Miss O'Hara

That's how she imprited herself into our minds, even if in the course of her life she was Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Kennedy and, at last, Mrs. Butler. This woman, despite her time and her marriages, took the courses of her own life and lived it the way she thought she should to survive.

It's a marvel to watch the presumptuous teenager, sorrounded by a dozen of boys who worshipped her, becoming a woman, probabaly as conceited as the girl, or even more. Scarlett with her mischievous ways, marrying men to hurt others or to dig herself and her family out of poverty could be the prototype of your current everyday anti-hero. She's snobby, prejudiceful, headstrong and sometimes very annoying; but one cannot help falling for a figure who lives her life so close to the edge.

All her shortcomings are so real and close to us that if we strip down our hypocrite masks we can see our really selves reflected on her. And if you permit yourselves a little bit further, you will find your guts being envious of her drive, at the same time you curse her for being so stubborn. But that's when catharsis happens because at the time you will catch yourself hating her, you will also be realizing you are exactly like her; concealing real feelings for the sake of pride and ego.

But it's inicially the things Miss Scarlett accomplish in her life that turn her into such an outstanding woman. She went from southern preppy girl to powerful businesswoman, confronting the society's patterns, shocking people by simply being herself and doing what she wanted, not what was expected. [The ball scene when she dances with Rhett is genius!] Maybe, if it weren't for Scarlett O'Hara there wouldn't be Eves, Eliza Doolittles, Holly Golightly... maybe not even Madonna!!

Of course that great deal of this immortality is credited to wonderful Viven Leigh. If her portrayl of Scarlett wasn't so delightful the whole thing could've been doomed. Leigh being so subtle at times and incredibly outspoken and dramatic at others created an aura, a charisma around her Scarlett that prevented us from being annoyed by her all the time.

The way O'Hara jumps onto things, nailing the opportunities life puts before her seems totally evident to Leigh, who performs as if there is no limit between actor and character. She IS that southern belle and no one can be convinced otherwise.

[Song: Cocoon - Björk]