Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Many people believe that this book is a romance novel, and I won't say that the chemistry between Scarlet and Rhett isn't appealing, but I did not view the book this way. For one, I didn't like the main character at all. Scarlet was selfish and her actions proved to be so, and that resulted in me disliking her for a good 300 pages. I didn't like Rhett either but I doubt he would take offense anyway. He was the Cad that he was proud to be. Then the war came, and with it some difficult decisions for Scarlet.
She started the book in love with an idea, in the form of Ashley Wilkes. And stays in love with this idea throughout the story. But she wasn't in love with Ashley, she was in love with the idea of him, who she thought he was, a gentleman. This is interesting to note, because while she pines for Ashley, she takes care of his wife and kids, helping them survive the war and being a constant source of support and care for Melanie. She sacrifices many things without thinking about them, her dignity, morality and at times her emotions. Her only true companion throughout this journey is Rhett Butler, the one man who understands her and knows who she truly is.
This book had many layers.
One is allegory. All of the major characters have different personalities that represent different types of people. Scarlet is not like any other character except Rhett, and this is no accident.
Another layer of this book is psychological. Scarlet's transformation is stretched over time and even the end of the war isn't her final metamorphosis. She marries three times. Once for revenge or spite. The second time is for resources. And the third and final time is presented to her as fun. Each marriage teaches her something new about herself, and each decision is a turning point in her life. Whenever Scarlet reaches a turning point or a tough decision, she always says that she will think about it later. She only ever thinks about it later twice, when she swears never to go hungry again, and when she loses something she never believed that she had. Her goal is to survive, and take care of others.
The other layer is historical. The culture of the south is forever changed and so many changes happen that the people of Tara cannot bear it all. Scarlet's view of the war is bias and stays that way throughout the novel. Yet, Rhett plays both sides and thinks of the war, and so many other things, like a game that he can win no matter who loses. Much of the events affect Scarlet directly, but Rhett never seems burdened by them.
I guess it is fitting that a long novel has a long book review. I do recommend this book, and I consider it a literally work that is undervalued as a romance novel.
If you think of Scarlet, not as a woman, but has a human, and Rhett as a trickster or dark mentor, your view of the story changes dramatically. Why does Scarlet call Rhett her soul? Why does she not grieve during the war, but after Melanie dies she actually cries and feels remorse? What's the reason for her pining after Ashley? Is she selfish or selfless?