Author: Margaret Mitchell, an outstanding American writer. Born in Atlanta, southern United States, she grew up in a strong southern cultural atmosphere and was exposed to southern historical stories and traditions since childhood. Although he only created the novel "Gone with Gone" in his life, he became famous for this work and won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize, becoming a classic work in the history of American literature.

Background: Taking the American Civil War (1861-1865) and the post-war reconstruction period as the grand historical background. Before the Civil War, the south was dominated by plantation economy, and slavery was prevalent, forming a unique social class and cultural system. After the outbreak of the war, the social structure in the south was severely damaged, the plantation economy collapsed rapidly, a large amount of land was deserted, black slaves were liberated, and traditional aristocrats faced economic difficulties and a sharp decline in social status. During the post-war reconstruction period, southern society experienced profound changes in many aspects such as politics, economy, and culture. Northern forces intervened, and new political order and economic model were gradually established, and the old southern culture and new social reality collided fiercely.

Topic: With the help of Scarlett's ups and downs in life, we will deeply explore various themes such as survival, love, responsibility, and female growth. In the context of the turbulent era, it shows the inevitable disappearance of the old southern culture under the impact of war and social change, and the difficult process of establishing a new value system, reflecting the struggle, persistence and transformation of human nature in the torrent of history.

Characteristic traits

Growth process: From the pre-war willfulness and vanity, the daughter of the planter who only focuses on dances, suitors and beautiful clothes, experiencing the baptism of war, gradually grows into an independent, strong woman who can assume family responsibilities and survive in a complex social environment. But during her growth process, she also ignored the truly important people around her because she pursued material things and her own desires. It was not until she finally lost Reed that she deeply understood the true meaning of love. It was too late and she completed the transformation of life from childishness to maturity, from ignorance to awakening.

Image creation: On the surface, he is a cynical and enjoyable speculator. He often goes to and from casinos and bars, deals with all kinds of people, and shows himself in a free and unruly image. But in fact, he has a keen insight and a deep understanding of human nature and social change. He accumulated wealth through blockade trade during the war, not just for money, but for people's needs under the business opportunities brought by the war and social unrest. He was tolerant and deep in love with Scarlett. He was attracted by her unique charm since he first met Scarlett. He has been silently paying attention to and helping her. Even if he was misunderstood and hurt by Scarlett, he still never left her.

Symbolism: Reed represents pragmatism in the alternation of the old and new eras. He was not bound by the traditional moral concepts and social norms of the old South, and was able to quickly adapt to social changes and use new rules and opportunities to achieve success. His behavior and ideas are in sharp contrast to the old southern aristocracy, and at the same time they are different from emerging forces in the north. In the end, his disappointment with Scarlett and society and his choice to leave symbolized his destruction of his ideal love and social order, and also implied that after the complete disappearance of the old south, the new society did not bring him a true sense of belonging.

Mental Dilemma: Ashley is a typical symbol of old southern culture. He was deeply influenced by traditional southern education, with elegant manners, decent conversations and aristocratic temperament. But he was addicted to the romantic fantasy of the past southern plantation era, and deep down he longed for that peaceful, harmonious, poetic life. War and social change broke his fantasy world. He was unable to adapt to the new social reality. In the post-war reconstruction period, he seemed out of place. He felt confused and helpless about new production methods, commercial activities, etc., and lost the direction of his life.

Relationship with Scarlett: As Scarlett's long-standing obsession, Ashley has a complex emotion towards Scarlett. He appreciated Scarlett's vitality and enthusiasm, but his moral concepts and persistence in the old Southern tradition prevented him from responding to Scarlett's feelings. His emotional entanglement with Scarlett contrasts the conflict between Scarlett's reality and ideals. Ashley in Scarlett's eyes is the embodiment of perfection and her sustenance for the good times of the past; and Ashley is actually just a person abandoned by the times and unable to get out of the mental predicament. This contrast has promoted Scarlett's growth and awakening.

Moral Benchmark: Melanie has become the embodiment of traditional Southern virtues with kindness, tolerance and firmness. She is gentle and kind, and treats the people around her with care and tolerance. She treats her husband Ashley, her friend Scarlett, and her servants equally and never cares about personal gains and losses. When Scarlett did some moral behaviors to survive, Melanie always chose to understand and support her. Her tolerance made Scarlett feel guilty and blamed herself. She was unswerving in love with Ashley. Even though she knew Scarlett's feelings for Ashley, she never felt resentment, but instead worked hard to maintain the harmony of the family.

Influence on Scarlett: Melanie's selfless spirit is like a mirror, prompting Scarlett to constantly reflect on herself. In getting along with Melanie, Scarlett gradually realized her selfishness and narrow-mindedness. Melanie's trust and dependence also made Scarlett subconsciously want to protect her and take responsibility. Melanie's existence became one of the motivations for Scarlett to persevere in the predicament. After Melanie passed away, Scarlett truly realized the importance of Melanie to herself and completed her spiritual transformation.

Tara Manor Life: A detailed display of the aristocratic life scenes during the prosperity of the plantation economy. Tara Manor has vast land, large fields of cotton shine with white light in the sun, and the black slaves work hard in the fields. The main house of the manor is magnificent, with exquisite interior decoration, filled with furniture and artworks shipped from Europe. As the daughter of the owner of the manor, Scarlett's daily life revolves around dances and social activities. She wears a gorgeous dress, talks about love with many suitors, and enjoys a carefree aristocratic life. Her emotional entanglement with Ashley began to emerge at this stage. Ashley's elegance and restraint form a sharp contrast with Scarlett's enthusiasm and liveliness, attracting Scarlett. Although Ashley has a good impression of Scarlett, she chose to engage with Melanie because of her own moral concepts and family traditions.

Civil War broke out: As President Lincoln called on volunteers to fight against the South, the clouds of war quickly enveloped the South. When the news came, the southern society was in turmoil, and young men responded to the call and joined the army enthusiastically. Ashley is no exception. He bid farewell to his hometown and relatives with his pursuit of honor and responsibility and rushed to the battlefield. In order to arouse Ashley's jealousy, Scarlett married Melanie's younger brother Charles impulsively. Shortly after her marriage, Charles died of war and Scarlett became a widow. Her life changed drastically from then on. She had to leave Tara Manor and go to Atlanta to live with Melanie, and began a new stage of her life.

Atlanta falls: The war situation is gradually unfavorable to the South, and Atlanta becomes the focus of the war. During the city's siege, artillery fire flew and the city fell into chaos. Scarlett showed amazing courage and perseverance during this difficult time. Regardless of her own safety, she fully protects Melanie who is about to give birth. She accompanied Melanie through the difficult production process despite lack of medical treatment and harsh environment. Afterwards, Reid helped them escape from Atlanta. On the way, Reid chose to leave to join the war. Scarlett had to face unknown dangers alone and drive back to Tara Manor with her weak Melanie and her newborn. This experience made her stronger and more independent.

Tara Manor Reconstruction: After Scarlett returned to Tara Manor, the scene in front of her broke her heart. The manor was looted by the northern army, the houses were dilapidated, the fields were deserted, and the family suffered hardships. My mother died of typhoid fever, and my father was mentally ill due to the inability to withstand the blow. Faced with all this, Scarlett did not retreat. She was determined to protect Tara Manor and let her family live a stable life again. She led her family and the slaves who were left behind to replant cotton on the barren land, overcoming numerous difficulties such as scarcity of supplies and insufficient labor. In order to obtain funds to purchase seeds, farm tools, etc., she did not hesitate to put down her dignity, so she asked others for help, and even committed some moral behaviors, showing a strong desire to survive and tenacious fighting spirit.

Social order collapses: After the defeat in the south, social order fell into chaos. Black people were liberated, but they still face discrimination and inequality in society and their lives have not been substantially improved. Northern capital poured into the south, acquiring land and enterprises, trying to control the southern economy. The land of traditional southern aristocrats was confiscated, their wealth shrank rapidly, and their social status declined sharply. The once prosperous plantations are gradually declining, the new business class is rising, and the social class structure has undergone tremendous changes. At the same time, politically, the control of the south faces the north, the rise of organizations such as the Klan of the Klan, racial conflicts further intensified, and social unrest.

Scarlett's marriage and career: In order to obtain economic resources, Scarlett married Frank and Reed one after another. Using Frank's shops and funds, she began to get involved in the business field and demonstrated her outstanding business talent. After Frank's death, she married Reid, who gave her greater financial support and helped her expand the sawmill. Scarlett faces many challenges in business operations, such as the exclusion of competitors and the management of workers, but with her wisdom and courage, she gradually gained a foothold in the business world and became a successful independent woman. However, in the pursuit of career success, her relationship with Reed gradually became rifted, and her relationship with Ashley was always a hidden danger in their marriage.

Tragic ending: Melanie's death became a turning point in Scarlett's life. Melanie has always been Scarlett's spiritual pillar, and her departure has caused Scarlett to be deeply saddened and self-blame. At the same time, Reid was completely disappointed with Scarlett. He believed that Scarlett could never let go of his feelings for Ashley and finally chose to leave. Only after losing the two most important people in life did Scarlett truly realize his mistakes and his true emotions. She stood on the land of Tara Manor, looking into the distance, thinking of Reed's departure, and was filled with regret, but she still firmly told herself that "Tomorrow is another new day", showing her tenacious and unyielding character.

The test of war on human nature: The Civil War was a cruel disaster. It broke people's peaceful life and exposed human nature to extreme environments. In the chaotic times, Scarlett transformed from a pampered aristocratic lady to a tenacious and unscrupulous woman in order to survive. Her behavior reflects the struggles and choices of human nature on the brink of life and death, and reveals the cruel laws of survival of the fittest. During the war, people had to give up their past dignity and moral concepts for basic survival needs such as food and shelter, and demonstrated the most authentic and instinctive side of human nature.

The disappearance of southern culture: Through the collapse of the plantation economy and the decline of the old aristocracy, we deeply reflect on the limitations of traditional southern culture. Old Southern culture was based on slavery, emphasizing hierarchy, aristocratic privileges and elegant lifestyles. However, the outbreak of war caused this cultural foundation to collapse instantly, and the former nobles lost their land, wealth and social status, and had to face new social reality. During this process, some excellent qualities in southern culture, such as loyalty, courage, family concepts, etc., have gradually been marginalized in the new social environment, while the new value system has not yet been fully established, and people are trapped in confusion and confusion, reflecting the conflict between tradition and modernity.

Scarlett's love awakening: Scarlett's love for Ashley was an illusory pursuit from the beginning. She idealized Ashley and regarded him as her sustenance for the good times of the past. In her relationship with Reed, she was gradually moved by Reed's truth, enthusiasm and understanding of her, but she never realized her feelings for Reed. It was not until after losing Rhet that she truly realized that the person she had always loved was Rhet, and she completed the process from her persistence in illusory love to her awakening of true love. This process accompanied her growth, allowing her to learn to cherish and face her heart.

Awakening of female consciousness: Driven by war and social change, Scarlett gradually breaks through the traditional social expectations of "Southern Lady". She is no longer satisfied with caring for her husband and children at home, but actively participates in social activities and pursues economic independence. She runs a sawmill, competes with men in the business field, showing a very different courage and wisdom than traditional women. Her behavior challenged the gender restrictions on women in society at that time, fought for more rights and freedoms for women, became a representative figure of the awakening of female consciousness, and inspired later women to pursue the realization of self-worth.

The Confrontation between North and South Culture: The novel profoundly depicts the fierce collision between northern industrial civilization and southern agricultural civilization. The north focuses on industrial production, pays attention to efficiency, science and technology and innovation, and emphasizes personal struggle and free competition; the south is based on plantation agriculture, relying on slavery, and attaches importance to family, tradition and social hierarchy. The outbreak of war is not only a conflict of political and economic interests, but also a confrontation between two civilizations. This cultural opposition is vividly expressed in the characters' thoughts and behaviors, such as the criticism of slavery in the south by the northerners, the exclusion of industrial civilization in the north and the contradictions and conflicts between the north and the south in social reconstruction after the war.

Contradictions in the reconstruction period: Through events such as the KKK activities and black suffrage, the pains of the social transformation of the South during the post-war reconstruction period are shown. After the war, the southern side faced the task of reconstruction in many aspects such as politics, economy, and society. The intervention of northern forces and the implementation of new policies triggered a strong backlash in southern society. Organizations such as the Klan Klan have maintained the social order of white supremacy through violent means and opposed blacks' access to equal rights; and after being liberated, blacks are eager for real freedom and equality, and actively strive for political rights such as suffrage. This contradiction and conflict reflects the difficulties and twists and turns of southern society in the process of transition from the old order to the new order, as well as the game of interests between different classes and races.

A model of a circular figure: Scarlett's complexity makes her a classic anti-traditional female image in literary history. She has the advantages of courage, tenacity, and intelligence, as well as the shortcomings of selfishness, jealousy, and vanity. These personality traits are intertwined to form a real and full character image. Her behavioral motivation and inner world are full of contradictions and struggles. During the reading process, readers can see her shortcomings and feel angry at her, and understand her helpless choices in a specific environment and feel sympathetic to her. This complex emotional experience makes the character image deeply rooted in people's hearts.

The use of symbolic techniques: Images such as Reed's hat and Tara's red earth have rich symbolic significance in the novel and deepen the theme expression. Reid's hat symbolizes his unruly and freedom. He always wears a unique hat and goes out to various occasions, showing his unique personality and challenges to tradition. Tara's red land symbolizes Scarlett's roots. No matter how many storms she has experienced outside, Tara's land has always been her spiritual sustenance and source of strength, representing her love for her home and her persistence in traditional southern culture.

Milestones in Southern Narrative: Reconstructing the history of the Civil War from a female perspective provides unique literary materials for historical research and supplementing the shortcomings of official historical narratives. Traditional historical records often focus on macro-levels such as politics and military. Through the personal experiences of characters such as Scarlett, "Gone with the impact of war on the lives of ordinary people, including the breakdown of families, the collapse of economy, and the changes in social relations, allowing readers to more intuitively feel the cruelty of war and the complexity of social changes, and enrich their understanding of the Civil War and the post-war reconstruction period from a micro perspective.

Cultural Criticism and Reflection: Not only criticizes the cruelty of slavery in the south, it reveals the oppression of slavery on black people and the obstacles to social development; it also reserves some behaviors after the invasion of northern capital in the South, showing the impact and destruction of northern forces on southern culture in the process of reconstruction. By depicting the dilemma of southern society in war and reconstruction, the novel triggers readers' thoughts on cultural inheritance and development in historical changes, as well as reflections on the conflict and integration between different cultures.

The spread of adaptations: The release of the 1939 movie "Gone with the Wind" further expanded the global influence of "Gone with the Wind". With its exquisite graphics, outstanding actor performances and a wonderful adaptation of the original work, the film has attracted the attention of audiences around the world. Classic scenes in the movie, such as Scarlett's swearing in the fields of Tara Manor, "I will never go hungry again", and the love-hate entanglement between Reed and Scarlett, etc., have become classic clips in the history of film, allowing more people to understand and fall in love with the story of "Gone with Gone". The film's costume props are well-made, restoring the luxury before the war and the dilapidation after the war in the south. Especially Scarlett's green skirt made of curtains has become a classic look in the history of film costumes, triggering imitation trends in the fashion industry. Scarlett played by Vivien Leigh fully demonstrates her complex character, and Reed, played by Clark Gable, is unrestrained and affectionate. Their wonderful performance gives the character a vivid vitality and gives the audience a deeper understanding of the character's emotions. The movie soundtrack is also excellent, with beautiful melody and fitting into the plot. In the tense war scenes and romantic love scenes, the music sets the atmosphere just right, further enhancing the appeal of the film, and prompting more people to read the original work and explore the deep meaning behind the story.

Cross-cultural communication: "Gone with Gone" is translated into multiple languages ​​and is widely disseminated around the world. In Europe, the unique culture and grand historical background of the United States it depicts attracts many readers, opening a window for them to understand American history and culture and deepen their understanding of American social development. In Asia, such as Japan and South Korea, Scarlett's image of brave pursuit of love and independence resonates with female readers and becomes a symbol of women's self-awareness awakening and pursuit of freedom. The novel is interpreted and accepted under different cultural backgrounds. The themes of humanity, love, survival, etc. are universal, cross national boundaries and cultural differences, triggering readers around the world to think about life, history, society and other aspects, and promoting exchanges and understanding between different cultures.

Inspiration for literary and artistic creation: Provide creative inspiration and reference for many writers and screenwriters. Many literary and artistic works refer to "Gone with Gone" in terms of character creation, plot structure, and historical background integration. In character creation, learn to shape complex and multi-faceted protagonists to show the contradictions and growth of human nature; in plot structure, build a grand narrative, closely link personal destiny with historical changes, and increase the heaviness and tension of the story; in terms of integrating historical background, depict the social style of a specific era with delicate brushstrokes, so that the works have historical texture and cultural heritage. In the field of film and television creation, works similar to those that show the rise and fall of the family and personal emotions based on the great era are emerging one after another. For example, "Dae Jang Geum" and "Qiao Family Courtyard" are all influenced by "Gone with Gone" and show the various forms of life under historical changes from different cultural perspectives.

Promoting social thoughts: In the process of feminist thoughts, "Gone with Fight" plays an important role in promoting. Scarlett breaks through the traditional image of women, pursues economic independence and love autonomy, and inspires women around the world to bravely challenge gender constraints and pursue equal rights and self-worth realization. Her experience made women realize their strength and potential, prompting more women to participate in social activities and strive for equal status in many fields such as politics, economy, and education. In terms of cultural diversity, "Gone with Gone" shows the unique culture of the United States and the North-South cultural conflicts, and promotes global attention and research on cultural diversity. It prompts people to think about the values ​​and significance of different cultures, as well as the problems and challenges in the process of cultural conflict and integration, promotes cultural inclusion and exchanges, and provides ideological impetus for building a diverse and harmonious global cultural environment.