Gone With The Wind

  THE SECRET VISIT THAT SHOWED WHO BELLE WATLING REALLY WAS

One of the most touching scenes in Gone With the Wind happens when Belle Watling quietly comes to see Melanie Hamilton.

Belle had helped save the reputations—and possibly the lives—of Ashley Wilkes and the other men after their raid on Shantytown. Rhett Butler had brought the wounded Ashley to Belle’s establishment and created an alibi, claiming the men had been there with him all evening.

Later, Belle wants Melanie to know what happened and how deeply she appreciated Melanie defending her when respectable Atlanta society would barely acknowledge her.

But Belle understands the rules of their world. She knows that simply being seen with her could cause gossip about Melanie.

So Belle arranges to speak with her privately in the carriage, away from watching eyes.

And Melanie does something that says so much about her character.

She doesn’t treat Belle as someone beneath her. She listens to her, speaks to her kindly, and accepts her gratitude without judgment. Melanie sees the goodness in Belle when most of Atlanta sees only her reputation.

Belle, in turn, has enormous respect for Melanie. These two women lived in completely different worlds, yet in this quiet conversation there is genuine warmth between them.

It’s a small scene, but I think it reveals more about both women than many of the movie’s grander moments.

Melanie never seemed to care what society said about a person. She cared about who they really were.

Do you think Belle and Melanie were more alike than Atlanta society would ever have admitted?