Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader I: The Wind (Pure English Version)

Author: Margaret Mitchell (USA)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: In 1861, President Lincoln ordered the emancipation of slaves, but the Southern states strongly opposed it, even to the point of war. The drums of war beat, and people were in turmoil. The story takes place in Georgia, a state of the Confederate States. Scarlett O'Hara, the eldest daughter of the Tara plantation owner, was only sixteen but already beautiful and mature. Her bright eyes revealed a restless and spirited personality. Many young men in neighboring plantations had long admired Scarlett, but she was deeply in love with Ashley Wilkes from the nearby Wilkes plantation. However, Ashley was about to marry his cousin, Melanie. The Wilkes plantation hosted a ball, and Scarlett's family was invited. Dressed in fine attire, Scarlett appeared charming yet somewhat arrogant at the lively gathering. Ashley warmly introduced Melanie to her, but Scarlett grew jealous. Driven by vanity, Scarlett tried to act as if nothing mattered, yet her deep love for Ashley made her sneak downstairs to confess her feelings to him while the ladies were resting. The men were discussing the war in the living room. Young, carefree, and somewhat cynical, Butler believed the war was unfavorable to the South. He was immediately attacked by others and had to leave the room. Near the staircase, Scarlett caught Ashley as he was about to leave to chase after Butler. She boldly and stubbornly asked Ashley to love her and marry her, but he refused. The war finally broke out. Southern young men joined the army. Before going to war, Ashley married Melanie. Enraged by jealousy, Scarlett hastily married Charles. But the war soon made Scarlett a widow. On Christmas Day in 1862, Ashley returned home but would soon leave for the front lines. On the night of their parting, Scarlett once again poured out her passionate love to Ashley. Ashley, however, calmly told her that he loved his wife. He also asked Scarlett to take good care of Melanie, who was pregnant. Scarlett promised him. The war continued to escalate, and the Southern army suffered successive defeats, leaving the rear in chaos. Just then, Melanie gave birth to a son. To get Melanie and her child out of the dangerous city, Scarlett had to ask Butler to take them to Tara plantation in a carriage. The carriage raced through ruins and smoke. When they reached safety, Butler unexpectedly told Scarlett that he was joining the army to help the South. Scarlett was confused. Butler expressed his love for her and asked her to give him a memento as he was about to go to war. Scarlett kissed him. Finally, Scarlett returned to her home. Yet reality stunned her: her mother had died of typhoid, and her father had gone mad. Although Tara plantation still stood on the horizon, it was in ruins. She wandered. The five-year Civil War ended with the South's defeat. Ashley returned home with the emotional scars of war, reunited with his wife and child. The war also cost Ashley his home—the Wilkes plantation—and he had to temporarily live with his wife and child at Scarlett's place. Scarlett's unwavering love for Ashley did not fade with the war. One day, Scarlett found Ashley and asked him to take her away from this impoverished place. She vowed that she needed nothing but to love him. But once again, she was rejected. After the war, Scarlett lived a difficult life under Northern control. To borrow money for taxes, Scarlett seduced her sister's boyfriend and soon married the small shop owner. Scarlett's second marriage did not bring her much luck. Soon after, her husband was shot to death on the streets of a town during a political meeting by Northern soldiers. Butler came to visit the unfortunate woman with a gift. Faced with the still beautiful and charming Scarlett, Butler sincerely asked her to marry him once again. The poverty brought by the war had softened Scarlett's once willful and arrogant personality, and she finally agreed to Butler's request. After their marriage, they lived a prosperous life, and the birth of their daughter brought even more joy. But soon, Butler discovered that Scarlett still held a place in her heart for Ashley. He wanted a divorce, but he couldn't bear to leave his beloved daughter. Fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on them. During a horseback riding game, their daughter tragically died. Butler lost his last spiritual. Kind Melanie, despite her frail health, came to comfort them but ultimately collapsed from exhaustion. On her deathbed, Melanie asked Scarlett to care for Ashley as she would her own husband and told her that she deeply loved him. It was then that Scarlett realized she had been chasing a phantom. Butler finally decided to leave Scarlett and return to his hometown to live a quiet life alone. At that moment, Scarlett truly realized that she loved Butler. But it was too late. The house was left with only Scarlett. Her heart was filled with sorrow. She would return to Tara plantation. She prayed: Tomorrow would be a new beginning.