3.2.6
Gone With the Wind
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind
- Gone with the Wind was a novel released in 1936. It was written by Margaret Mitchell and set during the Civil War. Despite the contemporary controversy over its racist content, the book became a best-seller and won prizes for literature.
Plot
Plot
- Scarlett, the main character of the book is attacked by a black man as she drives through a predominately black neighbourhood.
- The KKK seeks revenge and the black character, Frank is killed.
- The film depicts a family of slaves that even when slavery ended, were willing to stay with their white family.
- This was criticised for portraying black people as subservient and reinforcing stereotypes.
Criticism
Criticism
- Gone with the Wind used language within it such as ‘nigger’ and ‘darky’.
- Some argued this was acceptable because it was set in the Civil War when this language was used.
- There was much opposition to the use of these words and to the way that black people were represented within the book.
- Mitchell was also criticised for writing favourably about the KKK, albeit indicating slight disagreement with some of their activities.
- The book also depicted white people's prejudice and fears about black people's freedom and their fears about sexual violence on white women.
- The book even went as far as to suggest that black people would not be able to care for themselves the way that their white owners had.
Film adaptation
Film adaptation
- In 1937, David Selznick made the book into a film.
- Selznick, the producer of the film, received much criticism from black communities when it was released as the film glorified old, racist views on slavery.
- Selznick did agree to make some changes in line with the campaigners' requests such as cutting out the word 'nigger' despite it appearing in the book.
- This reflected a small change in social attitudes toward black people.
Plot adaptation
Plot adaptation
- Selznick also changed the race of the attacker in the story.
- In the film, the attacker was a white man and the black man was a bystander.
- Selznick also cut out the heavy romanticisation of the KKK.
Reception of the film
Reception of the film
- Some premieres for the film in the south did not allow black people to attend.
- Opinions about the film were mixed:
- White, southern audiences generally liked the film, yet there were protests from black people.
- Whilst some black people praised the inclusion of black actors in the film, this did not excuse the racist tone of the film.
- Overall, the film did well in spite of the contested issue of race.
Other messages in the film
Other messages in the film
- Some argue that we should consider other key storylines when trying to explain the popularity of Gone with the Wind.
- The novel and the film showed hope during a time of economic depression.
- Scarlett famously says ‘tomorrow is another day’.
- The film remains the highest-rated film ever shown on TV.
1‘Free at Last’ 1865-77
1.1The Thirteenth Amendment
1.2Radical Reconstruction, 1867-77
2The Triumph of ‘Jim Crow’ 1883-c1890
2.1Jim Crow Laws & Civil Rights Cases
3The New Deal and Race Relations, 1933–41
3.1Failure to Address Black Grievances
3.2The New Deal
3.3The Second World War
4‘I have a dream’, 1954–68
4.1Civil Rights Activities, 1954–63
4.2Civil Rights 1964-68
4.3Malcolm X & The Black Panthers
5Obama's Campaign for the Presidency, 2004–09
5.1The Late 20th Century
5.2Barack Obama & his Political Career
5.3Reasons for Obama's Victory
Jump to other topics
1‘Free at Last’ 1865-77
1.1The Thirteenth Amendment
1.2Radical Reconstruction, 1867-77
2The Triumph of ‘Jim Crow’ 1883-c1890
2.1Jim Crow Laws & Civil Rights Cases
3The New Deal and Race Relations, 1933–41
3.1Failure to Address Black Grievances
3.2The New Deal
3.3The Second World War
4‘I have a dream’, 1954–68
4.1Civil Rights Activities, 1954–63
4.2Civil Rights 1964-68
4.3Malcolm X & The Black Panthers
5Obama's Campaign for the Presidency, 2004–09
5.1The Late 20th Century
5.2Barack Obama & his Political Career
5.3Reasons for Obama's Victory
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