Gone with the Wind
question
Why didn't Rhett Butler kill Ashley Wilkes (or at least thought of doing so)?
deleted member
(last edited
Apr 04, 2013 06:12AM
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Apr 04, 2013 06:11AM
One thing in Gone With the Wind thats an interesting question.
By the last chapter of the story, just as Rhett openly reveals his love for Scarlett before he leaves her, he tells Scarlett he loved her so much that he would have killed Frank Kennedy out of jealousy if Frank hadn't been died from the Ku Klux Klan raid on the shanty town.
This shows just how violent and immoral Rhett Butler is.
So I've really been wondering about this. Ashley Wilkes had Scarlett's love for years and Rhett revealed to Scarlett of how much he goddamn envied Ashley Wilkes for having her heart just before the rape scene after Ashley's birthday party.
He was drunk when he told Scarlett this and was openly revealing many thoughts he had of her that he kept too himself particularly on her stupidity of wanting Ashley who she didn't really know.
But I find it amusing that he admits his jealousy of Ashley and his contempt for Scarlett. Yet not a sinlge time in this conversation nor any where else in the story does he ever admit about wanting to kill Ashley or even at least hurt him. He never had any outbursts of violence towards Ashley, not even a verbal outburst.Its as thought Rhett had no intention of hurting Ashley as opposed ot how he wanted to kill Kennedy during his marriage with Scarlett.
So I am looking for your opinions. Why didn't Rhett ever tried to kill Ashley in the story?
My thought is that he actually felt sorry for Ashly and at the same time respected him. He felt sorry for Ashley because he is trying his best to remain faithful to his wife Melanie and is fighting as hard as he can to avoid committing adultery. However Scarlett is so damn persistent about getting Ashley that he find shimself nearly succumbing to her and only his strong code of honor prevents him from taking Scarlett into bed.
I stated that I felt Rhett ahd some respect for Ashley. Well early in the book Ashley was the only one to defend Rhett when he was being outcasted by the Southern gentleman at the BBQ party early in the story for speaking the blunt truths about how a war with the North would have resulted in.
Furthermore, I think Rhett sees Ashley much in the same way as he sees Melanie-someone who was genuinely a nice person in the wrong place at the wrong time. The only resentment Rhett had towards Ashley was that he was unfortunate to be the object of Scarlett's desire.
This can easily been seen in Rhett's response to Scarlett when Scarlett finally realizes how incompatible she was with Ashley and she was telling Rhett what a weakling she discovered him to be.
“No. If you must see him as he really is, see him straight. He’s only a gentleman caught in a world he doesn’t belong in, trying to make a poor best of it by the rules of the world that’s gone.”
So I felt he had some respect for Ashley going by his response to Scarlett belittling him in the final chapter.
I already hold the opinion in addition, Rhett felt a sense of pity towards Ashley for being an outdated gentleman living in the wrong place in the wrong time. However I also think he felt just how frustrated and agonize Ashley was as Scarlett chased him. I think a major reason why Rhett was no longer interested in Scarlett by the story's end was that he feared being her "object of obssession". Taken from the last chapter.
To add on, I think a big reason why Rhett was no longer interested in Scarlett by the last chapter was because he feared being her "object" of obsession. Taken from the book.
“Don’t look so determined, Scarlett! You frighten me. I see you are contemplating the transfer of your tempestuous affections from Ashley to me and I fear for my liberty and my peace of mind. No, Scarlett, I will not be pursued as the luckless Ashley was pursued.”
That is proof that he probably pitied Ashley for being a victim of Scarlett's self-centeredness.
What do you think? Whats your opinion why Rhett never tried to kill Ashley? Do you think Rhett admired Ashley to an extent and also pitied him at the same time which is the opinion I hold?
By the last chapter of the story, just as Rhett openly reveals his love for Scarlett before he leaves her, he tells Scarlett he loved her so much that he would have killed Frank Kennedy out of jealousy if Frank hadn't been died from the Ku Klux Klan raid on the shanty town.
This shows just how violent and immoral Rhett Butler is.
So I've really been wondering about this. Ashley Wilkes had Scarlett's love for years and Rhett revealed to Scarlett of how much he goddamn envied Ashley Wilkes for having her heart just before the rape scene after Ashley's birthday party.
He was drunk when he told Scarlett this and was openly revealing many thoughts he had of her that he kept too himself particularly on her stupidity of wanting Ashley who she didn't really know.
But I find it amusing that he admits his jealousy of Ashley and his contempt for Scarlett. Yet not a sinlge time in this conversation nor any where else in the story does he ever admit about wanting to kill Ashley or even at least hurt him. He never had any outbursts of violence towards Ashley, not even a verbal outburst.Its as thought Rhett had no intention of hurting Ashley as opposed ot how he wanted to kill Kennedy during his marriage with Scarlett.
So I am looking for your opinions. Why didn't Rhett ever tried to kill Ashley in the story?
My thought is that he actually felt sorry for Ashly and at the same time respected him. He felt sorry for Ashley because he is trying his best to remain faithful to his wife Melanie and is fighting as hard as he can to avoid committing adultery. However Scarlett is so damn persistent about getting Ashley that he find shimself nearly succumbing to her and only his strong code of honor prevents him from taking Scarlett into bed.
I stated that I felt Rhett ahd some respect for Ashley. Well early in the book Ashley was the only one to defend Rhett when he was being outcasted by the Southern gentleman at the BBQ party early in the story for speaking the blunt truths about how a war with the North would have resulted in.
Furthermore, I think Rhett sees Ashley much in the same way as he sees Melanie-someone who was genuinely a nice person in the wrong place at the wrong time. The only resentment Rhett had towards Ashley was that he was unfortunate to be the object of Scarlett's desire.
This can easily been seen in Rhett's response to Scarlett when Scarlett finally realizes how incompatible she was with Ashley and she was telling Rhett what a weakling she discovered him to be.
“No. If you must see him as he really is, see him straight. He’s only a gentleman caught in a world he doesn’t belong in, trying to make a poor best of it by the rules of the world that’s gone.”
So I felt he had some respect for Ashley going by his response to Scarlett belittling him in the final chapter.
I already hold the opinion in addition, Rhett felt a sense of pity towards Ashley for being an outdated gentleman living in the wrong place in the wrong time. However I also think he felt just how frustrated and agonize Ashley was as Scarlett chased him. I think a major reason why Rhett was no longer interested in Scarlett by the story's end was that he feared being her "object of obssession". Taken from the last chapter.
To add on, I think a big reason why Rhett was no longer interested in Scarlett by the last chapter was because he feared being her "object" of obsession. Taken from the book.
“Don’t look so determined, Scarlett! You frighten me. I see you are contemplating the transfer of your tempestuous affections from Ashley to me and I fear for my liberty and my peace of mind. No, Scarlett, I will not be pursued as the luckless Ashley was pursued.”
That is proof that he probably pitied Ashley for being a victim of Scarlett's self-centeredness.
What do you think? Whats your opinion why Rhett never tried to kill Ashley? Do you think Rhett admired Ashley to an extent and also pitied him at the same time which is the opinion I hold?
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I agree, that and the respect that he had for Melanie, he wouldn't do anything to hurt her.
No point in killing ash.Ash was a dreamer, he knew better than anyone what would it be like to live with Scarlett. Ash truly loved Mel and he fancied Scarlett but not mad enough to ditch Mel. Hence he's no threat. actually he was never in the way. Had Rhett done anything to him Scarlett would have left him asap.
the irony is that Scarlett would never have realized she'd been mooning about that idiot who cud not man up and tell her off.
the irony is that Scarlett would never have realized she'd been mooning about that idiot who cud not man up and tell her off.
deleted member
Apr 06, 2013 05:24AM
0 votes
Well, first of all, I don't know that he actually would have killed Kennedy.
Second, .... Rhett was a good person; people thought he was a scamp and a bit of a rogue, which he was, to a certain extent. But, as Jessica mentioned, he respected Melanie. True. More than that, he had certain insights and a sense of ethics. His better nature wouldn't allow him to do such a thing. However, of course, that does ignore his darker side, the I'm going to take you upstairs and do what I want with you regardless of whether or not you say no side.
I guess we could look at it in one of two ways. His better nature, in that type of instance, would win out. How could he hurt Melanie, a good and true woman, and her child? Now, if it was about his darker side ...? Scarlet would never have forgiven him, whereas she would have forgiven him for Kennedy.
Second, .... Rhett was a good person; people thought he was a scamp and a bit of a rogue, which he was, to a certain extent. But, as Jessica mentioned, he respected Melanie. True. More than that, he had certain insights and a sense of ethics. His better nature wouldn't allow him to do such a thing. However, of course, that does ignore his darker side, the I'm going to take you upstairs and do what I want with you regardless of whether or not you say no side.
I guess we could look at it in one of two ways. His better nature, in that type of instance, would win out. How could he hurt Melanie, a good and true woman, and her child? Now, if it was about his darker side ...? Scarlet would never have forgiven him, whereas she would have forgiven him for Kennedy.
It has been a long time since I've read it, but I think Rhett secretly respected Ashley. He certainly had great respect for Melanie. I also think Rhett was, in part, full of sh*t - your typical womanizing scoundrel. Scarlett was beautiful and he loved her spirit and he was certainly lustful toward her, but I don't think Rhett thought of her as an adult - and indeed, she wasn't. So while he may have said he'd kill someone for her, I don't buy it. His love for her wasn't worth murder, and that's why, in the end, he walks away from her.
I think that Rhett knew that he didn't have to fear Ashley would commit adultery with Scarlett, so Ashley wasn't a threat. And Ashley wasn't in the way of Rhett marrying Scarlet, so there was no reason to kill him. Also if he killed Ashley, I think he feared that Scarlett would never get over him. He would perfect forever young and dead.
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