There is something about books without a happy ending that I cannot accept. I refuse to believe that beyond the journey of a thousand pages lies misery and loneliness. You step into the characters shoes, live their lives with them only to have blistering, sore feet at the end. God, no! I reject this ending. Nothing could be worse than this hopelessness, when you know there is life left but no purpose for living. I believe that there is light at the end, people meant to be, will be together one day. At the end of all the struggles, there has to be happiness because if there isn't then what are we fighting for?
Give me any ending, but give me an ending. I need that closure from a book.
I started "Gone With The Wind" this week and 50 pages in, I was hooked. There was something about Scarlett O'Hara that was so simple yet so dumb and then she grows on to become a fighting force, someone to be feared and admired (in these times), all this time being in love with the wrong man, having the right one beside her and when she does come to her senses, the available love is no longer hers. This is a story about life and loss but all that is left in the end is unrequited love.
Unacceptable.
For some great person once said,
"If it's not a happy ending, then it's not the ending."
Rhett and Scarlett won't be alone for the rest of their lives. One of the greatest classics ever written and that's how it ends? No, I believe in a better ending and like a hopeless romantic, I believe in a happily ever after. There will be better and happier times, just you wait.
Here is my Epilogue that Margaret Mitchell forgot to include :
Epilogue
Rhett Butler, leaves for Charleston as planned. Every bone in Scarlett's body wants her to scream at him, make him stop but she refrains. Let the ones who want to leave, leave. If they were meant to be together, they will be. She did not know where such awareness came from, maybe the thoughts of Tara beckoned her. She was made for the land and it was where she belonged.
Mellie's funeral was a melancholy affair and she went through it like a robot. She carried out all the responsibilities and burden like she was accustomed to. She still got treated like a traitor and she ignored it. She made her choices and she was mighty proud of them. They had pulled her through the worst of times. This was her last act of kindness that she bestowed upon her dearest friend, Mellie. She made her promises and intended to keep them.
She again took residence in Aunt Patty's house while India when on to live with Ashley, taking care of both him and Beau. She stayed there for two months, handling the mills while Ashley grieved and ensured Beau never suffered. She did love him more than her own kids.
Post two months, she handed the reins back to Ashley. He needed to take care of himself and take pride in being independent. She promised him she'd always be there to help him and he could write to her anytime and she would come to his aid. She packed up her two kids, Wade and Ella, along with Beau to take them back to Tara. Her children would learn to love the land like she did.
On moving back with Will and Suellen, she felt more at home than she ever had. She could breathe freely. There were a few quarrels with Suellen now and then, but overtime she realised she couldn't be of much help on Tara. For a woman so restless, it was quite unbecoming and the state of the nearby estates did deeply sadden her. The answer was obvious. She was going to buy her own land.
From the proceeds of her mills, she ended up buying the land beside Tara. Her own land! Who'd have thought? She hired labourers to work on her plantation, built a handsome stable and got the best horses in the entire county. No wonder, Mrs.Tarleton was a usual guest. Slowly she started building herself a house. A small, peaceful place so unlike her Atlanta mansion, devoid of all things glitter and full of all things Tara.
She put all her efforts in her plantation and stables and built them up like a baby. Mammy came to live with her along with Prissy to take care of the kids. She loved all three kids though she was frequently annoyed with them. She named her plantation also Tara, for Tara would always mean home to her. This place was her home now and no one would take her away from here, never again.
What she was running towards was a home, so she built herself one. She was still the silly, spoilt, outspoken girl who had the best dresses and bonnets in town and did all unladylike things possible. Rhett was now a dull ache in her heart. Maybe one day he would realise that she was made of stronger stuff than he thought, maybe one day they could start all over again. But until that day came, she would not fret.
At last, she was happy! At last, she was home!
***
That's all for today peeps. The author couldn't give me closure, so I made one up. One of the reasons this book is open ended is to let the reader create his own ending. I understand this but I don't have to like it. This book is a journey - it will make you laugh and cry, fall in love, hate, it will throw all your emotions in a jar and leave you breathless. It will make an impact in your life. I guess that's why they call it a classic.
It is not easy, but good things seldom are.
Read it, if you must.
You must.
XOXO
Pearl
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