Read books by AWers!

Welcome to the AbsoluteWrite Water Cooler! Please read The Newbie Guide To Absolute Write

editing for authors ad

A publisher or agency using Google ads to solicit your novel probably isn't anyone you want to write for.


Go Back   Absolute Write Water Cooler > Pop Culture > AW Bookclub
Reload this Page Gone With the Wind
Register FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Reply
Page 5 of 6 1234 5 6
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-23-2010, 08:25 PM   #101
Queen of Swords
starting over
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto. Gotta love it.
Posts: 7,062
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by HelloKiddo View Post
And his trippin' because he couldn't change her is irrational. It's my belief you don't change a person by marrying them.
I agree. I would never recommend marrying someone in the hopes that they will change.

On the other hand, to him it was a calculated gamble. He wagered that if Scarlett married someone who was like her, someone who understood her and protected her and gave her everything she wanted, she would start to fall in love. I don't see that as being so irrational (he didn't need her to stop working or drinking, just to relinquish a crush she'd begun as a teenager). Rhett had gambled and taken risks before, so he tried it one last time, and lost.
__________________



Before the Storm: science, sex and sorcery in a medieval world. Samhain Publishing. Ebook and paperback. Read Chapter 1!

The Deepest Ocean: contracted to Samhain!
Last edited by Queen of Swords; 10-23-2010 at 08:28 PM.
Queen of Swords is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 08:27 PM   #102
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
And of course, there was his line about never being able to resist a lost cause.
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 08:38 PM   #103
HelloKiddo
bemused observer
 
HelloKiddo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 777
HelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of light
Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen of Swords View Post
On the other hand, to him it was a calculated gamble. He wagered that if Scarlett married someone who was like her, someone who understood her and protected her and gave her everything she wanted, she would start to fall in love. I don't see that as being so irrational. Rhett had gambled and taken risks before, so he tried it one last time, and lost.
I agree with everything except the underlined part. It is irrational to believe you can change someone by marrying them. He took a chance for love and lost. I can't hate him for that, but I can't hate Scarlett for not changing herself and becoming his doting dream girl.

But the point I was making is that his behavior was controlling and, so far as I understand it, it in fact is the type of behavior that abusers exhibit. One of my friend's mother had Battered Woman's Syndrome and the type of behaviors my friend described sound similar to what Rhett did--"punishing" her, publicly humiliating her, becoming extremely jealous.

Whether or not Scarlett deserved it is, in my mind, not the point. Adults don't punish each other for misbehaving. That's what parents to do children.

As for Rhett's cheating being different because Scarlett was withholding sex--*whistles*. Madam, we do not agree.
HelloKiddo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 08:40 PM   #104
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
You're judging a 19th century man by 21st century standards.
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 08:48 PM   #105
HelloKiddo
bemused observer
 
HelloKiddo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 777
HelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of light
Quote:
Originally Posted by scarletpeaches View Post
You're judging a 19th century man by 21st century standards.
How's that?
HelloKiddo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 08:54 PM   #106
Queen of Swords
starting over
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto. Gotta love it.
Posts: 7,062
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by HelloKiddo View Post
As for Rhett's cheating being different because Scarlett was withholding sex--*whistles*. Madam, we do not agree.
As I said, the book established that he saw physical and emotional infidelity in different ways. If it was acceptable for Scarlett to cheat on him in every way but the physical one and then withhold sex so she could pretend she was being faithful to Ashley instead, then it should have been equally acceptable for him to go to Belle Watling.

Quote:
the type of behaviors my friend described sound similar to what Rhett did--"punishing" her, publicly humiliating her, becoming extremely jealous.
Just as Scarlett also "punished" Rhett and publicly humiliated him. Plus, her calling him a drunken fool and telling him to take his hands off her didn't seem to indicate that she was cowed by his behavior.
__________________



Before the Storm: science, sex and sorcery in a medieval world. Samhain Publishing. Ebook and paperback. Read Chapter 1!

The Deepest Ocean: contracted to Samhain!
Queen of Swords is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 08:58 PM   #107
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by HelloKiddo View Post
How's that?
Really, the difference in Rhett's cheating being okay and Scarlett's...not.

I actually agree with you in that what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

However...by the standards of the day, men's needs were seen as...well, needs. They had to get sex somewhere.

Plus, of course, Rhett's infidelity was sexual. Scarlett's? Emotional. Hypocritical of society, yes, absolutely, but at the time, emotional infidelity - and for a woman, shock horror - would have been judged as somehow 'worse'.
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 08:59 PM   #108
aruna
On a wing and a prayer
 
aruna's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: A Small Town in Germany
Posts: 11,331
aruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by scarletpeaches View Post
I adore him. From the way he encouraged her to thumb her nose at polite society to the way he accepted her fear of the dark. A childish, irrational fear, but he didn't mock his wife - he comforted her.

And as...oh, I forget the character's name...pointed out, no man who loved a child as much as Cap'n Butler loved Bonnie, could be all bad.
It was a long time ago I last read GWTW so I don't remember the details, but I do remember that I loved Rhett and loathed Scarlett; but wanted to see Rhett's love melt her into a loving him back. There is such a soft core to him, and it's that I adored. In her I only see naked ambition and selfishness; there's nothing behind it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen of Swords View Post
Rhett gave Mammy a gift even when she treated him coldly and disapproved of him. He went out of his way to make Wade feel loved and wanted after Bonnie's birth - how many fathers of that time would be so sensitive to their stepkids' feelings? He always treated Melanie with respect.
.
This.
__________________
Goodreads Author Page

Eeyore: “This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated, if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it.”«
- A.A.Milne
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
- Gandhi
aruna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:05 PM   #109
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Regarding Scarlett's hard core, something in the book struck me as monumentally sexist. (Well, much of it did, but to a point, Mitchell acknowledged its inherent sexism).

An older woman told Scarlett that a woman should always have something to be scared of. If she was scared of nothing, she'd become hard, scare men away.

It reminds me of a girlfriend telling me I shouldn't be so independent; men need to know you need them. A 21st century woman reflecting a book set in the 19th century. Plus ca change...
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:07 PM   #110
Stlight
ideas are floating where they will
 
Stlight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: where you can put sugar sprinkles on lots of things
Posts: 1,725
Stlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
[QUOTE=Queen of Swords;5443496]Imagine how you would feel if you heard that your husband or wife had been caught tenderly embracing someone else.

Now imagine you knew that your husband or wife was infatuated with that person, rather than returning your love for him or her. This isn't even getting into the fact that it was set in a historical time when hugging someone who wasn't married to you would be a big deal.

Rhett visited Bell while he was married to Scarlett, but that was partly because Scarlett refused to have sex with him and partly because he knew Bell genuinely cared about him and respected him.


Yes, now I get the embrace business, I did not get it when I read the book when I was 13.

Too bad she didn't have another form of birth control other than not doing it. Of course if she'd had 10 or 12 kids he might have left anyway.
Stlight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:08 PM   #111
Queen of Swords
starting over
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto. Gotta love it.
Posts: 7,062
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by aruna View Post
In her I only see naked ambition and selfishness; there's nothing behind it.
She did love her parents, though - so much that it broke her heart to come home and find Ellen dead and Gerald a mental wreck. She loved Tara enough to sell herself if it kept the land.

And Ashley... well, she could have abandoned Melanie and fled when the Yankees invaded, but she didn't because she gave Ashley her word that she would look after his wife. She hated doing it and she hated Melanie, but she kept Ashley's wife and child safe for him even though it put her own life at risk.

Towards the end of the book, she finally realized how much Melanie meant to her - and then, just as she had once promised Ashley she would take care of his wife, she promised Melanie to take care of her husband. This being after she realized that she didn't really love Ashley and that he would always be a millstone around her neck.

Scarlett is selfish and ambitious, absolutely. But this is why I think there's far more to her than just those qualities.
__________________



Before the Storm: science, sex and sorcery in a medieval world. Samhain Publishing. Ebook and paperback. Read Chapter 1!

The Deepest Ocean: contracted to Samhain!
Queen of Swords is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:10 PM   #112
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Scarlett also killed to protect those whom (and that which) she loved. That'll do something to a woman.
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:21 PM   #113
Stlight
ideas are floating where they will
 
Stlight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: where you can put sugar sprinkles on lots of things
Posts: 1,725
Stlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsStlight is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Hellokiddo has explained to me why I hated Rhett when I read the book. At 13 I didn't have the 'read the book in terms of it's era' going.

I was told Melanie was right, Scarlett was wrong.

Now, with these explainations I see Scarlett's greatest flaw war marrying Rhett when he loved her and she didn't love him. Did she know he loved her? If she didn't that changes everything and makes it okay for her to have married him. But he changed the deal.

Yes, in that time and maybe now, if you marry someone you act like a proper wife. Here her conflict is that Rhett is all about 'we don't have to be proper, we are different' except when he didn't want her to be different.

Still not liking him. Even if his actions were acceptable for the time, not liking the punishing her for - basically - failing to fall in love with him.

The question, I suppose, comes down to this. Can people force themselves to fall in love because someone else wants them to or because it's convient? Is this a voluntary or involuntary emotion?
Stlight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:27 PM   #114
HelloKiddo
bemused observer
 
HelloKiddo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 777
HelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of light
Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen of Swords View Post
Just as Scarlett also "punished" Rhett and publicly humiliated him. Plus, her calling him a drunken fool and telling him to take his hands off her didn't seem to indicate that she was cowed by his behavior.
I'm finding it disturbing that in response to comments that Rhett's behavior was controlling and inappropriate I keep hearing, "But she was bad too/but he did good stuff too" In abusive relationships, it goes back and forth. People egg each other on, bait them.

Examples we've all seen: Rhianna was aggravating and picking on Chris Brown, taunting him and threatening him before he attacked her. It doesn't change the fact that he attacked her. And I'm reminded of Mel Gibson's tapes and the comments that came after. People kept saying, "She was pressing his buttons, setting him up." Yes she did...he threatened to kill her and hit her while she was holding their baby. NO excusing that. Not even when his ex wife came forward and said he was a good guy to her...again...not the point how he was with someone else.

Also FTR I'm not arguing that Rhett actually harmed Scarlett, only that his behavior showed some of the qualities abusers have. It stopped, I guess, before it got serious and he actually harmed her, but the behaviors were there.

Quote:
Originally Posted by scarletpeaches View Post
However...by the standards of the day, men's needs were seen as...well, needs. They had to get sex somewhere.
Abusive behavior is acceptable in many cultures and throughout many periods in history. It's still abusive behavior, whether culturally acceptable at the time or not. Also, how is that different from today? Maybe in your part of the world. Not in mine.
HelloKiddo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:27 PM   #115
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Good point about "Be different except for when I want you to conform."

Did Scarlett know Rhett loved her? I think she thought he liked her. She was fun. They were alike. He was rich, could give her everything she wanted. Perhaps she assumed they both felt nothing more than affection for the other.

Remember her father saying "Like must marry like," for there to be any success in a marriage.

I'm going to read this book again, definitely.
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:30 PM   #116
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by HelloKiddo View Post
Abusive behavior is acceptable in many cultures and throughout many periods in history. It's still abusive behavior, whether culturally acceptable at the time or not. Also, how is that different from today? Maybe in your part of the world. Not in mine.
My part of the world does not judge 19th century people by 21st century standards.

I am puzzled by the apparent willingness to judge Rhett more harshly than Scarlett for apparent 'abuse', when she was as bad as him.

Note I said as bad as. Not better or worse than.
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:44 PM   #117
aruna
On a wing and a prayer
 
aruna's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: A Small Town in Germany
Posts: 11,331
aruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsaruna is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen of Swords View Post

Towards the end of the book, she finally realized how much Melanie meant to her - and then, just as she had once promised Ashley she would take care of his wife, she promised Melanie to take care of her husband. This being after she realized that she didn't really love Ashley and that he would always be a millstone around her neck.

Scarlett is selfish and ambitious, absolutely. But this is why I think there's far more to her than just those qualities.

OK, like I said t was a long time ago, I was young an inexperiensed, and maybe I did see only that one dimension of her. I do have an instinctive dislike of women who think they can get other women's men simply because they WANT them, and go about trying to get them. Because I was that girl who lost her boyfriends to girls like that; girls who were loud and obnoxious but somehow men fell for them!
I should have been happy with the fact that Ashley didn't fall for her; that was incredibly satisfying, actually. Like I said, I preferred Melanie...
OK. I said in my first post that I admired her fighting to save Tara and the folk who depended on her, and I still do.
__________________
Goodreads Author Page

Eeyore: “This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated, if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it.”«
- A.A.Milne
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
- Gandhi
aruna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 09:47 PM   #118
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
In such instances, I always say, "You can't steal a man who doesn't want to be stolen." So, if such a woman can steal your man...let him go. He's not worth your time.

Ashley, though? Oh, he wanted her. Trouble is, he was scared of her too.

I really, really need to work on Mount TBR, but damn...Scarlett, she calls me...

Also, whenever someone says in this thread, "Scarlett's a bitch!" I think, "Hey now, what have I...oh, wait, for once they're not talking about me."
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 10:16 PM   #119
Queen of Swords
starting over
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto. Gotta love it.
Posts: 7,062
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by HelloKiddo View Post
I'm finding it disturbing that in response to comments that Rhett's behavior was controlling and inappropriate I keep hearing, "But she was bad too/but he did good stuff too" In abusive relationships, it goes back and forth. People egg each other on, bait them.
Maybe part of the reason you're hearing that is that people are trying to explain why they like Rhett as a character. We can't really explain that by saying, "He did certain inconsiderate things, therefore we like him", so we explain it by saying, "He did certain inconsiderate things, but these are his reasons and these are his far better qualities, and therefore we like him."

Quote:
Abusive behavior is acceptable in many cultures and throughout many periods in history. It's still abusive behavior, whether culturally acceptable at the time or not.
I don't see how it's reasonable to judge the people of a different culture and time period by our own standards. If we do so, shouldn't we also conclude that Scarlett's entire society was being controlling and abusive towards her by telling her that women shouldn't go into business to support their families?
__________________



Before the Storm: science, sex and sorcery in a medieval world. Samhain Publishing. Ebook and paperback. Read Chapter 1!

The Deepest Ocean: contracted to Samhain!
Queen of Swords is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 10:23 PM   #120
Queen of Swords
starting over
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto. Gotta love it.
Posts: 7,062
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by aruna View Post
OK. I said in my first post that I admired her fighting to save Tara and the folk who depended on her, and I still do.
Sorry, aruna, I didn't mean to overlook that - just responding to the comment that there was nothing more to her than selfishness and ambition.

The end of the book made it clear that Ashley was physically attracted to her. But being Ashley, he expressed that attraction in hearts-and-roses terms that made her believe he really did love her, when in reality the only woman for him was Melanie.
__________________



Before the Storm: science, sex and sorcery in a medieval world. Samhain Publishing. Ebook and paperback. Read Chapter 1!

The Deepest Ocean: contracted to Samhain!
Queen of Swords is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 10:48 PM   #121
HelloKiddo
bemused observer
 
HelloKiddo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 777
HelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of light
Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen of Swords View Post
Maybe part of the reason you're hearing that is that people are trying to explain why they like Rhett as a character. We can't really explain that by saying, "He did certain inconsiderate things, therefore we like him", so we explain it by saying, "He did certain inconsiderate things, but these are his reasons and these are his far better qualities, and therefore we like him."
Point taken. IMO explaining a person's reasons for bad behavior is not acceptable to me. It reads to me like excusing someone's behavior, but we all see it our own way.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen of Swords View Post
I don't see how it's reasonable to judge the people of a different culture and time period by our own standards.
I'm not judging anybody. Not sure why that word keeps coming up. Making a statement is not judging.

I don't claim to be an expert on the cultural norms of nineteenth century Georgia, but is it incorrect to say that the behavioral patterns that lead to domestic abuse were similar if not the same for that period in history? If so, I'll accept that perhaps he was not exhibiting a behavioral pattern consistent with that of a potential abuser. I'll also accept that I am wrong about the behavioral patterns commonly seen in abusive men and the signs of a potential abuser. I'm not an expert in that either.

However, whether it is accurate or not, I can see how it is perceived that way. Note my original statement:

Quote:
I can see how his jealousy and anger could be interpreted as the behavioral pattern of an abusive man.
HelloKiddo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2010, 11:12 PM   #122
Queen of Swords
starting over
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto. Gotta love it.
Posts: 7,062
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by HelloKiddo View Post
Point taken. IMO explaining a person's reasons for bad behavior is not acceptable to me.
I think motivation plays an important role in how we view actions. For instance, if I said my parents beat me, people might conclude my parents were cruel and abusive. On the other hand, if I said my parents beat me because they were raised in a culture which convinced them that children needed to be beaten to be corrected and brought up well, people might instead conclude my parents were misguided rather than deliberately malicious.

Is that excusing their behavior? I don't think so. We can still criticize bad behavior while simultaneously understanding the reasons behind it.

The same thing applies here, IMO. Sometimes there are reasons for bad behavior, and they can lend a lot of unexpected depth to characters.

Though as you said, everyone has their own views on this.

Quote:
I don't claim to be an expert on the cultural norms of nineteenth century Georgia, but is it incorrect to say that the behavioral patterns that lead to domestic abuse were similar if not the same for that period in history?
I'm not an expert in nineteenth century Georgia either so I can't say. What I can say is that Rhett is far more bark than bite when it comes to Scarlett. He occasionally threatens to hurt her ("I've always thought a good lashing with a buggy-whip would benefit you immensely") but he only physically hurts her once - when he's tying her corset strings just before Ashley's party and he pulls them too tight - and I don't see that as an example of domestic abuse, or a behavior pattern which might lead to domestic abuse.

Of course, there's far more to domestic abuse than just the physical aspect of it, but in the one sex scene which could have been abusive, it's clear that Scarlett was a willing participant after her initial fear. Their arguments don't seem to be on the level of abusive or prelude-to-abusive either.

If he really was an abuser, he picked a victim who wasn't afraid of him when he was in a drunken rage and who had previously murdered a man who threatened her. So even if his jealousy and anger remind people of the behaviors exhibited by abusive men, I think there's a lot more to the situation - and to his and Scarlett's personalities - than that.
__________________



Before the Storm: science, sex and sorcery in a medieval world. Samhain Publishing. Ebook and paperback. Read Chapter 1!

The Deepest Ocean: contracted to Samhain!
Last edited by Queen of Swords; 10-23-2010 at 11:30 PM.
Queen of Swords is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2010, 01:19 AM   #123
HelloKiddo
bemused observer
 
HelloKiddo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 777
HelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of lightHelloKiddo is a glorious beacon of light
God damn you guys! Now I'm gonna have to reread it. I've been putting off rereading it...

*Grumbles*

If anybody needs me I'll be back in...about 9 months, when I've finally finished this monster
HelloKiddo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2010, 01:20 AM   #124
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Join us.

Jooooooooooooin usssssssssssssssss...
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2010, 01:36 AM   #125
Queen of Swords
starting over
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto. Gotta love it.
Posts: 7,062
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
I had one copy of GWTW, but I read it so many times it fell apart. Then I bought another copy, but a friend loved it so I gave it to her.

Thankfully I have a good memory for all my favorite lines.
__________________



Before the Storm: science, sex and sorcery in a medieval world. Samhain Publishing. Ebook and paperback. Read Chapter 1!

The Deepest Ocean: contracted to Samhain!
Queen of Swords is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 5 of 6 1234 5 6

Bookmarks

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Custom Search

Buy Scrivener 2 for Mac OS X (Regular Licence)

If this site is helpful to you,
Please consider a voluntary subscription to defray ongoing expenses.


All times are GMT +4.5. The time now is 07:10 PM.

Contact Us - Absolute Write - Archive - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.