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Chapter 45
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Gone with the Wind, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Civil War and Reconstruction
Looking Forward vs. Looking Back
Classism and Racism
Practicality, Tenacity, and Selfishness
Women and Power
Summary
Analysis
The next day, news of the KKK incident spreads through town. Every Klan member is ready to flee, but India goes from house to house telling everyone that Rhett said not to leave. They trust him only because he saved Hugh and Ashley. Belle Watling tells Tom Jaffrey that a riotous group had been to her house the night before and broke her mirrors. She gives their names and says they’re regulars. Jaffrey asks Belle’s girls to appear before the provost.
It is surprising that Rhett helps people he dislikes and who despise him, but also that Belle Watling helps people who despise her. Again, there’s more to both Rhett and Belle than people think. And at least based on their actions, they’re just as loyal to the Cause as the rest of the Old Guard Atlantans are.
Themes
Frank and Tommy Wellburn’s bodies are found behind Belle’s, pistols in their hands. The Atlantans hate that they owe their lives to Rhett Butler and Belle Watling, the two most despised people in town. They knew the Yankees are amused to see the arrogant Southerners humiliated like this. However, the Yankees feel bad for Scarlett. She was nice to them, and now she’s lost her husband.
The Atlantans are humiliated that their lives were saved with such a disgraceful story. This suggests that they are more honorable than they are practical. The Yankees, though, seem less monstrous than the Southerners think they are, since they’re so sympathetic to Scarlett.
Themes
Dr. Meade is so ashamed about how he’d been saved that he says to Mrs. Meade that he’d rather have been hanged. To his shock, Mrs. Meade says it’s more important that he’s alive. They argue about Rhett, whom Dr. Meade loathes, and whether Rhett is motivated to help former Confederates because of his relationship with Scarlett or with Melanie.
For some women, the clear moral distinctions of the past aren’t as useful now: Mrs. Meade would rather deal with the supposed disgrace of her husband having been at a brothel than lose him. While Rhett is obviously drawn to Scarlett, he is uniquely kind and courteous around Melanie, suggesting that both women have a transformative effect on him.
Themes
A Black coachman comes to Melanie’s house the next day and leads her out to a carriage. Belle Watling asks Melanie to get in with her for a moment. Melanie holds Belle’s hand and thanks her for everything she did to save the men. Belle tells Melanie it wasn’t safe of Melanie to send a thank you note to her house. Belle doesn’t talk like a “bad woman;” in fact, she seems very nice. Belle apologizes for saying Ashley was in a brothel; Ashley isn’t a regular. Melanie says she only feels gratitude towards Belle. Belle says she hasn’t forgotten how Melanie accepted her donation for the hospital. Then, Belle says she’d never help Scarlett, since Scarlett is a “cold woman.” Melanie defends Scarlett and says she’ll be proud to speak to Belle in public, but Belle insists it’s not safe to do so.
The fact that Melanie feels proud to be indebted to Belle proves that Melanie sees through a person’s outer appearance to their good intentions. She does the same thing with Rhett. Calling Scarlett a “cold woman” suggests that, although Scarlett has tenacity, she doesn’t appear warm or loving to other people. Melanie’s defense of Scarlett suggests that Melanie sees something good—either real or imagined—beneath Scarlett’s surface. However, Melanie and Belle can’t overcome the rigid class distinctions that guide their society, which is why Belle says they can’t speak in public.
Themes
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