☯Emily ’s
Comments
(group member since Jul 27, 2011)
☯Emily ’s
comments
from the Classics for Beginners group.
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Margaret Mitchell is accurate with the Civil War battles and their generals and how the residents of Georgia reacted to the changes in the war. However, she ignored a very important historical event. She acted as if the Emancipation Proclamation was a non-event. On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the freedom of slaves in the ten states that were still in rebellion. Wikipedia says this: "In every Confederate state (except Tennessee and Texas), the Proclamation went into immediate effect in Union-occupied areas and at least 20,000 slaves were freed at once on January 1, 1863." This includes Georgia! As the Union troops started invading and conquering the South, they freed the slaves. In addition, many slaves fled to the Union lines in order to gain freedom. This must have never happened in Margaret Mitchell's Georgia since all the slaves were happy.
It will interesting to see what happens when the Union captures Atlanta. Do the slaves still remain loyal? I will have to wait and see in Part 3.
Who is taking care of Scarlett's baby? What do you think of her maternal skills? Is she capable of loving anyone other than herself? I feel sorry for her child.What kind of person reads someone else's mail? I dislike Scarlett more and more, although I did like how the author showed how Scarlett handled this dishonorable act. "When Scarlett first began secretly reading these letters, she had been so stricken of conscience and so fearful of discovery she could hardly open the envelopes for trembling. Now, her never-too-scrupulous sense of honor was dulled by repetition of the offense and even fear of discovery had subsided." Scarlett thought about what her mother would say, "but the temptation to read the letters was too great and she put the thought of Ellen out of her mind. She had become adept at putting unpleasant thoughts out of her mind these days. She had learned to say, 'I won't think of this or that bothersome thought now. I'll think about it tomorrow.' Generally when tomorrow came, the thought either did not occur at all or it was so attenuated by delay it was not very troublesome." This is what the Bible means when it talks about hypocrites "having their conscience seared with a hot iron." Rhett knows Scarlet is a hypocrite, but I am not sure Scarlett recognizes it yet.
This section should be a discussion of the book and not the movie. I have never seen the movie and have no intention of seeing it. However, I have read Part 2 and would like to discuss some of it. Would it be helpful to add a thread to this book discussion where the movie can be discussed?
Margaret Mitchell certainly was a racist. She was only concerned about how the way of life of the Southern landowners was being wrecked by the war and gave derogatory descriptions of the slaves. Read this description of some of the slaves Scarlet meets: She shook hands all around, her small white hand disappearing into their huge black paws and the four capered with delight at the meeting and with pride at displaying before their comrades what a pretty Young Miss they had.These slaves were so dense, they didn't seem to notice their plight. Margaret Mitchell totally ignored the Emancipation Proclamation and its effects on the slave. Nobody in Georgia had unhappy slaves; instead they were so happy they capered when they saw their mistress. I am about to stop reading this garbage!
I just started this section. In chapter 17, Aunt Pitty had a party at her house and Rhett was present. He produced real Havana cigars for the gentlemen and everyone agreed it was indeed a Lucullan banquet. Does anyone know what a Lucullan banquet is?
Sorry, I thought you were concerned about "spoilers," so I changed my posting for future readers. My comment is quoted in your 131 message.
Heather L wrote: "☯Emily has reviews on Booklikes wrote: "I remember a group discussion somewhere about Jane Eyre where people were discussing..."And now you just ruined it for anyone who ha..."
I created a spoiler for the original post. You have the spoiler mentioned in this comment.
Heather L wrote: "☯Emily has reviews on Booklikes wrote: "Heather L wrote: "☯Emily has reviews on Booklikes wrote: "I remember a group discussion somewhere about Jane Eyre where people were discussing Rochester and ..."(view spoiler)
Heather L wrote: "☯Emily has reviews on Booklikes wrote: "I remember a group discussion somewhere about Jane Eyre where people were discussing Rochester..."And now you just ruined it for anyone who ha..."
What did I spoil for you? I think that most people know that (view spoiler)
Not everyone might agree with me, but I think if we are discussing a small section of a book, like we are with Gone with the Wind, you don't need spoilers if you are discussing just that section. You would need to put in spoilers if you wanted to reference something from a later chapter that others might not have read. I assume that anyone reading or commenting on that thread have read it or don't care if they read spoilers.If you have read the whole book, you need to be careful when discussing small sections of the book. For instance, if you know Ralph dies in chapter 19, you won't mention it if we are discussing Ralph in chapters 1-9. I remember a group discussion somewhere about Jane Eyre where people were discussing (view spoiler) That is a major spoiler!
Charlotte has a great suggestion. I use aids like Sparknotes or Shmoop if I read a book that is complicated. The comments really help in understanding themes or complicated passages, etc.
Welcome, Kinga. You can read with us when you have the time. I don't think any of us read every selection, so join us when you can. Do you read the books in English or Hungarian?
This comment is for those readers who like Scarlet. This is what she feels about you: "The library was in semidarkness... The dim room with towering walls completely filled with dark books depressed her. It was not the place which she would have chosen for a tryst such as she hoped this one would be. Large numbers of books always depressed her, as did people who like to read large numbers of books."
Just beginning Part 2.
Welcome to Nina, Michelle and Rin. Next month, we are reading The Moonstone, which is one of the first detective novels published.
I got started with classics when I read Pride and Prejudice.
Welcome, Ruby. I am also from NJ. I live in Essex County.
Warm welcomes to Laura and Milos.
I have checked to see how Nicolle did it and I can't find it anywhere. I, personally, would put it in the upcoming reads folder, but I don't think it really matters as long as the members can find it.
Danielle, you can sign me up for November.
