Gone with the Wind... (3)

Gone with the Wind... (3)

Melanie Hamilton Wilkes (Melly)

Considering the importance of each of the principals in the novel, i thought i'd rather analyse each of my favorites.  Rhett Butler and Melanie Wilkes top my list followed by Scarlett O'Hara and then follow Mammy, Ellen and Gerald O'Hara, Wade Hampton, Frank Kennedy, the Tarleton twins, and last Ashley Wilkes. somehow all through the narration i never warmed up to Ashley. Rhett won me over instantaneously. while Mrs. Melanie Wilkes grows on to the reader

Melanie as a character is described as a quintessential sweet girl who remains genteel, polite and positive. she never saw anything bad in anyone. she was like a child at heart. she remained innocent and loved. many  readers would find that to be a cliche and there is no disagreement with that. she is all that. Melanie Wilkes is a foil to Scarlett. Scarlett aspired to be a lady like Ellen, moreover she tried her best to replace Melanie which remained futile.

As a character Melly remains undiscovered in my eyes. she appears to be child like and petite with hip that resemble her lil son Beau. According to Scarlett, Melly had had no bosom. physically Melly was weak. one child birth had sent her to the death bed. it was Scarlett who nursed her back to health. Rhett Butler comments on how Melly had a heart; nothing else. Period.

Rhett says Melanie Wilkes is the only great lady he knows and overtly admires (and he expresses may be Ellen O'Hara would be like Melly). a social outcast like Rhett and a severely disliked member of a community, Scarlett - both remain close to her. while Rhett always appreciates her. she helps him grieve over Bonnie's accidental death. she nurses him that fateful night. she helps him in matters of emotions. and he too helped in the earlier pre-war times. the night when Atlanta was under an attack he carried Melanie to the carriage and helped her and Scarlett escape to Tara with Wade, new born Beau and Prissy. it is true he did it for Scarlett but one can observe his gentleness with her. Melanie's last words to Scarlett are : be kind to Capt. Butler, he cares for you. even in death she thought of her friends.

the relationship between Scarlett and Melanie is often bizarre. Melanie admires Scarlett for her grit, her courage and survival instincts. Scar's determination and bravery are seen in Melanie when Scar shoots the Yankee officer at Tara. a fire is seen in Melanie. so in other words, there was a mini-Scarlett who remained dormant in Melly. it was obvious Melly admires and loves Scar. and she was faithfully loyal and grateful to Scarlett all her life and in her death.

Scarlett O'Hara despised Melanie. plain simple and there is no other way around to explain the situation. Scar envied Melly for the latter had Ashley. for Melly was a respected lady under all circumstances. for Melly was loved, and Melly was ever so popular and people loved being around Melly. in this manner, Scar's was a clear case of sour grapes. however, with gradual time, Melly substitutes Ellen (Scar's mommy) in Scar's life. Scarlett often sought Melly's approval though she did make fun of her and all. yet Melly was her only peer to remain with her through thick and thin. Melly was her only support system. Melly was the lady that Scar wanted to be. Melly's death did hurt her family. her lil son Beau, her husband Ashley, Aunt Pitty, India Wilkes. Scar, one can assume, lost her only ally, her only peer and friend. the only female companion she ever had.

Melanie Wilkes was the beloved lady of Atlanta. she was the beloved child of the town. and in today's world her kind is rare.