A Brief Character Analysis:

The Psychology of
“Gone with the Wind”

Lauren D’Ambrosio
Psych 1-01
January 18, 2019
Spoiler Alert!
Main Plot of “Gone with the Wind”
- 1861 - 1873
- Scarlett O’Hara grows from
a naive and manipulative
southern belle to a fierce
and hardened survivor
throughout the devastation
of the Civil War and
Reconstruction.
Personality Theories in Main Characters
- Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
- Superego
- Ego
- Id
- Methods of Defense
- Maslow’s Self-Actualization
- Humanistic Approach
- Personality Disorders
Melanie Hamilton Wilkes

- Scarlett’s sister-in-law
- Married to Ashley
- Voice of calm and reason
- Endlessly kind and giving

"Whatever happens, I'll love you, just

as I do now, until the day I die."
Humanistic Approach: Maslow
- Melanie has achieved self-actualization,
one of the few characters who does
- Morality and faith leads decision-making
- Believes in the inherent good in everyone,
including the local owner of a brothel
- Can sometimes appear naive, but is entirely
capable of handling a hardened life after
the war (Yankee shooting)
Major Ashley Wilkes

- Scarlett’s Main Love

Interest
- Melanie Hamilton’s
husband
- Quiet life prior to the war
- Major in Confederate Army
Freud’s Superego: His social status and outside view as a
Psychoanalytic Southern gentleman. At the foreground of every
Theory: decision.
Ashley “Nothing [to lose], except honor.”

Ego: Completely lacking in direction at the end of the

war when the “Old South” lifestyle disappeared.
“I had sheltered myself from people all my life, I had carefully
selected my few friends. But the war taught me I had created a
world of my own with dream people in it. It taught, me what people
really are, but it didn't teach me how to live with them.”

Id: Labored passion for Scarlett, inability to let her go.

“They knew that love snatched in the face of danger and death was
doubly sweet for the strange excitement that went with it.”
- Person-situation controversy: Did
Ashley become a businessman because
of the loss of the Old South, or could he
have managed it all along?

- External Locus of Control: Ashley set all

of his values on those of the Old South -
military success, marriage, family, money -
and when that all disappeared he did not
know who he was.
Methods of Defense
Denial -> Refuses to recognize the seriousness of the coming war, hopes that the
Yankees will leave in peace, denies that he has feelings for Scarlett, denies that
the war is not about the Confederacy

PTSD
Ashley has bouts of anxiety and flashbacks to battle throughout the second half of
the book, and when Melanie dies he breaks down into hysterics, calling for a
childhood friend who died in the war
“I saw the first man I killed drop to the ground. But I knew it was over and I could no longer
be a spectator. No, I suddenly found myself on the curtain, an actor, posturing and making
futile gestures. My little inner world was gone…”
Captain Rhett Butler

- Scarlett’s third husband

- Wealthy and educated
- Joined the war only after
defeat was certain
- Interested in Scarlett from
their first meeting, and
proceeds to challenge her at
every opportunity
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Superego: Over time has shunned this part, social outcast
"I believe in Rhett Butler. He's the only cause I know. The rest doesn't mean much
to me."

Ego: Believes himself to be charming and well-educated. He does

not hide a great deal of himself from the outside world.
"With enough courage, you can do without a reputation."

Id: Desire to be loved and have a family, to be accepted.

“But, Scarlett, did it ever occur to you that even the most deathless love could
wear out?”
 Mania
- Swings between extreme
depression and euphoria quickly,
especially in latter half of the
book
- Makes rash decisions and is
often distracted
- Extremely talkative and
grandiose
- Unprovoked acts of violence and
aggression
Katie Scarlett O’Hara

- Main Protagonist
- Narcissistic and
manipulative
- Intelligent, insecure
- Fiercely passionate
 Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Superego: Constant struggle with social
expectations of how she should act
"Oh, if I wasn't a lady, what wouldn't I tell that varmint!"

Ego: Maintaining her confidence despite

outside forces pushing against her
“War and marriage and childbirth had passed over her
without touching any deep chord within her and she was
unchanged.”

Id: Unbridled passion for life, and desire for love

“I'd cut up my heart for you to wear if you wanted it.”
Freud: The world is filled with
anxiety and fear, and
personalities are formed
through learning to cope.
Through the war, loss, and
becoming the strength for her
family, Scarlett grew into her
adult, hardened personality.
From, “Vanity was stronger than
love at sixteen and there was no
room in her hot heart now for
anything but hate.”
To: “Her burdens were her own and
burdens were for shoulders strong
enough to bear them.”
Scarlett’s Self-Actualization
- Prior to war, Scarlett had
reached “esteem”
- Set back to foundation
when survival was focus
- Once she is safe, the rest
of the pyramid begins to
reform
Methods of Defense
- Repression -> “I guess I’ve done murder. I won’t think about that now, I’ll
think about it tomorrow. I can stand it then.”
- Projection -> (to Ashley) “You led me on! You should have told me that
you never wanted to marry me!”
- Compensation -> “Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom
realized it when caught by her charm…”
- Sublimation -> Channeling her love for Ashley into caring for Melanie
during the war
- Regression -> Temper tantrums, hitting, throwing things into walls
- Denial -> Telling herself that she will never love Rhett because she loves
Ashley
 Borderline Personality Disorder
- Intense mood changes, unstable relationships, and a rocky self-image
- “Extreme promiscuity” by 1860s standards = multiple male partners
- Scarlett cannot stand to be alone, but also can never commit to her partner or
be faithful to her friends
- Situational Competence: Saving Tara from complete ruin and being the
backbone of her family
- Impulsive, aggressive, and reckless
- Narcissistic and Manipulative all through her life
- Incredibly thin-skinned

"Great balls of fire. Don't bother me anymore and

don't call me sugar!
Psychotherapy for everyone! (Mostly Scarlett and Rhett)
Thank you!