This article argues about “Gone with the Wind” from a sociological perspective and takes a look at some themes that are not often focused on when discussing the film. Racial questions seem to be the first that are focused on when talking about “Gone with the Wind” This article takes a look at the class structure within the film instead. It looks at how that class structure is portrayed as the ideal and encouraged by the film.

Butsch examines how the main characters fit into a specific class structure. Scarlett is portrayed as Southern Aristocracy and therefore upper class at the start of the film. She remains upper class throughout the film, despite being poor, but leaves behind the ideals of the aristocracy. She begins to represent a capitalistic society, in which only the fit survive. Scarlett gradually moves towards this representation through her relationship with the two main male characters in the film. Rhett represents that capitalistic society and Ashley remains Southern Aristocracy. Eventually, Scarlett moves away from Ashley and towards Rhett.

The film legitimates the class structure in the film by only portraying one class. There is no class struggle because there is only one class. The audience is also meant to identify with the upper class through Scarlett’s struggles. This approach sheds light on the social implications of the film. The discussion of class structure and capitalism provide, yet another approach for viewing the film and the themes which it contains.