The civil war affected not only the society of the South, but also the civilian’s values. As the war developed, the South and Scarlett O’Hara transformed. O’Hara was once a naïve child, but at the end of the novel, she is a strong-willed woman. In Margaret Mitchell’s novel Gone with the Wind, Scarlet O’Hara’s transformation is a compelling journey. Sixteen-year-old Scarlett O’Hara lives on a large Southern plantation named, Tara. The young naïve girl focuses on her numerous suitors and desired love from Ashley Wilkes. Wilkes is to marry his frail cousin, Melanie Hamilton. In spite of Wilkes, O’Hara marries Charles Hamilton, who shortly after dies in war. Scarlett O’Hara gives birth to Wade Hamilton and moves to Atlanta with Melanie Wilkes and her …show more content…
The Yankee army has raided the plantation, and O’Hara plans to restore it. The war ends, and Ashley Wilkes has a safe return. Jonas Wilkerson plans to drive out the O’Hara’s. Scarlett O’Hara seeks help from Butler, but he is in jail. O’Hara marries Frank Kennedy to protect Tara and becomes an intelligent business woman, to the displeasure of the Atlanta society. The birth of Ella Lorena Kennedy soon after occurs. A free black man and his white acquaintance assault Scarlett O’Hara. The Ku Klux Klan takes vengeance on the attack, and Frank Kennedy is killed in the process. Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara get married and have a child named, Bonnie Blue Butler. Their relationship soon becomes bitter. Bonnie Butler dies in a horse riding incident and the relationship between O’Hara and Butler worsens. Melanie Wilkes has a miscarriage and dies. This event causes O’Hara to realize she loves Butler not Ashley Wilkes, but it is too late. Rhett Butler announces he no longer loves Scarlett O’Hara. O’Hara returns home to her childhood nurse, Mammy, and plots a plan to win back the love of Rhett