Abstract

During the Civil War, the South, as a slave-holding society, is typically patriarchal. The Southern Gentleman is regarded as the master of a family, who loves the plantation life in the South, and pursues the high quality, and thus is of high loyalty and responsibility to South. But the conception of Gentleman Spirit in the South changes because of the Civil War, and the Southerners begin to have a better understanding of it. The hero, Rhett Butler, is the typical image of Southern Gentleman whose unity of opposites, depicted by the author, expresses her own understanding of the Southern Culture. This thesis analyzes the contradictory characteristics of Rhett to show his gentleman spirit. Rhett is sociable but solitary, traditional but rebellious, rational but aggressive. His gentleman image becomes more prominent after the war, and the sense of national ascription will never be covered by his disparagement of southerners and the southern culture. 

Keyword: Rhett: Southern Gentleman: southerner: southern culture

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1.-Introduction-1

1.1-Literature Review-1

1.2-Research Questions-1

2.-The Gentleman Spirit of the South in the Novel-3

3.-Rhett as a Sociable but Solitary Southern Gentleman-5

3.1-Rhett’s Sociability in the Society-5

3.2-Rhett’s Solitude-5

4.-Rhett as a Traditional but Rebellious Southern Gentleman-6

4.1-Rhett’s Traditional Attitudes-6

4.1.1-Loyalty to the South-6

4.1.2-Respect for Women-6

4.2-Rhett’s Rebellious Behaviors-7

4.2.1-Rhett’s Strong Opposition to the Old System-7

4.2.2-Rhett’s Influence on Scarlett’s Release from the Old System-7

5.-Rhett as A Realistic but Aggressive Southern Gentleman-9

5.1-Rhett’s Realistic Attitudes-9

5.1.1-A Realistic Attitude towards the War-9

5.1.2-A Rational Attitude towards the Love-9

5.2-Rhett’s Aggressive Attitudes-10

5.2.1-Aggressiveness in Business-10

5.2.2-Passion for Love-10

6.-Conclusion-12

References-13