Gone with the Wind
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Rhett and Melanie - did they...?
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No. Neither would do that, besides Rhett had just lost his child. And he always knew how to read women. It just wasn't done, they were only very good friends who loved other people.
Wow, I never thought of it like that. That is some really deep thinking. I love this book so much, and it's nice to have a new perspective on it. Thanks :)
I don't if it's a generational or cultural difference but I would never get that from those passages. I mean men and women CAN be close friends without ever having sex.
Absolutely not. You *are* off the deep end; Rhett and Melanie never slept together.
Megan wrote: "Absolutely not.
You *are* off the deep end; Rhett and Melanie never slept together."
Amazing discussion, thank you.
You *are* off the deep end; Rhett and Melanie never slept together."
Amazing discussion, thank you.
Riley wrote: "Megan wrote: "Absolutely not. You *are* off the deep end; Rhett and Melanie never slept together."
Amazing discussion, thank you."
Well, this is so improbable as to not even warrant discussion. Melanie(!) would *never* cheat on Ashley.
I looked at the passage myself and it blows my mind how anyone can infer them having sex. Melanie is talking with Rhett over sandwiches and coffee, then convinces him to sleep.
From the book:
"Yes. I promised Captain Butler that if he would go to sleep I would sit up with her all night."
That's all that is happening: Rhett sleeping, Melanie sitting with Bonnie Blue.
No. That would have been totally out of character for Melanie, and Rhett respected her above all women.
I loved your take on this, Riley! I think it shows how a story plays out in different minds. I always admired the relationship that Rhett had with Melanie. It was unique and very deep, hence the reason she went into him and talked with him, convincing him to eat and sleep. The sound of the bed and boots dropping to the floor were the author 'showing' rather than 'telling' the actions that we couldn't 'see'. Because she was already pregnant with Ashley's child, this whole scene and Melanie sitting with Bonnie Blue, took its toll on Melanie and she suffered a miscarriage, which ultimately killed her. Yes, Melanie had confided in Rhett about her pregnancy, again showing the unique relationship they had for one another. They understood one another and had great respect. Terrific character development going on!
I have never thought of their interaction in that way. Rhett was grieving for his daughter and respected Melanie too much to even think of such a thing and it's a novel set in the 19th century so moral standards were high. Besides, Melanie did not tell Rhett she was pregnant - he understood that without being told. Ashley was simply to weak to refuse her what she wanted.If Scarlett and Rhett had been in this situation, Rhett would have simply said no-do not even think about it and thatt's all. Ashley even could not refuse when Scarlett asked him to work in her mills.But What do you think Melanie told Rhett to convince him to burry his daughter I have always wished Mitchel would have hinted what Melanie and Rhetttalked about because I thought no one would persuade him to let burry his daughter as he even threatened to kill Scarlett if she did burry her.?
I think because of Rhett's admiration and respect for Melanie, he listened when she told him it would be best to bury Bonnie Blue. He saw her as the voice of reason and Melanie was able to break through that tough demeanor he kept for Scarlett. I think Rhett was also able to cry and show his emotions in front of Melanie, something he did not do with Scarlett, therefore releasing some of that hurt and bitterness for what happened to Bonnie Blue. He was then able to eat, sleep and do what was best for his daughter.
Not to belabor the point, but Rhett & Melanie having sex with Bonnie's dead body in the room? That is messed up. And maybe Rhett is out of his mind with grief at the moment but Melanie is not. It would be completely out of character for her to do that.
No! No! No! ..... Out of character for each of them! I shudder to think what else you've misconstrued in this novel!
Couldn’t it be what she heard was Melanie trying to talk some sense into Rhett and she managed to talk him into getting some rest so he agreed to lie down hence the body hitting the bed and she removed his boots for him...?As far as getting pregnant perhaps it was an accident despite trying to prevent it.
Deborah wrote: "I loved your take on this, Riley! I think it shows how a story plays out in different minds. I always admired the relationship that Rhett had with Melanie. It was unique and very deep, hence the re..."But she’s literally completely wrong.
Suzanne wrote: "Yes I'm years behind on this discussion, but I came to the very same conclusion -- that Melanie and Rhett consoled each other in the most intimate way. I don't think it was intentional by either bu..."But you’d be wrong. What about Melanie suggests she slept with Rhett?
I wish people wouldn’t come up with obviously wrong ideas like this. It’d be like Scarlett sleeping with, I don’t know, Jonas Wilkerson or Will Benteen. Never happened.
Suzanne wrote: "Read the chapter again after Bonnie dies and Rhett won't leave her or bury her because she was afraid of the dark. Rhett is consumed by guilt and grief, finally Melanie comes and he let's her in th..."Nope. Don't need to because I'm re-reading Gone with the wind and just read that part.
To paraphrase: Mammy sits by the door and hears nothing, only a low humming sound--Melanie convincing Rhett to bury Bonnie. Melanie then asks for coffee and sandwiches. Rhett and Melanie eat:"{Mammy} could distinguish nothing except the clatter of silver on china, and the muffled soft tones of Melanie's voice."
Rhett then goes to bed. Melanie spends the night watching over Bonnie Blue. You obviously don't understand Melanie at all if you think she would be unfaithful to Ashley at all. You are creating drama where there is none. *Nothing* happened between Melanie and Rhett and I know nothing happened between Scarlett and Will/Jonas. That is my *whole point*. It *never* happened, so no, I don't need to "keep an open mind". Thinking Melanie slept with Rhett is as nonsensical as that other post where someone things Phillipe was Scarlett's father!
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When Melanie goes to address Rhett after Bonnie's death, do they have sex?
I'm referring to the following passage:
"For a long time Mammy strained her sharp ears but she could distinguish nothing except the clatter of silver on china, and the muffled soft tones of Melanie's voice. Then she heard the creaking of the bed as a heavy body fell upon it and, soon after, the sound of boots dropped to the floor. After an interval, Melanie appeared in the doorway but, strive though she might, mammy could not see past her into the room. Melanie looked tired and there were tears glistening on her lashes but her face was serene again."
Particularly the creaking of a bed as a body fell upon it and the boots dropping to the floor.
Mitchell does add a few lines later:
"Yes, I promised Captain Butler that if he would go to sleep I would sit by her all night."
So clearly Melanie tells Mammy this, but upon reading it this rather took me aback (my first read - I've seen the film adaptation more times than I can count).
Choosing to portray this from Mammy's perspective rather than Melanie's or Rhett's: why? Seems like it could have easy had the conversation between the two, considering that we see situations like this throughout the book that are portrayed. Why not this one?
Right on the next page, at Chapter 60, Scarlett is suddenly under "an eerie sense of disaster to come" .
And of course, right afterwards Melanie becomes pregnant and has a miscarriage. In addition to this, Scarlett comes home after receiving the telegram that Melanie is ill. Upon which the following exchange happens between Rhett and Scarlett.
"'You did not know she was going to have a baby?'
She could not even shake her head.
'Ah well. I suppose not. I don't think she told anyone. Sh wanted it to be a surprise. But I knew.'
'You knew? But surely she didn't tell you!'
'She didn't have to tell me. I knew. She's been so-happy these last two months I knew it couldn't mean anything else.'"
Then he refuses to go in the house to say his final goodbyes, then abandons Scarlett afterwards. I can't find the passage, but doesn't the book mention earlier that Ashley and Melanie take certain strides to make sure they don't have a baby? Melanie wanting one so badly but Ashley refusing because it would kill her. So why would Ashley, of all people, suddenly change his mind? It came off to me that Melanie and Rhett had sex, Melanie died and it spurs Rhett to leave Scarlett (despite him already planning to do so).
I know that might be an outrageous theory. It just stuck me as odd given these descriptions without context, perspective choice and characterization. Am I off the deep end here, or is there a possibility for such a thing?