“Melanie had the face of a sheltered child who had never known anything but simplicity and kindness, truth and love, a child who had never looked upon harshness or evil and would not recognize them if she saw them. Because she had always been happy, she wanted everyone about her to be happy or, at least, pleased with themselves. To this end, she always saw the best in everyone and remarked kindly upon it. There was no servant so stupid that she did not find some redeeming trait of loyalty and kind heartedness, no girl so ugly and disagreeable that she could not discover grace of form or nobility of character in her, and no man so worthless or so boring that she did not view him in the light of his possibilities rather than his actualities. Because of these qualities that came sincerely and spontaneously from a generous heart, everyone flocked about her, for who can resist the charm of one who discovers in others admirable qualities undreamed of even by himself? She had more girl friends than anyone in town and more men friends too, though she had few beaux for she lacked the willfulness and selfishness that go far toward trapping men's hearts. What Melanie did was no more than all Southern girls were taught to do-to make those about them feel at ease and pleased with themselves. It was this happy feminine conspiracy which made Southern society so pleasant. Women knew that a land where men were contented, uncontradicted and safe in possession of unpunctured vanity was likely to be a very pleasant place for women to live. So, from the cradle to the grave, women strove to make men pleased with themselves, and the satisfied men repaid lavishly with gallantry and adoration. In fact, men willingly gave the ladies everything in the world except credit for having intelligence. Scarlett exercised the same charms as Melanie but with a studied artistry and consummate skill. The difference between the two girls lay in the fact that Melanie spoke kind and flattering words from a desire to make people happy, if only temporarily, and Scarlett never did it except to further her own aims.”
Quote by Margaret Mitchell
Work
Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind' is a sweeping historical romance that follows the adventures of Scarlett O'Hara, a headstrong and ambitious woman living in the American South. The story spans the tumultuous years of the Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction era, capturing the social and political changes that reshape the lives of its characters. Known for its vivid portrayal of the antebellum South and its characters, the novel has become a staple of American literature. more
Author
Margaret Mitchell, an American author born on November 8, 1900, and died on August 16, 1949, is best known for her novel 'Gone with the Wind'. This historical novel, set against the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction, has won the hearts of readers worldwide. more
You May Also Like
“The Universe can exist without intelligence. it cannot exist without compassion.”
“Thoughts and prayers do not mean much, unless they are accompanied by action”