simply black and white. To truly live and understand, we must embrace the multitude of shades and complexities it presents.