英语本科《飘》中瑞德·巴特勒的人物性格特点分析

PAGEPAGE29河北师范大学高等教育自学考试本科毕业论文题目：《飘》中瑞德·巴特勒的人物性格特点分析OntheCharacterizationofRhettButlerinGoneWiththeWind摘要:《飘》是世界文学经典名著之一，是由美国文学作家玛格丽特·米切尔所著。瑞德·巴特勒是小说中的男主人公。他英俊潇洒，花钱任意，衣着时髦。他很高兴以最糟糕的形式出现在公众面前。一个取乐与轻蔑的微笑，一个无可辩驳的评论，一个优雅的鞠躬，无不显露出他的玩世不恭与睿智。他说他绝不为抛弃他的南方制度而战，但他在战争的最后时刻加入军队。他出身于贵族，但他是贵族的叛逆者。他被叫做无赖，卖国贼，但他为南方和人民做过许多好事。在生意上，他事业有成。在爱情上，他一败涂地。他怀着一个男人对一个女人的爱所能达到的最高程度在爱思佳丽特，但因为了解她而不敢直言相告,导致一场爱情悲剧。关键词：英俊;玩世不恭;睿智;精明Abstract:Gonewiththewind,whichwaswrittenbyMargaretMitchell,isoneofthemostpopularmasterpiecesintheworld.RhettButleristheleadingman-roleinthisnovel.Heishandsome,andhespentmoneyfreely.Hewearsclotheswhicharealwaystheheightofstyleandtailoring.Heishappytopresenthimselfintheworstpossiblelightwithanamused,contemptsmile,anunanswerableremarksandagracefulbow.Theseshowhiscynicismandsagaciousness.HesayshewouldneverupholdtheSouththatcasthim,buthejoinsthearmyattheeleventh-hourofthewar.Hewasbornasagentlemanbutarenegade.Heiscalledarascalandatraitor,buthedoesalotofgooddeedsfortheSouthandthepeople.Hesucceedsinbusinessbutfailsinlove.HelovesScarlettasmuchasamancanloveawoman,buthecan’ttellherbecauseheknowsher.Itisatragiclove.Keywords:handsome;cynical;sagacious;shrewdContentAbstract………………………..3AbstractinChinese…………….4I.Introduction…………………..51.BriefintroductionoftheAuthor…………..62.Briefintroductionofthenovel’scontent………………….73.ThesocialbackgroundofGonewiththewinda.TheCivilWarintheU.S.A……………...8b.TheReconstructionaftertheCivilWar………………..10II.AnalysisofthecharacterofRhettButlerinsevenaspects1.Heishandsomeandcharming112.Heisarenegade………...14.3.Heiscynicalandsagacious164.Hehasaclearunderstandingofthesocietyandwar,andhasthecouragetosaythetruth185.Heisshrewd,farsighted206.Heiskind,helpfulandhelovestheSouthinhisownway22.7.RhettButlerlovesScarlettO’Haraasmuchasamancanloveawoman…………………23Conclusion……………………..28Notes…………………29Bibliography…………………..30Introduction1.BriefintroductionoftheAuthorMargaretMitchell(November8,1900-August16,1949)wasafamousAmericanwriter,whowonthePulitzerPrizein1937forhernovelGonewiththeWind。Gonewiththewindwasheronlymajorpublication.ShewasborninAtlanta,Georgia.Sheoncereceivedadoctordegreeofliterature.Shewasstruckbyanautomobileonherwaytothecinemawithherhusband.Andafter5days,shedied.ItwasherlifeexperienceandunfortunatelovethatmadehertowriteabeautifulandsadlovestoryintheCivilWar.Whenshewasalittlegirl,hergrandmaoftentoldheraboutthehistoryoftheirfamilyandsomewarstories.Imagingherselflivedinthepast;shemadeupmanysmallstoriesinwhichshewasaheroineinawar.AllofthesebecamematerialswhenshewroteGonewiththeWindmanyyearslater.Hermother’sdeathmadeherfatherlosethecourageandmotivationoflife,asStarlet’sfathergotmadafterhiswifedied.At18yearsold,shemetayounghandsomeofficer,CliftHenry,whowastheAshleyinherheart.Prettysoon,theyfellintolove.ButhelosthislifeintheFirstWorldWar,whichmadeherverysad.Later,shegotmarriedwithabad-temperedandcoldbully.Notsurprisingly,thismarriagecametoanendshortly.In1944,shegotmarriedagain.HerhusbandMarshwasareporter,whohadlovedandsupportedMitchellformanyyears.WithoutMarsh’sencouragement,Mitchellcouldn’tfinishGonewiththeWind.Shespentnearly10yearsonwritingthenovel.Ittookherhalfofayeartocheckthetimeandplacesofhistoricaleventsinhernovel.ButbecauseofthepublicationofGonewiththeWind,herlifebecameatragedy.Forhalfofacentury,the1000novelhasbeentranslatedintomorethan30languagesandsoldmorethan20,000,000copies.GonewiththeWindisenoughtoestablishherunshakablepositioninthehistoryofworldliterature.2.Briefintroductionofthenovel’scontentItisastoryabouttheCivilWarandReconstructionasseenfromtheSouthernpointofview.Thenovelopensin1861,andtheprotagonistisScarlettO’Hara.ScarlettO’HaraisayounggirlwholovesAshleyWilkes.AshleymarriesMelanieHamiltonandScarlettmarriesMelanie’sbrotherCharles,butsheissoonwidowed.ThenshemarriesFrankKennedy,hersister’sfiancé,tosaveTara,thefamilyplantation,herhome.Frankisalsokilled,andScarlettfinallymarriesRhettButler,wholovesherdeeply.Duringthestory,sheexperiencesSecession,theCivilWar,Reconstruction,aswellasthreemarriagesandmotherhood.3.ThesocialbackgroundofGonewiththewinda.TheCivilWarintheU.S.A.Inthepresidentialelectionof1860,theRepublicanParty,ledbyAbrahamLincoln,hadcampaignedagainsttheexpansionofslaverybeyondthestatesinwhichitalreadyexisted.InresponsetotheRepublicanvictoryinthatelection,sevenstatesdeclaredtheirsecessionfromtheUnionbeforeLincolntookofficeonMarch4,1861.BoththeoutgoingadministrationofPresidentJamesBuchananandLincoln'sincomingadministrationrejectedthelegalityofsecession,consideringitrebellion.Severalotherslavestatesrejectedcallsforsecessionatthispoint.HostilitiesbeganonApril12,1861,whenConfederateforcesattackedaU.S.militaryinstallationatFortSumterinSouthCarolina.Lincolnrespondedbycallingforavolunteerarmyfromeachstatetorecapturefederalproperty.Thisledtodeclarationsofsecessionbyfourmoreslavestates.BothsidesraisedarmiesastheUnionassumedcontroloftheBorderStatesearlyinthewarandestablishedanavalblockade.InSeptember1862,Lincoln'sEmancipationProclamationmadeendingslaveryintheSouthawargoal,anddissuadedtheBritishfromintervening.ConfederatecommanderRobertE.Leewonbattlesintheeast,butin1863hisnorthwardadvancewasturnedbackwithheavycasualtiesaftertheBattleofGettysburg.Tothewest,theUniongainedcontroloftheMississippiRiveraftertheircaptureofVicksburg,Mississippi,therebysplittingtheConfederacyintwo.TheUnionwasabletocapitalizeonitslong-termadvantagesinmenandmaterielby1864whenUlyssesS.GrantfoughtbattlesofattritionagainstLee,whileUniongeneralWilliamTecumsehShermancapturedAtlantaandmarchedtothesea.ConfederateresistanceendedafterLeesurrenderedtoGrantatAppomattoxCourtHouseonApril9,1865.TheAmericanCivilWarwasoneoftheearliesttrueindustrialwars.Railroads,thetelegraph,steamships,andmass-producedweaponswereemployedextensively.Thepracticesoftotalwar,developedbyShermaninGeorgia,andoftrenchwarfarearoundPetersburgforeshadowedWorldWarIinEurope.ItremainsthedeadliestwarinAmericanhistory,resultinginthedeathsof620,000soldiersandanundeterminednumberofciviliancasualties.TenpercentofallNorthernmales20–45yearsofagedied;asdid30percentofallSouthernwhitemalesaged18–40.VictoryfortheNorthmeanttheendoftheConfederacyandofslaveryintheUnitedStates,andstrengthenedtheroleofthefederalgovernment.Thesocial,political,economicandracialissuesofthewardecisivelyshapedthereconstructionerathatlastedto1877b.TheReconstructionaftertheCivilWarReconstruction,oneofthemostturbulentandcontroversialerasinAmericanhistory,beganduringtheCivilWarandendedin1877.ItwitnessedAmerica'sfirstexperimentininterracialdemocracy.Theroleofthefederalgovernmentinprotectingcitizens'rights,andthepossibilityofeconomicandracialjusticearestillunresolved.CentraltoReconstructionwastheeffortofformerslavestobreathefullmeaningintotheirnewlyacquiredfreedom,andtoclaimtheirrightsascitizens.AfterrejectingtheReconstructionplanofPresidentAndrewJohnson,theRepublicanCongressenactedlawsandConstitutionalamendmentsthatempoweredthefederalgovernmenttoenforcetheprincipleofequalrights,andgaveblackSouthernerstherighttovoteandholdoffice.ThenewSoutherngovernmentsconfrontedviolentoppositionfromtheKuKluxKlanandsimilargroups.Meantime,theNorthabandoneditscommitmenttoprotecttherightsoftheformerslaves.Reconstructionended,andwhitesupremacywasrestoredthroughouttheSouth.Formuchofthiscentury,Reconstructionwaswidelyviewedasaneraofcorruptionandmisgovernment,supposedlycausedbyallowingblackstotakepartinpolitics.ThisinterpretationhelpedtojustifytheSouth'ssystemofracialsegregationanddenythevotetoblacks.Today,becauseofextensivenewresearchandprofoundchangesinAmericanracerelations,historiansviewReconstructionfarmorefavorably,asatimeofgenuineprogressforformerslavesandtheSouthasawhole.ForallAmericans,Reconstructionwasatimeoffundamentalsocial,economic,andpoliticalchange.TheoverthrowofReconstructionlefttofuturegenerationsthetroublesomeproblemofracialjustice.AnalysisofthecharacterofRhettButlerinsevenaspects1.Heishandsomeandcharming.IntheeyesofAtlanta’speople,RhettButlerwasadashingfigureandonethatpeopleturnedtolookat.Hespentmoneyfreely,rodeawildblackstallion,andworewhichwerealwaystheheightofstyleandtailoring.Therewerefewladieswhocouldresisthischarmwhenhechoosestoexert.AtthebarbecueofTwelveOaks,itwasthefirsttimeScarlettmetRhettButler,“Hewasatallmanandpowerfullybuilt.Scarlettthoughtshehadneverseenamanwithsuchwideshoulders,soheavywithmuscles,almosttooheavytoforgentility.Whenhereyecaughthis,hesmiled,showinganimal-whiteteethbelowaclosed-clippedblackmustache.Hewasdarkofface,swarthyasapirate,andhiseyeswereasboldandblackasanypirate’sappraisingagalleontobescuttledoramaidentoberavished.Therewasacoolrecklessnessinhisfaceandacynicalhumorinhismouthashesmiledather,shedidnotknowwhohecouldbe,buttherewasundeniablyalookofgoodbloodinhisdarkface.Itshowedinthethinhawknoseoverthefullredlips,thehighforeheadandthewide-seteyes.”AtacharityballinAtlanta,theymetagain.RhettButlerappearedlikethis:Hewasdressedinblackbroadcloth,atallman,toweringovertheofficerswhostoodnearhim,bulkyintheshouldersbuttaperingtoasmallwaistandabsurdlysmallfeetinvarnishedboots.Hissevereblacksuit,withfineruffledshirtandtrouserssmartlystrappedbeneathhighinsteps,wasoddlyatvariancewithhisphysiqueandface,forhewasfoppishlygroomed,theclothesofadandyonabodythatwaspowerfulandlatentlydangerousinitslazygrace.Hishairwasjetblack,andhisblackmustachewassmallandcloselyclipped,almostforeignlookingcomparedwiththedashing,swoopingmustachesofthecavalrymennearby.Helooked,andwas,amanoflustyandunashamedappetites.Hehadanairofutterassurance,ofdispleasinginsolenceabouthim,andtherewasatwinkleofmaliceinhisboldeyesashestaredatScarlett。EverytimeRhettcalledScarlett.Shethought:therewassomethingexcitingabouthimthatshecouldnotanalyze,somethingdifferentfromanymanshehadeverknown.Therewassomethingbreathtakinginthegraceofhisbigbodywhichmadehisveryentranceintoaroomlikeanabruptphysicalimpact,somethingintheimpertinenceandblandmockeryofhisdarkeyesthatchallengedherspirittosubduehimOnetime,ScarlettwasonRhett’scarriage.Shesuddenlythoughthowniceitwastoseeanicemanwhowasawhole,…,andwholookedwellfedandhealthy.Hewassowelldressed,too.Hiscoatandtrouserswereactuallyofthesamematerialandtheyfilledhim.….Helookedasifhehadnotacareintheworldandthatinitselfwasstartlingthesedays,….Hisbrownfacewasblandandhismouth,redlipped,clearcutasawoman’s,franklysensual,smiledcarelessly.Themusclesofhisbodyrippledagainsthiswell-trainedclothes,ashegotinbesideher,and,asalways,thesenseofhisgreatphysicalpowerstruckherlikeablow.Shewatchedtheswellofhispowerfulshouldersagainsttheclothwithafascinationthatwasdisturbing,alittlefrightening.Hisbodyseemedsotoughandhard,astoughandhardashiskeenmind.Hiswassuchaneasy,gracefulstrength,lazyasapantherstretchinginthesun,alertasapanthertospringandstrike.Aboveall,wecanseeRhettisveryhandsomeandcharming.2.Heisarenegade.RhettButlerwasdescendedfromanoblefamily,butheisnotagentleman.Hewasarenegadewhowascalledascamp,arascalandagamblerHehadtheworstreputationandhewasn’treceivedinthebestparlors.HehadbeenexpelledfromWestPointfordrunkennessand“somethingaboutwomen”.ThatterrificscandalconcerningtheCharlestongirlhehadcompromisedandthebrotherhehadkilledwaspublicproperty.Heisablacksheepofalovelyfamily-hisfather,acharmingoldgentlemanwithanironwillandaramrodforabackbonehadcasthimoutwithoutapennywhenhewastwentyandevenstrickenhisnamefromthefamilyBible.Aboutthis,hesaid:“WhyamItheblacksheepoftheButlerfamily?Forthisreasonandnoother-Ididn’tconformtoCharlestonandIcouldn’t.AndCharlestonistheSouth,onlyintensified.Iwonderifyourealizeyetwhataboreitis.Somanythingsthatonemustdobecausetheyhavealwaysbeendone.Somanythings,quiteharmless,thatonemustnotdoforthesamereason.Somanythingsthatannoyedmebytheirsenselessness.Notmarryingayounglady,ofwhomyouhaveprobablyheard,wasmerelythelaststraw.WhyshouldImarryaboringfool,simplybecauseanaccidentpreventsmefromgettingherhomebeforedark?Andwhypermitherwild-eyedbrothertoshootandkillme,whenIcouldshootstraighter?IfIhadbeenagentleman,ofcourse,IwouldhavelethimkillmeandthatwouldhavewipedtheblotfromtheButlerescutcheon.But-Iliketolive.AndsoIhavelivedandIhavehadagoodtime…”①Hethoughtvirtuesarestupid.Andhefloutedtheconventions.Asagentleman,heshouldappeartobelievealadyevenwhenheknewshewaslying.ThatwasSouthernchivalry.Agentlemanalwaysobeyedtherulesandsaidthecorrectthingsandmadelifeeasierforalady.ButRhettseemednottocareforrulesandevidentlyenjoyedtalkingofthethingsnooneevertalkedabout.WhenRhettandScarlettweretogether,heannoyedherfrequentlyandgotherintoaspeechlesstemper.Rhett’seyesranupanddownherfigure,whichmadeherfeelunclothed.AlthoughheknewthatScarlettwasawidow,heencouragedhertodance,gotheroutofmourningseveralyearstoosoon,andluredherintoacceptingagiftwhichnoladycanacceptandstillremainalady.Agentlemanshouldloveagirlwhowasmousyandnosenseatall.ButRhettlovedScarlettbecauseshewasnotalady.Hesaid:“however,ladieshaveseldomheldanycharmsforme.Iknowwhattheyarethinking,buttheyneverhavethecourageorlackofbreedingtosaywhattheyarethinking.Andthat,intime,becomeabore.Butyouareagirlofrarespirit,veryadmirablespirit,andItakeoffmyhattoyou.”②Agentlemanshouldn’tlookatawomanwhoispregnant.Inaddition,heshouldn’ttalkaboutit.Rhettdidn’tthinkso.“IknowI’mnotagentleman,inviewofthefactthatpregnantwomendonotembarrassmeastheyshould.Ifinditpossibletotreatthemasnormalcreaturesandnotlookatthegroundortheskyoranywhereelseintheuniverseexcepttheirwaistlines-andthencastatthemthosefurtiveglancesI’vealwaysthoughttheheightofindecency.…It’sanormalstateandwomenshouldbeproudofit,insteadofhidingbehindcloseddoorsasifthey’dcommittedacrime.”③Allthethingshedidandallthewordshesaidproveheisarenegade.3.Heiscynicalandsagacious.RhettboreanimpersonalcontemptforeveryoneandeverythingintheSouth,theConfederacyinparticular,andtooknopainstoconcealit.ItwashisremarksabouttheConfederacythatmadeAtlantalookathimfirstinbewilderment,thencoollyandthenwithhotrage.Heseemedtotakepleasurenotonlyinaffrontingthesincereandred-hotloyaltiesofAtlantabutinpresentinghimselfintheworstpossiblelight.Whenwell-meaningpeoplecomplimentedhimonhisbraveryinrunningtheblockade,heblandlyrepliedthathewasalwaysfrightenedwhenindanger,asfrightenedaswerethebraveboysatthefront.EveryoneknewtherehadneverbeenacowardlyConfederatesoldierandtheyfoundthisstatementpeculiarlyirritating.Healwaysreferredtothesoldiersas“ourbraveboys”and“ourheroesingray”anddiditinsuchawayastoconveytheutmostininsult.Whendaringyounglady,hopingforaflirtation,thankedhimforbeingoneoftheheroeswhofoughtforthem,hebowedanddeclaredthatsuchwasnotthecase,forhewoulddothesamethingfortheYankeewomenifthesameamountofmoneywereinvolved.WhenpraisedforhisservicestotheConfederacy,heunfailinglyrepliedthatblockadingwasabusinesswithhim.Ifhecouldmakeasmuchmoneyoutofgovernmentcontracts,hewouldsay,pickingoutwithhiseyesthosewhohadgovernmentcontracts,thenhewouldcertainlyabandonthehazardsofblockadingandtaketosellingshoddycloth,sandedsugar,spoiledflourandrottenleathertotheConfederacy.Henotonlyaffrontedthetownwithinsinuationsofvenalityonthepartofmeninhighplacesandslursonthecourageofthemeninthefield,buthetookpleasureintrickingthedignifiedcitizenryintoembarrassingsituations.Hecouldnomoreresistprickingtheconceits,thehypocrisiesandtheflamboyantpatriotismofthoseabouthimthanasmallboycanresistputtingapinintoaballoon.Heneatlydeflatedthepompousandexposedtheignorantandthebigoted,andhediditinsuchsubtleways,drawinghisvictimsoutbyhisseeminglycourteousinterest,thattheyneverwerequitecertainwhathadhappeneduntiltheystoodexposedaswindy,highflownandslightlyridiculous.4.Hehasaclearunderstandingofthesocietyandwar,andhasthecouragetosaythetruth.RhetttoldScarlett“ourSouthernwayoflivingisasantiquatedasthefeudalsystemoftheMiddleAges.Thewonderisthatit’slastedaslongasithas.Ithadtogoandit’sgoingnow.”“Thisempirewe’relivein-thesouth-theconfederacy-theCottonKingdom–it’sbreakinguprightunderourfeet.”“TheideaofassistancefromabroadisjustanewspaperinventiontokeepupthemoraleoftheSouth.Theconfederacyisdoomed.It’slivingonitshumpnow,likethecamel,eventhelargestofhumpsaren’tinexhaustible.”④AtthebarbecueofTwelveOaks,allthemenshoutedexcited:“wecouldlicktheminamonth.OneSouthernercanlicktwentyYankees.”Rhetttoldtheminaflatdraw:“Ihaveseenmanythingsthatyouallhavenotseen.ThethousandsofimmigrantswhowouldbegladtofightfortheYankeesforfoodandafewdollars,thefactories,thefoundries,theshipyards,theironandcoalmines-allthethingswehaven’tgot.Why,allwehaveiscottonandslavesandarrogance.Theywouldlickusinamonth.”④AtMrs.Elsing’ssilvermusicale,Rhetttalkedabout“theCauseisnotsacred”loudly:“Allwarsaresacred,tothosewhohavetofightthem.Ifthepeoplewhostartedwarsdidnotmakethemsacred,whowouldbefoolishenoughtofight?Butnomatterwhatrallyingcriestheoratorsgivetotheidiotswhofight,nomatterwhatnoblepurposetheyassigntowars,thereisneverbutonereasonforawar.Andthatismoney.Allwarsareinrealitymoneysquabbles.Butsofewpeopleeverrealizeit.Theirearsarefullofbuglesanddrumsandthefinewordsfromstay-at-homeorators.Sometimestherallyingcryis‘Liberty!’sometimes‘Cotton,SlaveryandStates’Rights’！”⑤AtAuntPitty’sparty,Mr.Meadesaidarrogantly:“TherewillbejustonebriefskirmishandtheYankeeswillskedaddlebackintoTennessee.GeneralJohnstonandhisarmystandsthereinthemountainslikeanironrampart.Shermanwillneverpass.HewillneverdislodgeOldJoe.OneconfederateisworthadozenYankees.”Rhettspokeoutthetruth:“Shermanhasoveronehundredthousandmen,nowthathisreinforcementshavecomeup.ButGeneralJohnstonhadonlyaboutfortythousand,countingthedeserterswhowereencouragedtocomebacktothecolorsbythelastvictory.TheConfederatesoldiershasnobulletsforhisgunandnoshoesonhisfeetandnofoodintheirstomach.”⑥OnlyRhettcouldsaythesewords.Othermandidn’tknowordaretosay.5.Heisshrewdandfarsighted.RhetttoldScarlettthatthereweretwotimesformakingbigmoney,oneintheupbuildingofacountryandtheotherinitsdestruction.Slowmoneyonthebuilding,fastmoneyinthecrack-up.CaptainButlerwasoneofthebestpilotsintheSouthandthathewasrecklessandutterlywithoutnerves.RearedinCharleston,hekneweveryinlet,creek,shoalandrockoftheCarolinacoastnearthatport,andhewasequallyathomeinthewatersaroundWilmington.Hehadneverlostaboatorevenbeenforcedtodumpacargo.Attheonsetofthewar,hehademergedfromobscuritywithenoughmoneytobuyaswiftboatandnow,whenblockadedgoodsrealizedtwothousandpercentoneachcargo,heownedfourboats.Hehadgoodpilotsandpaidthemwell,andtheyslidoutofCharlestonandWilmingtonondarknights,bearingcottonforNassau,EnglandandCanada.ThecottonmillsofEnglandwerestandingidleandtheworkerswerestarving,andanyblockaderwhocouldoutwittheYankeefleetcouldcommandhisownpriceinLiverpool.“AnyloyalConfederatewhohadathousanddollarsincashin1861couldhavedonewhatIdid,butnowfewweremercenaryenoughtotakeadvantageoftheiropportunities!Asforinstance,rightafterFortSumterfellandbeforetheblockadewasestablished,Iboughtupseveralthousandbalesofcottonatdirt-cheappricesandranthemtoEngland.TheyarestillthereinwarehousesinLiverpool.Ihaveneversoldthem.IamholdingthemuntiltheEnglandmillshavetohavecottonandwillgivemeanypriceIask.IwouldnotsurprisedifIgotadollarsapound.”⑦“IgivemyselfaboutsixmonthsmoreofblockadingandthenIamthough.Afterthat,itwillbetoorisky.AndIwillsellmyboatstosomefoolishEnglishmanwhothinkshecanslipthemthough.Butonewayortheother,itisnotbotheringme.Ihavemademoneyenough,anditisinEnglishbanksandingold.Noneofthisworthlesspaperforme.”⑧Rhettsoldhisboatswhenblockadinggrewtoohazardous,andhewasopenlyengagedinfoodspeculation.Duringthewar,itisapoverty-strickenworldintheSouth.ButRhetthadahalfbilliondollars“Halfthemoneyishonestlymine,honestlymadewiththeaidofhonestUnionpatriotswhowerewillingtosellouttheUnionbehinditsback—forone-hundred-per-centprofitontheirgoods.PartImadeoutofmylittleinvestmentincottonatthebeginningofthewar,thecottonIboughtcheapandsoldforadollarapoundwhentheBritishmillswerecryingforit.PartIgotfromfoodspeculation.WhyshouldIlettheYankeeshavethefruitsofmylabor?ButtherestdidbelongtotheConfederacy.”⑨Inaword,heissoshrewdandfarsightedthathecanmakealotofmoney.6.Heiskind,helpfulandhelovestheSouthinhisownway.Rhett,hearingofthisthingthatMaybellewaseagertohaveawhitesatindresstomarry,broughtinfromEnglandyardsandyardsofgleamingwhitesatinandalaceveilandpresentedthemtoherasaweddinggift.Henotonlybroughtherthesatinbutalsohewasabletogiveexcellenthintsonthemakingoftheweddingdress.WhenheknewMelaniewaspregnantandanxioustoknowthenewsofAshley,heconsoledheranddidhisbesttofindoutthenews.HewenttoNewOrleansfrequentlytoseeaboywhowashislegalward.HelentMerriwethertenthousanddollarswithoutevenanotetohelpherstartabakery.HewassuchakindfatherthathespoiledBonnie,forinallthingsshepleasedhim.Inthewar,Rhettwasagreatblockader,whoseboatstookoutcottonfortheConfederacyandbroughtinthewarmaterialsforwhichtheSouthwasdesperate.Hejoinedthearmyattheeleventh-hour,Scarlettthought:“whyhadhegone,steppingoffintothedark,intothewar,intoaCausethatwaslost,intoaworldthatwasmad?Whyhadhegone?Nowhehadsethisvarnishedbootsuponabitterroadwherehungertrampedwithtirelessstrideandwoundsandwearinessandheartbreakranlikeyelpingwolves.Andtheendoftheroadwasdeath.Heneednothavegone.”IntheReconstruction,RhettsavedthelivesofsomeAtlanta’smostprominentmenwithhisresourcefulnessalthoughtheyhatedhimsomuch.Hekilledaniggerbecausehewasuppitytoalady.WithRhett’shelp,GeorgiaoncemorehadaDemocraticgovernorandGeorgiabelongedtoherself.Hesaid:“IamnowaDemocratingoodstanding,devotedtomylastdropofbloodtorecoveringourbelovedstatefromthehandsofherravishers!”“IamworkingharderthanIeverworkedwithashovelinthegoldrush,tryingtohelpgettheelectionorganized.…AtlastIhavecometoagreewithyouandtheConfederategoldisbeingspenttogettheConfederatesbackintopower.”⑩RhetthasakindheartandhelovestheSouthdeeply.7.RhettButlerlovesScarlettO’Haraasmuchasamancanloveawoman.RhettlovedScarlettsincethefirsttimehesawher.Hewaswillingto,indeedhedid,anddideverythingforherexcepttellingherhelovedher.WheneverScarlettneededhelp,Rhettwouldappear.Inthewar,RhettsavedScarlettfromtheSouthcustomofburyingwidowsalive.Heencouragedhertodance,gotheroutofmourningandluredherintoacceptingagiftwhichnoladycouldaccept.Hedidn’tleaveAtlantawhenthesiegewascomingbecausehewantedtorescueher.RhettcametothefrontporchwhenScarlettwasbluebecauseshecouldn’tgotoTaratoseehersickmother.Hecomfortedherandtoldher,“IhavewantedyousincethefirsttimeIlaidmyeyesonyou,inthehallofTwelveOaks,IwantyoumorethanIhaveeverwantedanywoman-andIhavewaitedlong