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While Scarlett is living with Melanie and Charles' Aunt Pittypat, Scarlett is welcomed by Melanie. Earlier she said that Scarlett was like a sister to her but now she has a chance to really show that she feels that way. Although Scarlett is very jealous of her, Melanie doesn't realize it and continues to treat her as her own sister.
Before she was a widow, Scarlett would have shown how she felt but now she's not allowed to. In the 1800's women weren't respected as much as they are now. Now, if a woman's husband dies it's socially acceptable for her to remarry but back then if she did she would be seen as trashy. Back then, women were almost just property of their husband's. I think that since Scarlett's husband has died, she'll have to be nice to Melanie even though I don't think she'll ever like her.
After marrying Charles, Scarlett has a baby boy named Wade. Shortly aferwards Charles goes to the war and dies. Back then, being a widow meant always dressing in black clothing and not having any fun at all. If Scarlett was seen laughing she was thought of as not grieving over her husband's death. She's no longer able to be the fun free spirt that she used to be. Scarlett is forced to stay at home with Wade, who she forgets is sometimes even her child. After a while, her mother Ellen thinks it'd be a good idea if Scarlett went to Atlanta to stay with Charles' Aunt Pittypat. Going to Atlanta might open Scarlett's eyes and give her a new view on things, but she'll still have to act as a widow.
After Scarlett in Gone With the Wind is confronted about being rude with people, one of the men that Scarlett flirts with named Charles proposed to her. She agreed to marry in hope to make Ashley jealous again and leave Melanie. Despite her efforts, Ashely marries Melanie and Scarlett marries Charles. Immediately after, Scarlett regrets doing this since it got her absolutely no where and gave her less of a chance with ever being with Ashley. Even though Scarlett still doesn't like Melanie, they had a friendly conversation after both the weddings. Melanie was very nice to Scarlett and considered her now to be like a sister to her. So far, Scarlett has acted very hostile to women other than her mother but I think this might change in the future with Melanie.
In this part of the book, Gone With the Wind, Scarlett tries to make Ashley jealous. Ashley is engaged to Melanie, but Scarlett of course doesn't think that Melanie is right for him. While everyone at the barbecue is resting, Scarlett confesses to Ashley that she loves him but he still says he's going to marry Melanie. One of the guests, Rhett Butler overhear their conversation and tells Scarlett that she's very rude and doesn't act like a lady. After, Scarlett hears women at the party talking about how she's not a lady. They talk about how she flirts with everyone. After, the news spreads about the attacks on Fort Sumter, all the men go to fight.