A Great American Novel

For some reason, George Will chose to write a piece about a great American novel which -- remarkably enough -- was made into one of the greatest films ever.

I read "Gone With the Wind" as a fifth-grader (you can imagine that Belle Watling made for some interesting questions for my mother). It's spoken to women for generations, perhaps because it contains two archetypes of female behavior: Feisty, aggressive Scarlett O'Hara (Hamilton Kennedy Butler) and sweet but strong Melanie Hamilton Wilkes.

Over time, I've come to see that the two characters -- and the interplay between them -- are endlessly fascinating to women because they represent the often-conflicting impulses that compete within each of us. Together, they demonstrate the vastly different types of strength and determination that women can muster during tough times.

Despite its often retrograde attitudes toward African-Americans, it was one of the few pieces of literature at the time that credited black people with intelligence, humanity, and influence over the people who had enslaved them. Perhaps it's somewhat ironic, but also hardly surprising, that Hattie McDaniel would become the first African-American to win an Oscar (as best supporting actress) for her memorable portrayal of Mammy.