The material world and the novel
Material objects can reveal a lot about an individual or a group. Authors often use objects from the material world in order to reveal to their readers certain things about the character and themes of their writings. In Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind , and in Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire, material objects are used to reveal characters and themes. Both authors use clothing, alcohol, and money in order to reveal to their readers both characters and themes. First published in 1936, Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell became an immediate best seller. The novel represented a historical romance set in northern Georgia during the drama of the civil war and the reconstruction years. The main character, Scarlett O'Hara is the product of a wealthy Southern family. Her only weakness is that she does not care what people think of her. Margaret Mitchell relates this to the reader through the clothing choices of Scarlett, who wears whatever she pleases. When the reader is first introduced to Scarlett she is dressing for the barbeque at Twelve Oaks, Ashley's father's plantation. She decides to wear a dress mammy finds inappropriate, "you can't show your bosom before three o'clock." Scarlett however, wear
When a straggling confederate soldier comes onto the plantation planning to rob what little they had left Scarlette kills him with and takes his money showing no signs of remorse, "I can't worry about that today, I'll worry about that tomorrow" (Mitchell 69). She uses the money to refinance her home and maintain her elegant lifestyle. Scarlett also marries Rhett for his money as she stated, "Well you know, Rhett, money does help" (Mitchell 250). While drinking Stanley becomes irritated very easily, "She sprays herself with her atomizer, then sprays him with it. Throughout the novel, money is the key motivation for Scarlette O'Hara, the main character of the novel. Due to a never ending quest for money Scarlet sets off on a road of self destruction ending up alone and unloved. Scarlet finds herself both killing and marrying men in order to acquire wealth. Blanche moves in with her sister Stella Kowalsky, and brother-in-law Stanley Kowalsky because she lost her family estate and had no where else to go. Blanches drinking was spurred by her husbands death. While drinking Blanche fantasized about being rich and wealthy and has pretend dinner parties. Blanche also found herself in financial trouble with her estate and ended up losing it.
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Acceptance Essays
