Fiddle-Dee-Dee: A Gone with the Wind Podcast

Summary:

Scarlett secretly reads Ashley's letters to Melanie. Rhett goes out of his way to charm Atlanta as a dashing blockader, only to immediately ostracize himself when it no longer amuses him. Rhett gifts Scarlett a green bonnet from Paris and encourages her to stop wearing mourning. Belle Watling gives Melanie money for the hospital. Scarlett discovers that Rhett consorts with prostitutes.

Scarlett arrives in Atlanta with Wade and Prissy. She begins nursing in the hospital, but is still restricted by her widowhood from attending social functions. By chance, Scarlett attends a charity bazaar with Melanie and Aunt Pittypat. Scarlett becomes reacquainted with Rhett Butler at the bazaar and, scandalously, dances with him. Gerald travels to Atlanta to bring her home. Rhett gets Gerald drunk during a game of poker, cleaning him out of all his money. Scarlett blackmails her father into letting her stay.

Summary:

Mammy helps Scarlett prepare for the barbecue and instructs her on how a proper lady should behave. Scarlett flirts with every man present at the barbecue in the hopes of attracting Ashley, but to no avail. Rhett Butler infuriates the guests by insisting that the South will be licked in a month. Scarlett confesses her love to Ashley and flies into a rage at his rejection, bringing her face to face with Rhett. Scarlett and Charles become engaged and are married within two weeks. Charles dies in camp and Scarlett becomes a widow and mother in...

Though Margaret Mitchell never penned a sequel to her Pulitzer-winning novel (nor any other novel at all), plenty of her childhood writings have survived and been published in the years following her death. What did the author feel compelled to write about as a young girl and, later, journalist? Do any elements in these stories mimic Gone with the Wind?

Welcome to the first episode of GWTW Readalong, a new series in which I will analyze the book chronologically. Each episode will tackle a few chapters at a time. Feel free to read along with me and form your own takes!

In this episode, Scarlett finds out from the Tarletons that Ashley is going to marry Melanie, Scarlett chats with Gerald about Ashley's upcoming nuptials, Gerald buys Dilcey and Prissy from John Wilkes, we learn the history of Ellen and Gerald, the O'Haras have prayer time and Scarlett forms a plan to ensnare Ashley the next day...

On September 9, 1939, Gone with the Wind was first previewed in Riverside, California. Luckily for us, the audience's questionnaires have all been digitally archived for our perusal. This episode discusses the audience's initial reaction to the then-unfinished film, as well as various deleted scenes that have been uncovered over the years.

The age-old question all Gone with the Wind fans must ask themselves: does she get him back, or not? Does the story present any evidence leaning towards one way or the other?

This episode discusses where the Gone with the Wind characters fall on the moral alignment chart! Are they lawful or chaotic, good or evil, or neutral?

Rhett Butler’s People by Donald McCaig is an “authorized” novel by the Margaret Mitchell estate, advertised as a retelling of Gone with the Wind from Rhett’s POV. An interesting premise, to be sure, but is it worth checking out?

Scarlett O’Hara is notorious across fiction for her absolute ruthlessness in getting what she wants, but is she totally heartless? What motivates her to act the way she does?

Rhett Butler was stricken from the family Bible at age twenty and cast off without a penny, only to emerge as a well-traveled and highly successful gambler. How might his turbulent youth have influenced his choices and psychology later in life?

(Enjoy the picture of young Clark Gable with some puppies.)

Is Melanie truly naïve to Scarlett’s infatuation with her husband? Is there any evidence to suggest otherwise?

This episode explores different Gone with the Wind theories and headcanons, from Rhett to Melanie to Ella Lorena.

Margaret Mitchell’s abusive ex-husband, known by his nickname “Red”, is often sourced as the inspiration for Rhett Butler. How valid are these comparisons?

Ashley has a poor reputation for playing with Scarlett’s feelings and being mentally unfaithful to his wife. Is this reputation deserved?

In June of 1938, it was announced that Norma Shearer and Clark Gable were to play Scarlett and Rhett. The public had some strong feelings, to say the least.

HI and welcome! This will serve as a brief introduction as to what to expect from this podcast and yours truly.