Melanie's Dynamic Qualities

Rating: 9/10 (23 January 2007)

Have you ever sat and watched this movie putting yourself in the place of a person who had that extraordinary opportunity to see this movie when it first came to the big screen? How astounding it must have been to watch this glorious epic tale of a women who truly does not know what she wants.
Each character has such depth and power, and what a dynamic women Melanie is. How hard must it have been to be accepting of Scarlett after being caught with her husband? Yet, somehow, when Scarlett attends her birthday party dressed as a "lady of the night," she walks over to her with outstretched arms and embraces her thanking her for coming and expressing her gratitude towards her. Melanie is most defiantly a pivotal character that is often over looked in the story. Most people think that the plot is between Rhett and Scarlett. However, if it weren't for Melanie, then there wouldn't be a story. When Melanie is giving birth to her child, Rhett comes and rescues them from the house as Atlanta is being destroyed. This allows Rhett and Scarlett once again to be in contact with each other, thus leading to their wedding. Melanie is basically the one that snaps Scarlett back into reality and makes her realize that she truly loves Rhett though it is far too late. Scarlett did indeed love Rhett, but she was too stubborn to allow herself to realize this. Even when Bonnie flew off the horse and broke her neck, she didn't understand. Melanie's death was the tragedy that woke Scarlett up. As she ran to greet Rhett, she knew she had lost him forever, but Melanie's thoughts were left behind when she passed. This is evident when Scarlett, whom we have seen the whole movie think about herself and wallow in self pity, rises from the stairs and proclaims, "After all, tomorrow is another day," and Melanie will live in her mind forever after.