scarletpeaches
Banned
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2005
- Messages
- 47,985
- Reaction score
- 13,245
You don't have to like Scarlett; few people do - the whole point is that she's interesting. And she definitely did grow throughout the book.I can't admire Scarlett; I just don't admire egoism in any form and shape, no matrer how succesful it turns out to be. I do like the way she got Tara back on its feet but I wanted to see character growth, change, more softness coming in. I can get a woman not wanting children, but I don't get (or admire) a woman having a child and not loving it.
You don't have to like Scarlett; few people do - the whole point is that she's interesting. And she definitely did grow throughout the book.
And plenty of women had children they didn't love in days when there was very little you could do to stop them happening.
. But you can't love on demand. I don't care if a child came out of your body. Love is not automatic.
I think this is what I would do. I would hope.I think back then women didn't even consider whether they wanted babies or not -- they just happened, and with most mothers love does kick in automatically. If it doesn't? Well, at the very least, you can care for the child as if you did love it, simply because you know you should; the child didn't ask to be born any more than you asked to have it, or make sure it is well looked after; for certain, the baseline is do no harm.
But at best: it's possible to learn to love, if you try really hard, and really want to. I wouldn't expect a woman of Scarlett's character to do this, though...
I hate to admit this in a forum full of indomitable Americans (and Scotswomen!) but I'm a great admirer of the Melanie-type character -- those of quiet, unobtrusive, background strength. In real life they are often the ones who win through and support everyone else.