Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God
Think of a few of your favorite novel characters. You remember them, don't you? You may be a little fuzzy on the story now that much time has passed, but you haven't forgotten those characters, have you?
Next: name three "things" your favorite characters must be/have/possess. Go!
Father, we're made in your image, fallen though we are. Thank you for making a way to be redeemed. We're desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Utter loyalty to a person or group
Almost a superhero quality of doing what it takes to set things right
Unnasuming–quietly goes about his business while setting his world on end.
There are many more I could name but I’m keeping it to three. 😎
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A good three, Brenda.
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Something she wants — or more accurately, believes she must have.
Perseverance and ingenuity in trying to obtain it.
Someone who believes in her.
(I looked at Scarlet O’Hara from Gone With The Wind to figure out what qualities drew me to her despite the fact that she had some really unlikable traits),
Becky
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Fascinating, Becky. I never read Gone With The Wind, but I saw bits and pieces of the movie. I hated Scarlett, but that’s just me.
Good points and example.
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I find it fascinating to get into conversations with other women about Scarlett. I didn’t like her either. And while most women I talk to thing of her having a positive future, my guess would be she’d die a lonely drunk.
But that just goes to show how we all interpret the same books differently.
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It does! A lonely drunk. Very possible. If a strong man like Rhett Butler didn’t want to tame her, who would? And how could she love someone she could run over with her selfish strong will? Ha!
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Nicole, I’ve talked to others who only saw the movie and hated Scarlet. I saw the movie years after reading the book and hated the movie! Ha! I know it’s a classic and that’s heresy. I know that for the time when it was made, it was doing all these cinematic groundbreaking things. But as far as being true to the story? It was soooooo lacking. The book is a thousand times better.
I’ve thought about this a lot because I wanted to know why I liked the book so much. For one thing, it disturbed me because of the end. Scarlet made bad choice after bad choice, but she kept going after what she wanted. When she finally realized she’d been after the wrong thing, it is apparently too late for her to go after what she now knows she needs. Or is it? I mean, Scarlet has been nothing if not persistent about achieving what she wants. So maybe there’s hope. But maybe not.
It’s an incredible, compelling, unsettling ending. I ended up reading the book three times, each read empathizing with a different character.
But why did I connect with Scarlet that first time? She was selfish and prideful and blind to what really mattered. I think in part it was because she experienced a real set back right off, one that Rhett witnessed, so she was also humiliated. Somehow his knowing how she had thrown herself at Ashley only to be rejected made me feel for her.
Her father loved her, which also made me realize she had qualities beyond what I’d seen, but when he died, then I had real sympathy for her.
Becky
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Thanks for this, Becky. I always like to understand the love of a story from someone who’s truly invested in it. Well done.
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Into the Fire 
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