tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post2282027529188567546..comments2024-03-27T12:13:34.159-05:00Comments on The Moral Premise Blog: Story Structure Craft: GONE WITH THE WIND: Her Own Worst EnemyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-13852395422795402782014-04-10T10:56:53.260-05:002014-04-10T10:56:53.260-05:00Anna,
I had to laugh when I brought this concept ...Anna,<br /><br />I had to laugh when I brought this concept up with my daughter about Scarlett being both the protagonist & antagonist. She said, "well, of course!" It's amazing sometimes when I apply great powers of analysis and come up with the same conclusion other people know intuitively. Maybe it's a female thing: you got it right away, too.<br /><br />I'm curious about how many other stories follow this pattern, and how it affects the moral premise. (Send me an email if you want to chitchat about your character -- just click on my name in this msg).Ed Godwinhttp://www.ejgodwin.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-20658636712902827942014-04-09T23:19:43.218-05:002014-04-09T23:19:43.218-05:00I read only a beginning and knew right away Scarle...I read only a beginning and knew right away Scarlet is her own antogonist. That's what I'm creating in my current story. <br /><br />Anna LabnoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-45392250621094014202014-04-09T17:08:23.900-05:002014-04-09T17:08:23.900-05:00When I think of “Gone With The Wind” the first two...When I think of “Gone With The Wind” the first two words that come to mind our ‘willpower’ and ‘survival’. <br /><br />As Ed states, Scarlette’s strength is her willpower. However she selfishly applies this willpower throughout the movie. Survival seems like a natural goal for Scarlette. Margaret Mitchell puts her protagonist on the moral and physical losing side of America’s bloodiest war. On top of this, MM places her beloved Tara right in the path of Sherman’s March. A lot to handle for a young southern belle. <br /><br />Rhett’s strength is also his willpower. He daringly busts the blockades in order to deliver goods to the south. His goal is profit and he spends his money on gambling and prostitutes. <br /><br />In both cases, they use their strength to achieve short term goals. <br /><br />Rhett seems to be isolated as he does not get caught up in the whims of war, he does not fit the role of a southern gentlemen. In fact, he is rejected by society in his hometown of Charleston. Scarlette is isolated due to her selfish actions. <br /><br />Melanie, on the other hand, is the epitome of selfless. Perhaps to a fault. Although she doesn’t survive, she marries the man she loves, has children, and probably smiles more than anybody in the movie, indicating happiness. She also is respected by many characters, including Rhett who states in the movie that there are few people he respects and only a few whose respect he would like to have.<br /><br />And yes, I think this is a tragedy. Scarlette, nor Rhett, find happiness in the end.<br /> <br />So here is an amateur stab at the MP:<br /><br />Selfish willpower leads to short term gratification and isolation, selfless willpower leads to happiness and respect.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10250873466944856530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-30950736039946646692014-04-09T17:07:47.207-05:002014-04-09T17:07:47.207-05:00When I think of “Gone With The Wind” the first two...When I think of “Gone With The Wind” the first two words that come to mind our ‘willpower’ and ‘survival’. <br /><br />As Ed states, Scarlette’s strength is her willpower. However she selfishly applies this willpower throughout the movie. Survival seems like a natural goal for Scarlette. Margaret Mitchell puts her protagonist on the moral and physical losing side of America’s bloodiest war. On top of this, MM places her beloved Tara right in the path of Sherman’s March. A lot to handle for a young southern belle. <br /><br />Rhett’s strength is also his willpower. He daringly busts the blockades in order to deliver goods to the south. His goal is profit and he spends his money on gambling and prostitutes. <br /><br />In both cases, they use their strength to achieve short term goals. <br /><br />Rhett seems to be isolated as he does not get caught up in the whims of war, he does not fit the role of a southern gentlemen. In fact, he is rejected by society in his hometown of Charleston. Scarlette is isolated due to her selfish actions. <br /><br />Melanie, on the other hand, is the epitome of selfless. Perhaps to a fault. Although she doesn’t survive, she marries the man she loves, has children, and probably smiles more than anybody in the movie, indicating happiness. She also is respected by many characters, including Rhett who states in the movie that there are few people he respects and only a few whose respect he would like to have.<br /><br />And yes, I think this is a tragedy. Scarlette, nor Rhett, find happiness in the end.<br /> <br />So here is an amateur stab at the MP:<br /><br />Selfish willpower leads to short term gratification and isolation, selfless willpower leads to happiness and respect.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10250873466944856530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-23104387440754180932014-04-08T10:43:14.787-05:002014-04-08T10:43:14.787-05:00Great Job, Ed!
I think you've done a fine jo...Great Job, Ed! <br /><br />I think you've done a fine job of working through GWTW - and showing the rest of us that sometimes we don't need more characters - we just have to be more astute in the development and understanding of those we already have. <br /><br />And I love the moral premise you proposed, Stan - it's so right on. That's why we follow you!<br /><br />Linda Anger<br /><br />p.s. Stan will be speaking about Irony and Plots at the Detroit Working Writers 2014 Conference on May 17. Open to writers of all skill levels. <br /><br />http://www.dww-writers-conference.org<br />Linda Angerhttp://www.thewriteconcept.comnoreply@blogger.com