Book and film representation Twelve Oaks

1 book , film representation

1.1 john wilkes
1.2 scarlett o hara
1.3 mansion discrepancy

book , film representation
john wilkes

john wilkes elderly widowed patriarch of family includes son ashley , 2 unmarried daughters, india , honey. wilkeses among wealthiest families in county, land, slaves , money second of large , hardy tarleton family of fairhill plantation. wilkeses revered county folks generosity , nature, considered odd because of interests in reading books , traveling north hear music , view paintings--this sophistication , elegance attributed grandfather being virginia, , them marrying cousins.

scarlett o hara

when novel begins, gerald o hara returning twelve oaks (having purchased slave wife devoted valet pork) news ashley wilkes, whom 16-year-old scarlett o hara convinced in love, has formally become engaged second cousin, melanie hamilton of atlanta. in spite perceives ashley spurning her, scarlett accepts impromptu proposal of melanie s brother charles, expected marry honey wilkes (though changed india in film, omits character of honey) , such becomes relative marriage both melanie , ashley.

twelve oaks suffers terribly in war same shortages , privations neighbors. family decimated first charles hamilton dies of pneumonia, john wilkes killed in combat (though elderly, joined home guard in defense of atlanta). mansion looted , burned union troops in 1864; scarlett finds straggling cow in ruins of home , enough beans , turnips meal slave quarters gardens otherwise total loss. presumably lands lost same taxes necessitate scarlett s marriage frank kennedy save tara.

mansion discrepancy

the representation of plantation house @ tara in film gone wind corresponds more or less description of house in novel. portrayal of mansion @ twelve oaks in film exaggerated , bears more resemblance colonial revival mansions popular in united states in first quarter of 20th century home of antebellum planter in rural georgia. during film s pre-production period, discrepancy raised mild disapproval author margaret mitchell. mitchell had envisioned more ordinary , historically accurate house. nevertheless, stately mansion film imperial staircase , improbably high-ceilinged corridors (the product of paint-on-glass style special effect rather physical set) remains in public mind iconic image of twelve oaks rather more restrained greek-revival house described in novel.