Stuart Tarleton Character Analysis in Gone with the Wind

Stuart Tarleton and his twin Brent are 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. Stuart was once attached to India Wilkes, but Brent convinced him that India was boring, and they both set off in pursuit of Scarlett instead. However, at the Wilkes’ barbecue, Stuart and India show signs that they still have feelings for one another. When the war begins, Brent and Stuart are two of the most avid participants. Stuart is killed early on in the war.

Stuart Tarleton Character Timeline in Gone with the Wind

The timeline below shows where the character Stuart 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, but she... (full context)

Practicality, Tenacity, and Selfishness Theme Icon

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

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

...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. The twins... (full context)

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

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

Brent then suggests they go to the Cade Calvert’s. Stuart, however, doesn’t want to see his Yankee stepmother; she still hasn’t gotten over the time... (full context)

Stuart says they should go see Able Wynder, the elected lieutenant of the “Troop” (the Confederates).... (full context)

...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 missed the... (full context)

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

...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 and says... (full context)

...helps Scarlett 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)

...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 said God... (full context)

...is engaged to Charles. Hetty chimes in that Scarlett is as good as engaged to Stuart, but Honey says Scarlett only cares for Ashley. Scarlett is humiliated. The girls continue to... (full context)

...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 her. (full context)

Then Gerald shares that Stuart is courting India at Twelve Oaks again. They’d always adored each other till Scarlett stole... (full context)

...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 be... (full context)

...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 fortune on the tombstones. Scarlett... (full context)

...of being jealous of Scarlett. India says she isn’t sorry, thinking of how Scarlett trapped Stuart and Charles, and how it seemed she wanted to trap Ashley too. Melanie says Scarlett... (full context)

Looking Forward vs. Looking Back Theme Icon

...man and she never should’ve housed him, and India is still upset that Scarlett took Stuart from her. Melanie says India is vile, and she never wants to see her again.... (full context)