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What Is The Historical Significance Of Gone With The Wind

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"I was the only Negro in the theater, and when Butterfly McQueen went into her act, I felt like crawling under the rug", this was the verbal reaction of Malcolm X while experience the film “Gone With the Wind” for the first time in theaters. Truly a one of a kind, this historic film debuted in 1939 and depicted many controversial social issues that were not discussed lightly, nor openly for that matter. Especially not within in the old south during the Civil War, where the setting of this film actually takes place. In this essay I will be discussing three main reasons as to why “Gone with the Wind” is historically significant; its outstanding success, female gender role issues, and racism. A beautiful simple southern bell growing up on her …show more content…

Particularly interesting was the casting of the main female lead character Scarlett O’Hara. Once the word was out that the film was going to be made letters filled with suggestion started pouring in. With having his heart set on bringing a new face to the big screen Selznick sent out Katherine Brown to journey between Maryland and Georgia looking for that new face. It took longer to find the right girl than it did to actually make the film. After about two years of searching near and far Vivien Leigh was finally found. However there was such controversy upon the announcement of Leigh playing the role of Scarlett that there was even a proclamation issued by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It was frowned upon that Leigh wasn’t “Southern-born” (Staff). They didn’t believe she was a true southern bell and didn’t want her masquerading as one. Not only was the casting of Leigh an issue, so was the persona of the character she was to embody. Traditionally woman were expected to conduct themselves as well-behaved and virtuous. They were solely meant for house chores, rearing the children and tending to the men. However Scarlett O’Hara wasn’t the type of woman to take orders from no man; but rather one to give them. The persona of Scarlett was independent, promiscuous, and took on responsibilities such as owning and running a business; all of which were big no-no’s and truly envelop pushing for the big

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