Gone With The Wind analysis PDF

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Daniela Saenz ENG3310 Ms. Williams 1/30/2018

Gone with The Wind: Film Analysis

After watching Gone with The Wind, which was directed by Victor Fleming and came out in 1939, I now know why this movie was such a success and was considered a classic historical film in every aspect it presented. As this movie was based off the book Gone with the Wind written by Margaret Mitchell, I definitely can sense that this movie was made with a lot of background pressure and needed to be executed as a prominent film of the Golden Age. As this is a coming to age movie with the plot revolving around Miss Scarlett O’Hara, a southern belle, and her life though the turmoil of the Civil War and the relationships she fosters in, whether it was a lover, friend, or foe, it touches base with the historical setting. Wrapping it up to the main tone, it is a very melodramatic film that consists of racial prejudice, sexism, love, sexual desires, gender assignments, war and death. The movie is very dated as it depicts the truths of the reality at the time which obviously would piss off a lot of people, yet its relevancy tried to maintain its accuracy. Being filmed in the 1930’s, this was a horrible time if you weren’t a white male as black people and women were heavily oppressed. The depiction of slavery of the antebellum South in Georgia was quite cringeworthy but it was the situation as the time, therefore the stereotypes were exceedingly highlighted. As racism in America was at its peak, the black characters in the film were displayed in a manner that was unfair. For example, the character Prissy who plays the young slave. Playing the most offensive character, she is extremely sensitive and acts out for the stupidest things, annoying, uneducated, and a liar. Being a caricature of a women, she displays the “black people must be slaves because they don’t function properly” notion. Then there is Pork, who is the male slave and is depicted as stupid, lost, and becomes overwhelmed and panics for the simplest tasks. Clearly displaying a character that can’t manage everyday functions. Big Sam’s character is someone with a very broken down simplistic language and evidently uneducated. But then, switching to a more positive portrayal, there is Mammy who is by far one of my favorite characters in the film. She plays her role with such wise sensitivity. Even though she is depicted as the house-maid, she is more than that. She is basically the maternal figure for Scarlett and ultimately her back bone as she puts her in her place when the time is appropriate. Her character was a nuance to Hollywood, which makes sense why she ended up winning the Academy Award for “Best Supporting Actress” and being the first African American women to do so. Another focus I want to point out about the film is the way women are portrayed. Scarlett being the protagonist, plays such an extraordinary role. The director couldn’t have picked a better actress. Her characteristics include being divine and feisty but also flawed as she is very manipulative, immature, selfish, and will do absolutely anything to get her way. But her gutsy ways of being and her determination is what really stands out the most to the audience. Despite all the horrific scenes of Georgia being destroyed, all the people dying and the intimidation of the Yankees, her bravery really resonates when usually that isn’t a women’s mannerism. She never wants to appear weak, especially throughout her relationships, especially with Rhett Butler. But

Daniela Saenz ENG3310 Ms. Williams 1/30/2018 the rise of her character and Mammy’s character is what really changed the game in Hollywood and is what I appreciate the most in this film....