Gone With The Wind

The Yankees have now advanced to the outskirts of Atlanta and are trying to take the city. The incessant shelling is nerve-wracking to Scarlett and all those who stayed behind. Prissy assures her that she learned midwifery from her mother and can help deliver Melanie’s baby if the doctor can’t come.

By the end of July, the siege of Atlanta continues, and the Yankees are still battling close to Jonesboro for control of the rail lines there. During this time, Scarlett gets a letter from Tara. Her family is safe, but her youngest sister, Carreen, has contracted typhoid, and Ellen is nursing her. That evening, as Scarlett sits alone on the porch, Rhett arrives. He assumed she had sought refuge in Macon and is surprised to see a light on in her house. She explains the situation regarding Melanie.

Their conversation turns to personal matters, and Rhett asks if Scarlett could ever love him. She laughs at the notion and says she will never marry him. Rhett protests that he isn’t interested in marriage but wonders if Scarlett will become his mistress. She replies, “Mistress! What would I get out of that except a passel of brats?” (437). Rhett is amused by her forthright self-interest and declares that they are much alike.

The city continues under siege for an entire month. Scarlett has learned that both her sisters and her mother have now contracted typhoid. In addition, the Yankees are still fighting at Jonesboro. On the first of September, Melanie begins to have labor pains and asks Scarlett to take care of her baby if she should die. Scarlett agrees but assures Melanie that she will have an easy delivery. Scarlett then sends Prissy in search of help, but Dr. Meade doesn’t have time to deal with the delivery because of all the new wounded soldiers being sent to Atlanta. Scarlett gets more bad news when Prissy says that she lied about knowing midwifery.

For two days and nights, Scarlett works nonstop to help Melanie through her agonizing delivery. At many points, she is sure that Melanie really will die, but eventually, the baby is born and named Beau: “It was all over. Melanie was not dead and the small baby boy who made noises like a young kitten was receiving his first bath at Prissy’s hands” (475). Shortly afterward, Scarlett sees groups of soldiers marching out of town. The Confederate Army is abandoning the city. She sends Prissy to find Rhett and ask him to bring a horse and wagon to move Melanie and the baby. They must all leave the city now.

As Scarlett waits for Prissy and Rhett, she sees the sky on fire a short distance away and fears the Yankees have arrived in Atlanta. Prissy returns to say that the Confederates are burning their remaining ammunition and supplies before the enemy gets to town. She also says that Rhett will have to steal a horse and wagon since the army commandeered his rig. Scarlett waits nervously until Rhett arrives with a shaky wagon and a horse on its last legs. When he learns that Scarlett wants to go to Tara, he tells her that the idea is ridiculous because Union troops are everywhere, but she persuades him anyway. He goes upstairs to carry Melanie down to the wagon, but Melanie insists that Scarlett must also bring Charles’s pistol and sword.

As they start out on their journey, the city is in chaos: “Tall flames roar[ed] up above the buildings […] casting monstrous shadows that twisted as wildly as torn sails flapping in a gale on a sinking ship” (493). People scurry around with casks of food and hunks of meat because the army has thrown open its storehouses to the public.

Rhett steers the wagon safely through the turmoil, and Scarlett says, “Oh, Rhett [...] What would we ever have done without you? I’m so glad you aren’t in the army!” (497). Her compliment to his pragmatism seems to upset Rhett, but he initially says nothing. Once they are safely away from the town, he asks Scarlett if she knows of a back road that will lead them to Tara. When she tells him the route, he announces that she must take the reins. He is going back to join the army in retreat. His latent sense of patriotism has taken over.

Before he leaves, Rhett declares his love for Scarlett: “I love you, Scarlett, because we are so much alike, renegades, both of us, dear, and selfish rascals. Neither of us cares a rap if the whole world goes to pot, so long as we are safe and comfortable” (501). Then, Rhett kisses her as she has never been kissed before: “Charles had never kissed her like this. Never had the kisses of the Tarleton and Calvert boys made her go hot and cold and shaky like this” (501). Despite the effect of Rhett’s kiss, Scarlett sends him off angrily for abandoning her and says she never wants to see him again.