The Second Civil War

Gone With the Wind is so multifaceted, it's hard to say exactly what sort of a book it is. It's a romance, a war novel, a historical novel, a commentary on race, gender, society, culture... In many ways, I honestly didn't know where to start with this book. There are so many different places I could go with it.

A picture I found on Tumblr that I just had to share...

I've looked for topics of discussion that are current. Professors tend to focus on how the novel portrays race and racism or gender. Many of the somewhat more intellectual enthusiasts on Goodreads and blogs like to talk about the book as a representation of the South and how it was changed through the Civil War. But the general population of enthusiasts likes to focus on one aspect of the story: Scarlett and Rhett.

These are all very interesting critical topics in themselves, and I've decided to consider and think about all of them.

One of the big themes I see in GWTW is the idea of change. All the characters go through a change in their way of life, in their relationships, in their country, in their homes...exactly the same thing that is happening today as we transition into the digital age.

Okay, not exactly the same thing. I certainly don't want to trivialize the suffering involved in the American Civil War. But I see a lot of similarities between our time and theirs.

A gigantic external change is taking place, completely changing our way of life. A way of life that was, in many ways, beautiful in its slow and thoughtful pace, dreamy and wistful...but, at the same time, inadequate. A change is not only impossible to escape, it is necessary. But this change isn't easy. We have hurdles to face; we don't know how to adapt to the new world, we don't have the necessary skills to survive in it. Many people cling to the old ways and refuse to change. Others are adapting quickly and are capitalizing on the change, becoming rich in ways they never had been able to before. Some refuse to get mowed down and even though it's hard, they're plowing right into the new world, determined to use it to their advantage. But no matter who we are, the change is having an effect on our relationships, the way we view others, the way we view ourselves, how we work and how we live. Despite the difficulties of transition, the change promises a brighter tomorrow.

See the connection? That entire paragraph could describe either the Civil War or our current transition into the digital age.

So I'm going to focus on change and look at how each of the characters adapted to it. I might also look at how the story itself has been and is being adapted to fit our time. I'm excited to dig deeper into this book!