Brent Tarleton Character Analysis in Gone with the Wind

Brent Tarleton is Stuart Tarleton’s twin; they’re two of Scarlett’s potential beaus at the beginning of the novel. They live with their mother, Beatrice Tarleton. The twins are the epitome of Southern masculinity; they are athletic, chivalrous, and proud. They love to have fun and despise boring activities like reading—they’ve been expelled from college several times. Brent and Stuart are equally charmed by Scarlett, but after Scarlett goes to Atlanta, Brent gets engaged to her sister Carreen. However, Brent dies before they can be married, and his death inspires Carreen to join a convent after the war is over.

Brent Tarleton Character Timeline in Gone with the Wind

The timeline below shows where the character Brent Tarleton appears in Gone with the Wind. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Scarlett O’Hara is sitting with twins Brent and Stuart Tarleton outside at Tara, the O’Hara’s plantation, in April 1961. Scarlett isn’t beautiful,... (full context)

Practicality, Tenacity, and Selfishness Theme Icon

Brent and Stuart have just been expelled from the University of Georgia. Their brothers, Tom and... (full context)

Charmed by Scarlett, Brent and Stuart give up the subject of war. Scarlett asks how Beatrice Tarleton, the twins’... (full context)

...contrasts,” divided into bright sun and deep shade, placid cotton fields and sinister forests. Scarlett, Brent, and Stuart hear the enslaved people coming in from the fields and setting the table.... (full context)

Brent and Stuart bring up a barbecue at the Wilkeses’ the next day. They tease Scarlett,... (full context)

Brent and Stuart call for Jeems, their once playmate and now personal enslaved man, and mount... (full context)

Brent suggests they go to the Wilkeses’, but Stuart doesn’t want to see India Wilkes. He’d... (full context)

Brent then suggests they go to the Cade Calvert’s. Stuart, however, doesn’t want to see his... (full context)

...the saloons where fights would break out. At one of these fights, Tony Fontaine shot Brent, and Stuart shot Cade Calvert. Their mother then sent them to school, where they had... (full context)

Brent and Stuart decide to go to Able’s. When Jeems complains, Stuart tells him to go... (full context)

...the O’Haras and shows her love by chastening them. Mammy scolds Scarlett for not inviting Brent and Stuart to supper and asks why her voice sounds hoarse. Scarlett changes the subject... (full context)

...from the carriage while Frank Kennedy, Suellen’s 40-year-old beau, rushes to help Suellen. Stuart and Brent Tarleton rush to greet Scarlett, who wonders where Ashley and Melanie are. (full context)

...silence. Then an angry murmur starts. Deep down, Scarlett feels what Rhett said makes sense. Brent and Stuart confront Rhett, who explains that he’d only meant what Napoleon meant when he... (full context)

...tells them news from the County and cracks a few jokes. He tells them of Brent and Stuart’s “dispatches of bravery,” and Scarlett feels proud as if they still belonged to... (full context)

...India at Twelve Oaks again. They’d always adored each other till Scarlett stole him. And Brent is courting Carreen at Tara. Scarlett, upset to lose two beaus who had been obsessed... (full context)

...Joe Fontaine, a new husband and father! Lafayette Munroe, who’d been engaged to Cathleen Calvert! Brent, Stuart, Thomas, and Boyd Tarleton! She can’t read on. Rhett looks sympathetic and says there’ll... (full context)

...pick cotton. Carreen picks Suellen’s share, but she’s frail and picks slowly. She’s sad because Brent died, but Scarlett doesn’t know this. (full context)

Looking Forward vs. Looking Back Theme Icon

...is happy to see Frank—her beau—again. Carreen talks with one of the soldiers who knew Brent Tarleton. Melanie, usually shy around men, flirts with a soldier. She’s still weak but wants... (full context)

...they walk outside together. Scarlett follows. They walk over to two tombstones, one engraved for Brent and the other for Stuart. Scarlett’s sympathy for the Tarletons disappears—they must have spent a... (full context)

...says they must raise their boys to be like the men they lost. Thinking of Brent, Carreen says the men can’t be replaced. (full context)

...Will about this, he explains that Carreen finds comfort in praying for Ellen and for Brent, whom she got engaged to while Scarlett was in Atlanta. Scarlett had no idea. She... (full context)

...doesn’t know what’s been happening here. Carreen is joining a convent; she never got over Brent. Scarlett scoffs and says Charles died but she didn’t join a convent. Will says that... (full context)