The setting, the surrounding or environment of anything, is certainly different from many books, the characters of this book; the people portrayed in a novel, are unique. There is also the matter of the plot (the storyline, what happens in the book), theme: the unifying or dominant idea, and lastly the style of the piece (the manner in which it is written).
The Setting of Gone with the Wind is very fascinating. The story takes place in Georgia; during the Civil War, and several years afterwards. Atlanta, Georgia, is the place which is most often the setting of the story; Atlanta goes through many transitions during the story due to the Civil War, which is a major element of the novel. The citizens of Atlanta are very patriotic to the Confederacy, and at first it seems like nothing will go wrong in Atlanta. The trouble of war plague the citizens of Atlanta, with the deaths of loved ones, the setting becomes sadder, and a little less carefree. After a while the Yankees take Atlanta, and burn it. The city of Atlanta slowly comes back, but almost everyone still has hardships. Atlanta is a city of poor Confederates, rich-ish Yankees, and Scarlett, who goes through many transitions in Atlanta.
Another setting is Tara, the plantation home owned by the O'Hara's, the place where Scarlett O'Hara grew up. Tara is a comfortable place for Scarlett where nothing (at first) ever seems to go wrong. Tara is not burned down along with plantations in the area when the “Yankees” take the area, along with Atlanta. Afterwards though, the setting becomes much less carefree, because the war is no longer a game, it's happening to the characters, directly affecting them. Although Scarlett (in the book) is almost never at Tara, is still a place close to her heart. She needs Tara, and without Tara, she would be much worse off.
The characters of Gone with the Wind are very special. Two of the main characters: Scarlett O'Hara, and Melanie Wilkes will be discussed here. Scarlett O'Hara; the beloved, the main character of the story, and certainly the most famous, is one of the most selfish, pig-headed characters in the whole book, yet she holds a certain charm. She thinks she loves a man Ashley Wilkes, and she constantly tries to get him to admit he loves her. She doesn't leave it alone. She also hates a woman (Melanie Wilkes) who is the most caring, thoughtful, and all around good person in the whole book. Melanie cares about Scarlett, yet Scarlett has hatred for her, through most of the book. Many people are under the impression that Scarlett is a wonderful person. Pity is one of the only emotions felt towards this character. Scarlett may be brave, and certainly one of the most out going women in the whole book, but in certain occasions, her out-right horribleness ruins it.
Melanie Wilkes, the character several people have never heard of, is the most thoughtful character in the book. Her outright kindness draws people to her in the book. She is (in the beginning), the enemy of Scarlett, although she doesn't know it, for she loves Scarlett like a sister. She doesn't see how people are horrible, and she only sees the good in people, she doesn't even realize that Scarlett, on several occasions, is horrible to her. She marries Ashley (to Scarlett's horror), and after he goes off to war, becomes pregnant. She has a horrible child birth, and almost dies, but the baby survives. It is, in fact, her second childbirth that kills her, along with the second child. She asks Scarlett, right before her death, to take care of Beau, her first child. “Beau, look after him” is what she says on her deathbed, to Scarlett. Melanie is one of the best characters in the book.
The plot of this book is more than just a little confusing. If you read it in the book it makes sense. An attempt to enlighten you is made here. The story starts out with young Scarlett O'Hara. She is a beautiful girl, whom all of the boys adore. She lives at Tara, a plantation, and is very wealthy. She goes to several parties, dances, and barbecues. She is shocked when she finds out that Ashley Wilkes is engaged to his cousin Melanie Hamilton. She can't convince him not to marry Melanie, so she throws herself at Charles Hamilton. She gets pregnant and Charles goes to war. She is shocked when he is one of the first to die. She has her child and is depressed, so she is sent to Atlanta. She tries to enjoy her life, even though the women of Atlanta strongly disapprove. Her life is made complicated by “scalawag” Rhett Butler, opportunist.
