The novel "Scarlett": summary, reviews

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Scarlett, written by Alexandra Ripley, is the sequel to one of the most famous works of American literature. It was created in 1991. Very soon, in 1994, the novel "Scarlett", reviews of which among admirers of M. Mitchell's work turned out to be rather contradictory, was filmed. The book has gained immense popularity, primarily because it was able to return to millions of readers one of the most beautiful and romantic couples in literature.

About the author

When it comes to the American writer Alexander Ripley, the novel "Scarlett" is mentioned first of all. The author made his literary debut in 1972. Ripley owns a number of short stories and historical novels. But it was the novel "Scarlett" that brought popularity to the writer. A summary of the work is given below.

Loss

The action of the novel begins with the funeral of Melanie Wilkes. On this day, Scarlett suddenly realized not only that Melanie was her only and faithful friend, but also that she did not love, and, perhaps, neverdid not love her husband. True love has always been Rhett Butler. However, the realization came too late. Her husband had left both her and Atlanta by then.

Scarlett leaves for Tara, where she learns another sad news. Mamushka, her old nurse, is dying. She sends a telegram to Rhett, asking him to come and say goodbye to the dying maid. Husband Scarlett promises to fulfill the last request of a dying woman - not to leave Scarlett and always take care of her. However, immediately after the death of the old nanny, he shakes his wife with his statement. Rhett made a false promise to the old woman, ostensibly only to calm her down, in reality, no reunion between them will ever happen.

Business

Scarlett returns to Atlanta to fulfill Melanie's last request to take care of Ashley and his son Beau. During this period, an economic crisis is brewing in the United States, and the Wilkes sawmill not only does not bring benefits, but can even burn out at any moment. And Scarlet makes a decision that changes both her life and the financial situation of the once beloved person. She sets about building cottages for which Ashley's sawmill will supply material. In this way, the financial well-being of the Wilkes is decided.

Loneliness

After breaking up with Rhett, the heroine of A. Ripley's novel realizes that she is left all alone in a huge house. She experiences loneliness. She has no one to talk to. Only after drinking alcohol, loneliness and longing seem to recede for a while. And Scarlett starts drinking…

After a few months, realizing that she is going downhill, the heroine of the novel pulls herself together and decides to follow Rhett to Charleston to her mother-in-law in order to bring him back.

Eleanor Butler, not knowing about the gap between the spouses, warmly accepts Scarlett, unlike her younger sister Rhett. In an attempt to arouse jealousy in her husband, Scarlett begins to flirt with one of the gentlemen, but receives only a rebuff from Rhett: she is completely indifferent to him, but he does not intend to watch how much all these rumors upset his mother. Rhett wants a divorce. In return, the husband offers a large sum. Humiliated by such a proposal, the woman agrees to leave, but only at the end of the big Season. Scarlett is not thinking of giving up financial compensation.

Storm on the yacht

One of the last days, the main character persuades her former lover to go on a yacht. But suddenly a terrible storm begins. The yacht is sinking. Only miraculously surviving, they get out to the shore, where, overcome by sudden joy, they make love. In the heat of passion, Rhett confesses his love for Scarlett. However, an hour later he refuses his words.

Deciding to cut Rhett out of her life, Scarlett accepts an invitation from her aunts to go to Savannah for her maternal grandfather's birthday, and at the same time visit the convent where her younger sister was tonsured. Here she also plans to settle the issue of inheritance.

In Savannah, Scarlett lives with her grandfather, a prim and grumpy man who keepstheir daughters and servants in tightrope. A free-spirited woman doesn't like it at all. And she decides to find her paternal relatives. The O'Hara family happily welcomes their relative.

Ireland

At the invitation of one of her friends, Scarlett visits Ireland, her father's homeland. In this country, she is experiencing a real spiritual uplift. But the news that the divorce from Rhett has already been formalized becomes a real blow for the woman. However, little by little the heroine calms down. Scarlett is expecting a baby. She is sure that in such a situation, her ex-husband will not leave her. Soon the woman learns that Butler is married. However, now her daughter becomes the meaning of her existence.

The next stage in the life of the heroine of the novel by A. Ripley is closely connected with the social or political situation in Ireland. In the homeland of her ancestors, Scarlett acquires an estate. Her life is getting better. However, the tragic events, which are preceded by unrest among the Irish, lead to the fact that it becomes dangerous for mothers and daughters to be in the country. Rhett Butler, meanwhile, arrives in Ireland. He became a widow and, as you might guess, left his homeland solely because of his ex-wife. From the Irish rebels, who accuse Scarlett of complicity with the British, her ex-husband saves her. And then he finds out about his daughter. Scarlett and Rhett are together again.

Reviews

Are the characters in Mitchell's novel different from the characters you meet while reading Scarlett? The author took it upon herself to write a continuation of the famous love story. But createdthe impression that A. Ripley's book is about a completely different woman and a different man. Most of the reviews come down to this opinion. Perhaps the fact that Mitchell left the ending open is not accidental. Scarlett lost everything she had. And this is a kind of retribution for her sins. The novel "Scarlett" is good as a separate work. But as a continuation, it is, according to many readers, unsuccessful.

And yet the novel "Scarlett", despite a lot of unflattering reviews, brought the author worldwide fame and glory. The mini-series of the same name, released in 1994, won two Emmy awards.