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Abigail Foster
Professor Armbruster
History 103-91
2 November 2015
The Accuracy of Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind is based of of the novel written by Margaret Mitchell, one of the most

prestigious Civil War films of the 20th century, It exemplifies the heart of the Confederacy through

the character of Katie Scarlett OHara, known as Scarlett. Although this movie follows the sequence

of events from the Civil War through reconstruction, the writers exaggerate the number of strong

characters, lavish clothing, and positiveness of slavery to create an idealized view of the Old South.

The Confederacy is not as rosy and romantic as it is shown in the film.

Scarlett OHara is a strong-willed young woman who lives on a Georgia cotton plantation

with her family. She is very beautiful and most of the young men would like her hand in marriage,

except Ashley Wilkes. She is used to getting whatever she wants and the fact that Ashley does not

love her is always heavy on her mind. In the film, she marries three different times, twice for money.

She married Rhett Butler, a wealthy man who seizes opportunities. The Civil War acted as a catalyst

for marriage. Men and women of that time married quickly right before or during the war so they

would not have to be concerned about finding a significant other when the conflict was over (Hacker,

Hilde, and Jones). Scarlett married for financial stability along with trying to stir up Ashleys

emotions. Many women during the civil war did not want to wait for the perfect husband, so they

settled for acceptable partners, much like Scarlett OHara. It was difficult for some southern women

to marry because their chances were substantially lower, white women outnumbering white men by

thirteen percent (Hacker, Hilde, and Jones).

Scarlett is not similar to southern belles at this time because she had to take on the role as

head of household during and after the war. Southern belles were socialites who still followed

antebellum ideals (The Confederate Belle). Her duties now included picking cotton, paying the

bills, and pledging their allegiance to the Confederate cause. Scarlett soon had to work on the
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plantation because day-to-day tasks became a necessity for surviving the harsh time. She even

worked with the slaves in the cotton fields and doing laundry, among other essential duties (Gone

with the Wind). Wives of yeomen farmers, or wives whose husbands were away at war were expected

to do tasks the slaves did because they were not as wealthy or too many duties needed to be fulfilled

The Confederate Belle). Scarlett was not a socialite during this short time period because of the loss

of money. Scarlett OHara changed as the South changed. She was a socialite who became penniless

and emotionally damaged, but eventually recovered into a success.

Mammy and Prissy, the house slaves along with the other slaves on the plantation, are

portrayed as though they support the Confederacy completely. In reality, most slaves were not treated

with respect during this era, partly because they were in support of freedom and southerners opposed

their view. Treatment of slaves ranged from mild and paternalistic to cruel and sadistic. (Slavery in

the United States) In the film, Mammy was an honorable servant throughout the entire war, keeping

her sense of dignity and loyalty. She served Scarlett and mentored her through life, whether Scarlett

used the advice she gave her or not. The film glorified the treatment of slaves because it did not show

the true horror that they endured. It leads its viewers to believe that slaves had cordial relationships

with their owners, which was largely untrue.

In the movie and in the Civil War era, the northerners were labeled Yankees. The

southerners in this film illustrated the positive view of the Confederacy by calling themselves the

true Americans. The story is told in the Southern point of view, in which slavery is not questioned.

The Union was portrayed as the antagonists of the movie, as well as in the war. In reality, the

Confederacy wanted to be separate because they thought that the extension of slavery in the West was

the right thing to do. They did not think of slaves as people, therefore conflicting with the Union.

Slavery was the main cause of the issues between the Union and Confederacy. (Allard). Confederate
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President Davis commented on the Souths situation as simply abiding by the government idea that

the governed people had the power to overthrow the government if needed. The North was just mad

and blind, so the war came ( Allard). The movie depicts southern hospitality and honor as the

glamorized legacy for the southern states, not white supremacy.

The setting of Georgia in the film was much like it was in the 1860s and early 1870s. Before

the war, Georgia was energetic and thriving. During the Civil War, Atlanta became a medical center

(Fowler), as it was in the movie. Scarlett was a nurse to thousands of men after their loss in Tennessee

in 1862. Diseases struck, killing Charles Hamilton, Scarletts first husband. He died from the

measles, which accounted for nearly 11,000 deaths during the Civil War (Civil War Diseases).

Atlanta, Georgia became a home front, supplying equipment for soldiers and providing a

railroad. Georgia also had the biggest rolling and textile mill in the South (Fowler). As the

characters circumstances changed during the war, the result was partly because of the region they

lived in. Atlanta was a major city in the Confederate states that kept the citizens who lived there

always busy and on their toes.

Historical accuracy was emphasized in the background of the film including the start of the

war, Gettysburg, the Battle of Atlanta, and Sherman's March (Gone with the Wind). Many battles were

depicted throughout the film. There is only one historical inaccuracy throughout the sequence of

events of the Civil War in the movie. The Georgia State Troops did not surrender to the Union until

one month after General Lees Army had. In Gone with the Wind, Gerald OHara reaches Scarlett

OHaras plantation and gives news of the war being over because of Lees surrender. The real end of

the war did not come until General Edmund Kirby Smiths surrender in Texas on May 26, 1865

(Edmund).
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Scarlett lived through one of the biggest movements in American history. It was a time of

turmoil in the Confederacy and women were expected to carry a large load. She did so, doing

whatever was necessary to stay afloat. Scarlett even started a partnership with Ashley Wilkes, a

lumber business in Atlanta. She did whatever she could to provide money for the taxes the

southerners owed on their property to the Union. The reconstruction period also changed the view on

southern women completely. They were expected to exert power in post-war life, which was deemed

unfit during the antebellum years. Women achieved new authority and abilities that were thought of

as impossible by men before the war (Wright).

The articles of clothing used in the film were referenced well to garments worn in the 1860s.

Socialite women, like Scarlett, usually wore large petticoats with lavish regency gowns and corsets.

Intricate hats were worn to suit the changing hairstyles of the women in this era. A wide variety

including tiny caps of artificial flowers to large feathered hats were worn depending on the occasion.

Wide-brimmed hats were worn to tea parties and gatherings, like the barbeque Scarlett attended at the

Twelve Oaks Plantation. For men, tight fitting trousers held up by suspenders were popular, as well

as facial hair. Rhett Butler had dark facial hair that symbolized his authority in the film. Gold watches

were worn by wealthy men, like Scarletts father (Gone with the Wind). Ashley Wilkes wore dark

jackets because of their sophisticated look and everyday comfort. Many coats including frock coats,

morning coats called cutaways, and tailcoats were expected of aristocratic men (American Civil War

Mens Clothing). Both women and men wore slippers and shoes on formal occasions and durable

shoes for daily life.

Gone with the Wind is historically accurate through the characters and clothing, though

inaccurate through the legacy of the Old South and its reconstruction. The movie portrays the

Confederacy as the protagonists of the storyline, influencing the view of Georgia and the aftermath of
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the war in the southern states. The film exemplifies survival and how to overcome struggle. This

historic movie relates to the true hardship that the South faced during the Civil War and many people

refer to the work as a source for information. Gone with the Wind is very powerful to viewers of all

ages, races, and genders because the theme of courage in a time of crisis is something everyone can

appreciate. People of all ages can relate to their own instances where they can defy the odds and come

out successful. Gone with the Wind is historically inaccurate when it comes to portraying the reality

of slavery or the true state of the post-war South. The southern states were in turmoil during the Civil

War and slaves did not live uncomplicated, joyous lives. The Old South was not as romantic and rosy

as it is portrayed in the film, but the theme of survival still lives on. Confederate supporters many not

agree about the Civil War, but frankly my dear, I dont give a damn. (Gone with the Wind)

Works Cited

Allard, Phil. Secession of the Southern States. Issues & Controversies in American History.

Infobase Learning, 24 Feb. 2006. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

<http://icah.infobaselearning.com/icahfullarticle.aspx?ID=107244>.

"American Civil War Men's Clothing." Civil War Men's Clothing. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.

"Civil War Diseases - Civil War Academy - American Civil War." Civil War Academy American

Civil War. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.

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"Edmund Kirby Smith Biography." Edmund Kirby Smith Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov.

Fowler, John D. "Civil War in Georgia: Overview." New Georgia Encyclopedia. 28 October 2015.

Web. 04 November 2015.

Gone With the Wind. Victor Fleming, 1939. Perf. Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard,

Olivia de Havilland. Youtube.

Hacker, J., Libra Hilde, and James Jones. "The Effect of the Civil War on Southern Marriage

Patterns.

Monet, Dolores. "Women's Clothing of the South in the American Civil War." HubPages. HubPages,

n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

"Slavery in the United States." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d.

Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

"The Confederate Belle." Magnolias, Live Oaks, Cypress Trees. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

"The Journal of Southern History. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

Wright, C. M. "Women during the Civil War." Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Foundation for the

Humanities, 27 Oct. 2015. Web. 13 Nov. 2015