Gone With the Wind Reflection

Gone With the Wind is a 1939 American film set in the American South during civil war times. The movie gives a different portrayal of slavery that isn’t typically shown in film. Gone With the Wind shows the effect that the civil war had on the South. Scarlett O’Hara, the main character in the movie, falls in love with Ashley Wilkes who ends up marrying his cousin. Scarlett instead marries Charles. Charles ended up dying during the war. This is one focus of the movie; the portrayal of people dying in the war, and their families and loved ones finding out. A powerful scene in the movie that I enjoyed was where Scarlett was in mourning of Charles wearing all black, and still danced during the charity event. This violated the rules of mourning that are in place. 

The portrayal of all the characters was cool to look at. The settings and the costumes in the movie made the story be shown through a historical light. These aspects of the movie helped amplify the movie. 

The portrayal of African American slaves was debated on whether it is okay or not. While many aspects of the portrayal are disrespectful and not okay in today’s times, it is important to remember the time in which the movie was made. In today’s context, the disrespectful portrayal of African Americans would not be acceptable, however, in the 1930’s it is seen as okay. It’s also important to remember that it is a movie representing civil war times. African Americans were not treated well in this time period. The movie was more respectful then how slaves were actually treated in the time period. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie and I think it was a powerful portrayal on how the civil war affected everyone in America.