Miss Pittypat Hamilton Character Analysis in Gone with the Wind

Miss Pittypat Hamilton is the elderly single aunt who raised Melanie and Charles Hamilton. She owns a brick house on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. She is prone to fainting spells which she often brings on purposefully, and she loves to gossip although she often gets the facts wrong. Miss Pittypat is happy to take Scarlett and Wade in after Scarlett is widowed, though Scarlett finds her ridiculous and difficult to live with. She’s very involved in Atlanta’s high society, working for the hospitals during the war and helping to organize various charity events as well.

Miss Pittypat Hamilton Character Timeline in Gone with the Wind

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

Practicality, Tenacity, and Selfishness Theme Icon

...and Wade to Atlanta. There, Melanie has been staying with her and Charles’s aunt, Miss Pittypat Hamilton. Scarlett hates the thought of staying with Ashley’s wife, but the County and the... (full context)

Looking Forward vs. Looking Back Theme Icon

...mud splashing everywhere. Scarlett stands on the train in her black veil, looking for Miss Pittypat. A thin Black man with grizzled hair approaches her, holding his hat. He introduces himself... (full context)

The Civil War and Reconstruction Theme Icon

...a house with his wife and son Phil to greet her. Dr. Meade says Miss Pittypat promised Scarlett will work at Mrs. Meade’s hospital. Scarlett confesses she’s already promised to work... (full context)

...that Ellen and Mammy maintained. As they approach the end of town, Scarlett sees Miss Pittypat’s red-brick house. Plump Miss Pittypat and Melanie, both dressed in black, stand on the porch.... (full context)

...problem before the war, when people had large houses and endless food. Melanie and Miss Pittypat urge Scarlett to stay for good because they love her, and they insist her place... (full context)

...because she’s one of the few women he’s met who has sense. He and Miss Pittypat no longer speak because he once insulted her for wanting to invest money in a... (full context)

...understand why Charles was so shy and delicate. His only role models had been Miss Pittypat and Melanie, who are both sweet and childlike. Miss Pittypat is always swooning due to... (full context)

...than Mammy’s. Scarlett slowly regains her youthful energy. She’s jealous of Melanie and dislikes Miss Pittypat, but she’s happy. The enslaved staff even take Wade Hamilton off her hands. She’s only... (full context)

...and sing. The caravan waves to Scarlett as it passes. She, Melly (Melanie’s nickname) and Pittypat can’t go because they are in mourning. Scarlett worked so hard for the bazaar, embroidering... (full context)

Pittypat comes in and pulls Scarlett from the window. She scolds Scarlett for waving at boys... (full context)

...leaving no one to man their booth at the bazaar. They ask if Melanie and Pittypat would take over the booth. The two start to refuse, saying they are in mourning.... (full context)

The elderly women who organized the bazaar glide around importantly, Pittypat at their heels. The Black musicians, led by Mrs. Merriwether’s coachman, Old Levi, take the... (full context)

...Oaks, a precious memory he will never forget. The music ends as Scarlett sees Miss Pittypat across the room, her eyes wide with horror. (full context)

The next morning over breakfast, Miss Pittypat wails over how “conspicuous” Rhett Butler made Scarlett. Melanie says Rhett must be a brave... (full context)

...in with a letter for Melanie. Melanie opens it and lets out a cry, and Pittypat screams “Ashley’s dead!” Scarlett, who had not been paying attention, feels her blood go cold.... (full context)

Scarlett tells Melanie and Pittypat about her letter. She asks them to stand by her when Gerald arrives the following... (full context)

The next day, Pittypat stays in bed while Scarlett and Melanie greet Gerald. Gerald kisses Scarlett and pinches Melanie’s... (full context)

...at the hospital tired and annoyed. She excuses herself from paying calls with Melanie and Pittypat, and when the sound of their carriage dies away, she sneaks quietly into Melanie’s room.... (full context)

...his personality challenges her. Confusingly, she feels like she loves him—though she knows she doesn’t. Pittypat doesn’t approve of Rhett; she thinks he’s improper and disrespects women. However, Rhett wins her... (full context)

...She believes people speak poorly of him because they don’t understand him. Scarlett agrees with Pittypat that Rhett is disrespectful and looks at women as though they’re his property. But around... (full context)

In the carriage on the way home, Mrs. Merriwether scolds Pittypat, Melanie, and Scarlett for their association with Rhett, “the traitor,” and demands that they cut... (full context)

Mrs. Merriwether gets out at her house, threatening that they’ll be sorry. Miss Pittypat, strangely calm, says she’s grateful that Melanie stood up to Mrs. Merriwether. But should she... (full context)

Now, Miss Pittypat’s home is the only one in Atlanta to receive Rhett Butler. Pittypat knows it is... (full context)

...looking guilty. Melanie says she might faint because Uncle Peter is threatening to tell Miss Pitty that Melanie was talking to Belle Watling. Scarlett is shocked, as Belle Watling is the... (full context)

At Miss Pitty’s house, Pitty, Scarlett, and Melanie are afraid for Ashley. Rumors fly about Lee possibly dying... (full context)

Scarlett, Melanie, and Miss Pittypat sit in their carriage in front of the newspaper office, where they hope to find... (full context)

...kill all the Yankees. Mrs. Meade grabs his arm and cries “no!” Melanie throws Miss Pitty onto Scarlett’s shoulder and climbs into Mrs. Meade’s carriage to escort her home. She tells... (full context)

Scarlett puts Miss Pitty to bed then goes to the Meades’. Mrs. Meade is upstairs, and Melanie is helping... (full context)

On Miss Pittypat’s veranda, Dr. Meade explains that General Johnston is standing guard like an “iron rampart.” Mrs.... (full context)

To ease the tension, Pittypat asks Scarlett to play piano for everyone. Scarlett starts a sad song about a dead... (full context)

...Atlanta is flooded with the wounded. Every hotel, hospital, and home is filled, including Miss Pitty’s. (full context)

...to the cannons. By late afternoon, Confederate soldiers stumble into town, wounded and exhausted. Miss Pitty, Scarlett, and Melanie tend tirelessly to the wounded in their house. Little Wade hangs frightened... (full context)

...in the streets, they hide in their basements. Many of them consider leaving Atlanta. Miss Pitty wants to go to Macon to stay with Old Mrs. Burr, but Scarlett refuses; Mrs.... (full context)

...hushes her. She thinks of a line from the song she sang with Rhett at Pitty’s party, “just a few more steps for to tote the weary load.” (full context)

...fight when they eat like this. Scarlett turns to ask Frank for news of Miss Pittypat, but she catches him looking sorry for them about their poverty. Frank loves Suellen, so... (full context)

...want to share the other horrible things he’s seen, so he tells them that Miss Pitty’s brick house still stands. He saw her in Macon and she plans to return to... (full context)

...can’t be beaten. Melanie and Scarlett are proud of Atlanta. Melanie says that if Aunt Pitty is going back, they’d better go back too. Scarlett snaps that she won’t leave Tara,... (full context)

...him. Peter starts scolding Melanie and Scarlett for not returning to Atlanta to keep Miss Pitty company. He says they should be ashamed. Melanie and Scarlett burst out laughing that Peter... (full context)

...a day in January 1866, Scarlett is in Ellen’s office writing a letter to Miss Pitty explaining again why she and Melanie can’t join her in Atlanta. It’s bitterly cold. Scarlett... (full context)

...says the only person with any money is Rhett Butler. Scarlett had heard from Miss Pitty that Rhett is back in Atlanta and richer than ever. Scarlett calls Rhett a skunk... (full context)

...of ruins. Instinctively, Scarlett looks for Uncle Peter, but of course he isn’t here; Aunt Pitty doesn’t know Scarlett is coming. The quietness of the depot is so unlike the hustle... (full context)

...the Meades’ and the Whitings’ houses had been. Scarlett is happy when she sees Aunt Pitty’s house. Uncle Peter runs out, smiling; Scarlett tells him to get Miss Pitty. (full context)

Miss Pitty serves “hominy” and dried peas for supper. Scarlett swears she’ll never eat these foods again... (full context)

Miss Pitty says the Meades don’t want another home now that they have no children, so they... (full context)

Scarlett asks Pitty about everyone except Rhett. Pitty says the Republicans are putting ideas in the “poor darkies”... (full context)

Scarlett says Rhett wasn’t her beau, then asks where he is. Pitty says he’s being held in the firehouse. While Pitty talks about Rhett’s bravery and his... (full context)

The next morning, Scarlett stays in bed faking sickness until Pitty, Mammy, and Uncle Peter leave. Then she jumps up and puts on her new dress.... (full context)

...think she’s worth $300. Scarlett is humiliated. Rhett asks why she doesn’t live at Miss Pittypat’s instead of Tara. She cries that she can’t let Tara go. He shakes his head... (full context)

...Wade. She starts to cry on his shoulder. He comforts her, saying he won’t tell Pitty, but that Scarlett should stop doing business with Yankees. Frank says he’ll find a way... (full context)

When Frank and Scarlett get to Miss Pitty’s house, Mammy is standing outside looking angry. But when she sees Frank, she smiles. She... (full context)

...new clothes. He laughs merrily, calling Scarlett “Dear Mrs. Kennedy.” He says he stopped at Pittypat’s and heard of her marriage. She asks how he can face her after their last... (full context)

One rainy night, Tony Fontaine knocks on Miss Pitty’s door in the middle of the night. Scarlett and Frank wake up in fright. Tony... (full context)

The Yankees hear that Tony left Miss Pitty’s, so they repeatedly search her house. Pitty didn’t know about Tony’s visit, so she truthfully... (full context)

...been mean to “a helpless child.” Peter says he did his best to care for Pitty all his life. Scarlett says he’s like the Angel Gabriel, and then silence falls. Scarlett... (full context)

...Bureau set Peter free, but Peter says he won’t let “trash” free him. He says Pitty will be upset when he tells her Scarlett let Yankees insult him. Scarlett says she... (full context)

...when he is in town, he’s at Belle Watling’s saloon. He no longer calls at Pitty’s, but Scarlett runs in to him in town all the time. Sometimes he hitches his... (full context)

...bringing Dilcey with them. They move into a house with a backyard that connects to Pitty’s. The top story of the house was destroyed during the siege, and the previous owner... (full context)

That afternoon, a strange man walks over from Melanie’s and finds Scarlett in Pitty’s backyard. He is one of the homeless “riffraff” that Melanie charitably houses and feeds in... (full context)

...with helping Democrats plan to win elections. Ashley also attends these meetings, so everyone at Pitty’s usually spent nights at Melanie’s. (full context)

Later that night, Frank brings Scarlett, the children, and Miss Pitty to Melanie’s and goes to a meeting with Ashley. Scarlett is angry and hurt that... (full context)

Archie spits tobacco juice into the fire and India scolds him. Miss Pitty says she’s glad her father didn’t chew, and Melanie snaps at her for being tactless.... (full context)

...glad; Rhett is the only friend she has tonight. Rhett wants to see Scarlett, but Pitty protests that Scarlett’s mourning and it would be inappropriate for him to see her. Scarlett... (full context)

...Elsing cries and she and Melanie embrace, but Melanie is firm. Mrs. Merriwether cries and Pitty faints. India slips quietly out. Later that night, in the Girl of the Period Saloon,... (full context)

Scarlett invites her friends, old and new, to her house-warming reception. Only Ashley, Melanie, Pitty, Uncle Henry, and the Meades of the Old Guard came. A few others reluctantly agree... (full context)

Wade is very scared the day Scarlett gives birth. That morning, Mammy rushed him to Pitty’s house saying his mother was sick and Wade shouldn’t bother her. Throughout the day, he... (full context)

...it makes her feel better that nobody asked her to host at the party with Pitty, Melanie and India. At home, she dresses carefully in a green dress and bonnet then... (full context)

Miss Pitty suffers the most because she loves Melanie but relies on India to live with her... (full context)

...still in her hand. At the Butlers’ house, she bows to Suellen, Will, Scarlett, and Pittypat before going upstairs. She announces herself gently at Rhett’s door, and he lets her in.... (full context)

Ashley, India, and Aunt Pitty are gathered inside. Ashley looks like a sleepwalker. Scarlett is afraid but refuses to believe... (full context)

...he loves Scarlett. Scarlett promises, kisses Melanie’s hand, and leaves the room. India and Miss Pitty go in. Ashley is nowhere to be seen. Scarlett leans against the wall, her vision... (full context)

...the door and walks into the parlor. The tearful faces of Dilcey, Peter, India and Pitty greet her. India and Pitty come to her, but she snaps at them not to... (full context)