Whether you have read "Gone With the Wind," watched the movie or experienced both, you know that Scarlett O'Hara is a fictional figure that has captivated the world since her introduction in 1936.
She is everything a good Southern woman should be -- gracious, elegant, hospitable and accomplished. However, Scarlett, is also known for her scheming, selfishness, and stubbornness. She ends up in quite a few pickles because of these less-than-desirable qualities, but, as we witness her mistakes, we can still learn lessons from her. Here are five things that Scarlett O'Hara teaches us throughout "Gone With the Wind."
1. Never base your happiness upon money.
Scarlett spends 10 years of her life scheming and striving to earn as much money as she possibly can, believing that, if she can become rich and successful, then she will be content. The Bible says:
"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless."
-- Ecclesiastes 5:10
Scarlett's desire for money and her lingering dissatisfaction when she finally has some confirms to us that happiness should not be based upon material things, especially money.
2. Invest in your relationship with God.
When introduced to the O'Hara family, we learn that they are deeply religious due to the firm but gentle guiding hand of Ellen O'Hara, Scarlett's mother. Ellen makes sure her family attends church and acts in a manner that is representative of their faith.
After Ellen's death and after Scarlett marries and goes out on her own, Scarlett begins to neglect her relationship with God. She rarely prays or attends church, instead living and making decisions based upon her own wisdom. If Scarlett had invested in her relationship with God, she would have certainly made better decisions and had a happier life.
3. Do not be deceitful.
Proverbs says:
"Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel."
-- Proverbs 20:17
Scarlett uses deceit often in order to achieve success, and, for a time, she enjoys those successes. Eventually, though, remorse and consequences for her actions always slip into her life. Circumstances would have been much better off in the long run if she had always acted honestly.
4. Marry for love.
Every single one of Scarlett's marriages comes about for reasons other than love, and all of her marriages end up failing in one way or another. Marriage is meant to be a promise made on the basis of love, and it cannot truly be successful without that love.
5. Take time to recognize your shortcomings.
Scarlett does eventually recognize her faults and failings, but she does so at a time when it is almost too late. If she had regularly taken time to evaluate herself and her actions, then much of her unhappiness could have been prevented.
Scarlett O'Hara is a heroine who should be admired for her determination and unwavering courage during an unthinkable trial, but she is in no way perfect. Her flaws are glaring, and we, as flawed beings as well, should actively seek to learn from her mistakes.
