In Defence of Rhett Butler: The Last Real Man Scarlett and the World Lost
In Defence of Rhett Butler: The Last Real Man Scarlett and the World Lost
Gone with the Wind is not merely a Civil War tableau or a gathering-dust classic. To my mind, it is a hard-hitting psychological drama concerning female blindness, and simultaneously world literature’s greatest homage to the Real Man. Yes, you read that correctly. Not to the pale, unviable romanticism of Ashley Wilkes, but to the allegedly cynical, seemingly thoroughly corrupt Rhett Butler.
It is time to set the record straight, through a ruthless, clear female gaze, walking the rocky path of realisation.
Scarlett’s Blindness and the True Haven
Scarlett O’Hara is, without a doubt, a survivor who would land on her feet anywhere. Her sheer survival instinct, toughness, and resourcefulness are to be respected, but let us be frank: emotionally, she remained an endlessly petulant, selfish persona almost to the very end. She chased her own girlish illusions whilst continually overlooking true value.
When speaking of safety, there was only one rock in Scarlett’s life who represented unconditional, almost blood-bound maternal love and goodwill: Mammy. It was she who saw through all of Scarlett’s manipulations, yet still held her soul together.
And who was the other?
The man Scarlett almost never truly noticed.
The Charmer: Rhett Butler
Rhett Butler was an outcast of society; on the surface, a corrupted, opportunistic, cynical figure. But if we look behind the facade, we see the most outstanding male ideal in world literature. Rhett used cynicism as a shield, but beneath it lay a raw, brutally honest man, who possessed an incredible charm, straightforwardness, and—what is rare—a true spine.
He was the only one who loved not a fabricated ideal, but the real, deeply flawed Scarlett. The one she could always nestle against, the one she could count on in the greatest of storms, and the one who would have given her everything, had she only let him. And here we must clear up the greatest injustice: the loss of their shared child, Bonnie Blue, was an insurmountable tragedy of fate, but it was not Rhett’s fault! As a father, he showed an overwhelming, deep, and pure devotion that shamefully few acknowledged throughout the story. Scarlett’s greatest sin was that she only truly wanted to embrace this strength when the man was already hollowed out, finally closing the door behind him.
Where Are We Today? The Vanishing of Real Men
Why is Rhett Butler’s tale so painful today, in the 21st century? Because if we look around, we must admit a highly divisive yet bitter truth: this sort of man practically no longer exists.
The world is heading in the wrong direction. That primal strength, that steadfast stance which Rhett embodied, has faded from modern society. But before we point the finger solely at men, we women must also look in the mirror. This world has been ruined, in part, by women taking over men's space, and unfortunately, the men allowed it to happen. They let themselves become emasculated. They bowed to expectations, lost their raw, honest backbone, and handed over the reins.
It is time to say it out loud: men need to step up to the mark! They must reclaim that strength, decisiveness, and fortitude that a woman can look up to. Because a woman, however independent and strong she may be, like Scarlett, deep down yearns for that security, for that straight spine, beside whom she can finally lay down her weapons, and finally just be a woman again.
Let us learn from Scarlett O’Hara’s mistake. Let us notice the real man before it is too late, and we receive that chilling, final answer:
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
