ASHLEY WILKES FINALLY ADMITS THE TRUTH SCARLETT NEVER WANTED TO HEAR

 ASHLEY WILKES FINALLY ADMITS THE TRUTH SCARLETT NEVER WANTED TO HEAR

For most of Gone With the Wind, Scarlett believes one thing with absolute certainty:

Ashley Wilkes loves HER.

She convinces herself that he married Melanie only because of family expectations and that, deep down, Scarlett is the woman he really wants.

But the novel gives us a much deeper look at Ashley—and eventually Scarlett begins to understand something the movie only touches on.

Ashley was attracted to Scarlett. He was fascinated by her strength, beauty and passion, and at weak moments he encouraged her feelings when he should have stopped them.

But Melanie was not simply the woman he settled for.

Ashley genuinely loved Melanie.

In the book, Ashley explains that he and Melanie belonged to the same world. They understood the same books, music, ideas and way of life. Scarlett excited him physically, but Melanie understood the part of Ashley that Scarlett never really knew.

And there is another uncomfortable truth about Ashley that comes through much more strongly in the novel:

He knows he’s weak.

After the war, Ashley struggles terribly with the new world. Scarlett adapts, fights, makes money and does whatever she has to do to survive. Ashley, meanwhile, remains emotionally attached to the world that disappeared.

Scarlett spends years imagining Ashley as the perfect man.

But eventually she realizes she wasn’t really in love with Ashley Wilkes the man.

She was in love with the Ashley Wilkes she had created in her own mind.

And by the time Scarlett finally understands that…

Melanie is dying—and Rhett is almost finished loving Scarlett. 

That’s one of the cruelest ironies of the entire story.

Scarlett spends years chasing a dream while the man who truly understands her is right beside her.

 BOOK READERS: Did reading the novel change the way you felt about Ashley?
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