Posted April. 14, 2011 06:20,
The New York Times put up Wednesday a photo of a middle-aged American woman wearing a replica of Scarlett OHaras dress in the movie "Gone with the Wind." Though not as slender as Scarlett, who had a 20-inch waistline (18 inches before marriage), the woman represents the type of person who is deeply absorbed in movies. Scarlett confessed her love to Ashley Wilkes but was rejected, and her embarrassing scene was witnessed by Rhett Butler. She then impulsively accepted a marriage proposal from Charles Hamilton on April 12, 1861, when the American Civil War erupted.
One hundred and fifty years have passed since the war broke out and events are being held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the novel`s publication. Both the novel and movie, still revered as an epic poem and a beautiful and powerful work, are being reinterpreted in the context of the Civil War. With the U.S. mired in a massive fiscal deficit and disputes over taxes, "Gone With the Wind" is especially gaining the spotlight from the perspective of taxpayers.
Scarlett, who had seduced men with a beautiful and cunning style, fell into despair after returning to her hometown Tara that was ruined after the South`s defeat to the North. A typical southern gentleman, her father went mad and his slaves ran away. Scarlett crumpled to the ground, her hands clutching the blackened soil, crying, I`ll never be hungry again. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill! The latest edition of Time magazine said land tax caused Scarlett to change so furiously, and to obtain money to pay taxes, she married a wealthy man she did not love.
Scarletts opposition to big government and high taxes is deeply remembered by people in Georgia and Atlanta, which served as the background of the novel and movie. Georgia and Atlanta are considered holy lands to the Tea Party, which pushes for low taxes and limited government. Though 150 years have passed since the Civil War, a social consensus on why it erupted remains elusive. Time magazine said people in the southern states deny that slavery caused the war and say the conflict was fought for honor and freedom. When times get tough, people tend to apply make-believe on reality.
Editorial Writer Kim Sun-deok (yuri@donga.com)