SSR Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Summary:

 The hospital holds a fundraising bazaar, but as a widow in mourning Scarlett cannot attend without breaching decorum. Unlike the other widows, she thinks it unfair that she works like a “field hand” to prepare for the bazaar but cannot attend. At the last moment, Scarlett and Melanie are called in to work at a booth. At the bazaar, Scarlett is shocked by her own lack of patriotism during the speeches about the glorious Confederate cause. She longs to dance. Rhett Butler, now a famous blockade-runner for the South, appears and teases her about her marriage to Charles. Dr. Meade, Atlanta’s foremost citizen, sends around a collection basket to encourage women to donate their jewelry. Scarlett donates her hated wedding ring. Melanie mistakes Scarlett’s action for courage and throws her own wedding ring into the basket. Dr. Meade scandalously proposes that gentlemen must bid to dance with the lady of their choice in order to raise money for the hospital. As a widow, Scarlett is strictly forbidden to dance, but Rhett bids a hundred and fifty dollars in gold on her. To the shock of the crowd, Scarlett accepts and hurries to the dance floor. Rhett tells Scarlett that he admires her beauty and spirit and that he knows the Cause bores her as it bores him. Scarlett pretends to be angry, but she knows that what he says is true.

Character analysis:

Rhett: In this chapter, we can see that the author is now involving Rhett as a very important character in the novel. He is starting to take action in trying to get close to Scarlett, and it seems to be working. He seems to be the type of person that when he wants something, he will move mountains to get what he wants. We can see that Rhett probably has some kind of interest towards Scarlett, considering all the actions he does and how he speaks to her.

Story movement:

For me, one big movement in this chapter that we all can see is Rhett's involvement in the story and how it includes Scarlett. Based on all his actions and what he says to her, I can infer that they will get closer as friends and probably could arise to start a relationship. I can infer that Rhett has a sneaky interest in Scarlett because of various reasons. One of those reasons could be that he doesn't mind if she is engaged to Charles, despite that, he talks to her and flirts with her in a indirect kind of way. Another reason might be because in chapter 7 I saw that Rhett bothered Scarlett because of her unladylike manners towards Ashley, and in this chapter he bothered her again teasing her about her engagement to Charles. And, in the end, he complimented her saying that he admired her beauty and spirit. 

Themes:

A theme for this chapter could be affection and desire, as everything that is happening between Scarlett and Charles, and Scarlett and Rhett. Charles greatly desires to be Scarlett's wife, and I can see affection between Rhett and Scarlett based on the events of this chapter.

Thoughts and opinions:

In my opinion, this chapter was really interesting. I like how Rhett delivers himself to Scarlett and his behavior towards her. I also like the fact that I get to know Scarlett a little more every chapter, and how her personality is.

SSR Chapter 6

Gone With the Wind- Chapter 6

Summary: 

In Twelve Oaks, it is a special occasion. All the county's most prestigious families arrive there. Scarlett suddenly notices a tall, dark-skinned man staring at her cautiously, and it shocks her. Then, they tell her that he is Rhett Butler, a man from a aristocratic family in Charleston, South Carolina. Rhett is known for his aggressive and strong manners, as he killed a man during a duel. Melanie's timid brother has a huge crush on Scarlett, and he even proposes to her, but she hardly heard what he said as all her attention was directed to Ashley. Scarlett gets extremely jealous when she sees Melanie sitting next to Ashley. After the barbecue is over, Scarlett races to Ashley who is in the library room, and finally confesses her love for him. He denies her love and says that he is going to marry Ashley, and that they could never make a good match as how different they both where. By hearing this, Scarlett slaps Ashley with huge anger. While all that happens, Rhett is sitting down watching and then he teases Scarlett about having such unladylike manners. The chapter ends with the news that President Lincoln has called for troops to start a civil war. Charles asks again Scarlett for marriage, and this time, she accepts, just to escape from Ashley's denial.

Analysis of a character:

Rhett: He is introduced in this chapter at the barbecue. Scarlett first sees him staring at her with a intimidating look. He is a strong, scandalous man from an aristocratic family in Charleston, South Carolina. Rhett once took a girl out without a chaperone, and then refused to marry her, though he should have married her after such outrageous behavior. The girl's brother, defending her honor, challenged Rhett to a duel. Rhett killed the man during the duel.

Story movement: 

One big and major event that happened during this chapter was Scarlett's confession to Ashley about how she felt about him. The fact that Ashley neglected her love and preferred to marry Melanie, outraged Scarlett and made her show a little bit more of her personality and how aggressive she is. Also, now that nothing will happen between Scarlett and Ashley, the story will change and we can see that by the end of the chapter, Scarlett acts impulsively and forcibly accepts Charles proposal to marriage, just to get passed Ashley. 

Themes:

I think that by reading this chapter, a new theme could be war, because at the end of the chapter Scarlett receives the news that President Abraham Lincoln called troops because the civil war is going to start. This could also change the story as many things can occur during the war. For example, many characters could die, etc.

Thoughts and opinions:

Right now, I have a positive thought about this book. It is finally getting a little more interesting by presenting new characters and having major events happening, (Ashley and Scarlett, Rhett introduced, the news about the war at the end, and Scarlett's acceptance to Charles' proposal).