‘The all-time classic takes readers through a journey of emotions’

Through the course of the story,the author unravels what real men and women are made of. All readers can identify with the story’s central character Scarlet O’ Hara. The hardships faced by her during the American civil war can easily be associated with the difficulties each one of us faces in our lives.

Yet Scarlet keeps moving ahead in life,firmly believing that tomorrow is another day. Margaret Mitchell takes the readers through a rainbow of emotions,from pity to joy,hatred to love. Like a phoenix,Scarlet rose from the ashes of the American civil war and proved her mettle when the best of the men faltered. Born in a century when women were considered no more than a piece of furniture,Scarlet was a trailblazer.

The story,however,would be incomplete without her knight in the shining armour Rhett Butler whose selfless love for Scarlet would put any lover to shame. He plays the role of a husband,father and stepfather to perfection.

Scarlet spends half her life running after Ashley Wilkes,a man she later goes on to realise she never loved,and away from Butler who was her true love. Most of us live in a world of illusion like Scarlet created by the games our mind and heart plays.

The gem by Rhett Butler,“Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect,we take what we get and are thankful it is no worse than it is,” left a lasting impression on my mind. Having enjoyed the book so much,I plan to read the sequel Scarlet written by Alexandra Ripley.   

— Ragini Gulati