Anyone wanted Scarlett to slap Melanie - Gone with the Wind (1940) Discussion

[–] rrb_1 9 years ago

Exactly. Melanie's a poorly written character, even in the book - a 2-dimensional creation meant only to contrast with Scarlett. We have no sense of why she is the way she is, or her inner life. We just know she's "too good to be true".

This observation will probably bring the wrath of posters who imagine the movie to be flawless and one of the great works of art, vs. the very good film and first-class entertainment it is.

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[–] Mayesgwtw39 9 years ago

No wrath here, but perhaps I think your conception of great art might be rigid, while agreeing that your comment that its a "very good film and first-class entertainment" is quite correct.

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[–] GoodSOVeryVeryGood 9 years ago

Sickeningly sweet … just made you want to smack her so hard … hard I say !!

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[–] purple_honey1 9 years ago

Melanie CHECKED India in that Shantytown raid scene.

That scene displayed an assertive, and surprisingly aggressive side of her we had yet to see at that point in the film. She threatened to throw India out of the house if she uttered another word to Scarlett. I don't think she's as one-dimensional and saccharine as many are implying...

_________
Cheers!

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[–] LukeLovesFilm28 8 years ago

It's a timeless and inspirational film. It has to be a great piece of art to stand the test of time so well.

Get off your soapbox while I play you a tune on the tiniest violin.

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[–] snsurone 9 years ago

Melanie was much more saccharine in the novel.
At least the movie's Melly showed great strength of character, especially in the scene at her home right after the raid on Shantytown.

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[–] Forlorn_Rage 9 years ago

The only time in the movie Melanie really annoyed me was the scene in Charleston where everyone was gathering to look at the MIA/KIA lists. When Scarlett showed relief at Ashley's being alive, Melanie automatically assumed that Scarlett showed relief for Ashley for her sake. 

Even if Scarlett wasn't in love with Ashley, it shouldn't be unusual for her to show relief at the thought of her brother in law/childhood friend being alive without it being misconstrued for the sake of comforting another woman.

Come to think of it, despite Melanie being "too good to be true," a lot of times she would automatically assume that whatever Scarlett did was for her *her* sake. It made Melanie look very obnoxious and self-centered. Oh the irony!

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[–] snsurone 9 years ago

I disagree; Melanie was anything BUT self-centered and obnoxious.
And in the movie at least, Melanie, on her deathbed, revealed that she knew Scarlett took care of her for Ashley's sake: "Look after him for me, just as you looked after me…for him."

Of course, this raises the argument again if Melanie was aware of Scarlett's feelings for Ashley.
IMO, she was, but didn't feel threatened because she knew her husband really loved her.

And BTW, the "casualty list" scene took place in Atlanta, not Charleston.

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[–] lrdcharlton 9 years ago

I always believed that she was aware that Scarlette had feelings for him, but was not aware of the duration those feelings were or the severity. I beieve that while knowing that Ashey loved his wife and never do anything with Scarette, she thought Scarlette would never attempt anything with Ashley. Thats one of the reasons why she wouldn't even entertain the notion and believe that something had occured at the mill. Though we know otherwise, toward the end of the book, when the incedent between Ashley and Scarlette occurd, Scarlette was very concerned about what Melanie thought. Not because of her reputation, but simply what Melanie would think of her, Idk maybe im wrong.

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[–] winy68 9 years ago

Very well said!!

It could be the blackness within those whom question the light in others

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[–] LainieBlueEyes 9 years ago

Forlorn Rage, I like Melanie in general, but that scene with the lists aggravates me, too. Scarlett has known Ashley all her life; he's her friend and neighbor, so of course she can be worried about Ashley for his own sake.

I think it's stupid of Melanie to think it's all on her behalf. 

As much as I love this movie (and I really really REALLY love this movie!), I can't roll my eyes hard enough at Melanie in that scene. 

LBE

*****
On your feet, Sam.

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[–] Forlorn_Rage 9 years ago

Forlorn Rage, I like Melanie in general, but that scene with the lists aggravates me, too. Scarlett has known Ashley all her life; he's her friend and neighbor, so of course she can be worried about Ashley for his own sake.

I think it's stupid of Melanie to think it's all on her behalf.

As much as I love this movie (and I really really REALLY love this movie!), I can't roll my eyes hard enough at Melanie in that scene.

I'm glad you agree. No matter how many times I watch the movie, that scene never fails to irritate me.

It's not even like Ashley was the only one Scarlett showed concern for. She was sad that both Tarleton twins were gone as well. But, I suppose that was for the sake of their dates at the ball as well, nevermind that Scarlett (or the audience) hardly even knew them!

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[–] LainieBlueEyes 9 years ago

>>>But, I suppose that was for the sake of their dates at the ball as well>>>

You win the board today!
  

LBE

*****
On your feet, Sam.

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[–] snsurone 9 years ago

I agree that was a weak part in the movie.
But IMO, Melanie more than made up for it when she tried to comfort the grieving Meades on the death of their older son and then upbraided the younger one when he said he would enlist.

As readers of the book know, young Phil Meade was drafted into the Army and was killed.
I don't know how Dr. and Mrs. Meade coped, with both sons dead.

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[–] thispropertyiscondemned 9 years ago

She was annoying!

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[–] fairy_depp 9 years ago

I didn't find her annoying - there really are some people who are just thoughtful and kind and put others before themselves. I didn't feel that she was one dimensional, she was just a decent person which Rhett and Scarlett aren't. I don't think she was naive though - she knew her husband and Scarlett had a mutual attraction but she knew the marriage to Ashley was the right thing and so she was happy to just turn a blind eye to it. I personally thought Ashley was one of the most annoying characters - if only he has been honest with Scarlett from the start, hopefully she wouldn't have been waiting on him her whole life

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[–] Jrdmln 9 years ago

I did not find Melanie annoying. I thought that she was a nice character. She saw the good in everyone. She may have known that Scarlett had feelings for Ashley. It is not known for sure if she knew or not. If she did know, she not care because she knows that Ashley would never cheat on her. Melanie is one of the nicest characters in the movie.

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[–] snsurone 9 years ago

"…she was just a decent person which Rhett and Scarlett weren't."

But at least, Rhett was aware of that fact, even from the very beginning of the story.
Scarlett was totally blind to her own faults, to the point of calling herself a "great lady".

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[–] fleurfairy 9 years ago

I think Melanie was too good for Ashley. She was strong, where he was weak. She was honest, where he was dishonest and evasive. Ashley was a loser, let's face it. If it wasn't for Melanie and Scarlett, he would have starved to death. One of the scenes that always stands out in regards to Ashley is when Scarlett goes to him for help in trying to raise the money for Tara's taxes. At this point, Scarlett has saved his wife's life not to mention given them all a home and what little food they had, and Ashley is all too willing to throw in the towel. I just want to shake Scarlett and say "THIS is what you're in love with?"

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[–] snsurone 9 years ago

Well, it must be understood that at that time, Ashley was penniless and didn't have the $300 needed to pay the taxes on Tara.
But I do agree on one thing: Scarlett went to him for help and he turned the entire conversation to focus on HIM and HIS troubles. No wonder Scarlett looked bored to tears in that scene!
But if he had any sense of manhood at all, he would have done whatever possible to get the money instead of throwing the responsibility on Scarlett. He even admitted as much after Scarlett made a loveless marriage to Frank Kennedy in order to save Tara, permanently estranging her from her sister.
At this point, Scarlett should have just let him go to New York with his family.
Good riddance!

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[–] fleurfairy 9 years ago

Totally agree!

"I should have committed highway robbery to get you that money." No sh*t Ashley! Hindsight sure is 20/20 isn't it??

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[–] angelosdaughter 9 years ago

Ashley knew his weaknesses and that Melanie was his strength, and she knew it, too. He was an idealist and and a dreamer and would always live in his books and in the past. In a way, she was that way, too. They were as Ashley said, of the same blood, and the same mindset, but unlike him, Melanie could rise to live in the real world. Ashley and Melanie were the couple best matched to each other. I always felt that Ashley never turned Scarlett away, even though he did manage to keep her at arm's distance emotionally, because of his old fashioned honor that would keep him from embarrassing a lady. It should be noted that Ashley usually turned their conversations to his wife and even asked Scarlett to take care of her. On her deathbed Melanie asks Scarlett to watch over Ashley.Their love was for each other. I don't think Ashley ever seriously considered Scarlett as a lover; he just didn't want to hurt her by openly rebuffing her.

I could be a morning person if morning happened at noon.

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[–] angelosdaughter 9 years ago

Melanie was the perfect Southern gentlewoman of her time. She was as Rhett described her in the book: too good to conceive of evil in anyone she loved, or words to that effect.

I could be a morning person if morning happened at noon.

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] Twilight33 9 years ago

While the movie hints a bit at all this, the character of Melanie is much more complex in the book. Just like Scarlett, Melanie is not entirely one-dimensional. For example, remember the scene where Scarlett shoots the Yankee? Melanie runs over w/ Wade's sword and then Scarlett marvels at what a "cool liar" Melly is when she covers for Scarlett and lies to the O'Hara's about what the girls were doing in the house.

Also, there's the whole episode with the Shantytown raid, in which Melanie also displays a bit of cunning as well as some bitchiness towards India, lol.

There's also Ashley's birthday scene where it's ambiguous as to whether Melly really believes Scarlett is entirely innocent, or if Melly is laying her sweetness on extra think in order to "kill her with kindness," so to speak.

In addition, the book makes it clear that Melanie enjoys...umm...intimate relations more so than Scarlett, whereas you'd think it would be the other way around. The scene where Ashley comes home on leave at Christmas and he and Melly are walking to the bedroom...the book makes it clear that Melly is really looking forward to a good time, which makes Scarlett's jealousy go off the charts, haha.

So while Melanie is at times almost impossibly good, she is not one-dimensional and the book makes this much more clear.

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[–] lrdcharlton 8 years ago

There's also Ashley's birthday scene where it's ambiguous as to whether Melly really believes Scarlett is entirely innocent, or if Melly is laying her sweetness on extra think in order to "kill her with kindness," so to speak.

What do you mean? Melanie wasnt the type to do something like that so it should never be considered that she was putting on an act to guilt Scarlett or whatever you think she would have done.

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