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Scarlett, Cruella, and Me

For the second time in my life, I am on page 839 of the 1024 pages of Gone With The Wind, and for the umpteenth time in my life, I've had it with Scarlett and her conniving, deceptive, heartless ways.

I could read the book or watch the movie a hundred times, but Scarlett isn't going to change. This isn't Groundhog Day. Each re-reading isn't another opportunity for Scarlett to get it right. Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler will always be Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler - a woman motivated by fear, greed, and spitefulness.

I don't want to live my life motivated by any of those things. I don't even want to associate with those words, but although I may not be so blatantly obvious about it as Scarlett, I have more in common with her than I'd like:

Fear - I don't actively fret. I'm not a "nervous Nellie," but I worry about my children, my grandchildren, my husband, our finances, retirement, the future. Isn't that fear?

Greed - That's such an ugly word. Of course, I'm not greedy! I just want to have everything that I want when I want it. That's not greed, right?

Spitefulness - That conjures images of Cruella De Vil and her evil laugh:  
You beasts! But I'm not beaten yet. You've won the battle, but I'm about to win the wardrobe. My spotty puppy coat is in plain sight and leaving tracks. In a moment I'll have what I came for, while all of you will end up as sausage meat, alone on some sad, plastic plate. Dead and meaty and red. No friends, no family, no pulse. Just slapped between two buns, smothered in onions, with fries on the side. Cruella De Vil has the last laugh! (http://www.imdb.com) I may not wish anyone to end up as sausage meat, but it sure feels good when the car that's been riding my bumper gets pulled over or stuck at the same red light as me!

I don't like Scarlett, and I don't want to act like her or be like her, but I do and I am, and when I look at myself, it can be very discouraging.

But God (Ephesians 2:4), doesn't leave me there. He lets me start fresh each and every day. When I look to Him, all I can see are His mercies (that) never come to an end; they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:21-22). Margaret Mitchell isn't writing my story. God, who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), is the Author of my life - and yours. YES!!!


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  1. DarleneSeptember 28, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    Hey.. cut her some slack.. she was only 16 the first time she got married and widowed. I won't disagree with any of the negative things per se, but I would suggest that she took care of others despite her shortcomings, something we can all learn from (maybe not her kids so much...)...

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