Rhett Butler

Rhett Butler (born 1828) is a fictional character in the 1936 novel Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and in the 1939 film adaptation of the same name. Rhett is a complex character with many complex relationships throughout the novel and movie. He is known as both a scoundrel and a gambler, and he is considerably wealthy. Rhett Butler acts as a supporting character to the main character, Scarlett O'Hara, with whom he has numerous encounters. Scarlett holds a negative impression of Rhett upon their first meeting. Over the course of the story, he slowly earns her favor, and the two eventually wed. However, their conflicting personalities, a scandal, and the death of their daughter results in a doomed marriage. The producer of the movie, David O. Selznick, went through different negotiations to borrow an actor from another studio for the role of Rhett Butler. Many other actors were considered for the part, but quite a few of them turned it down. A deal between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and Selznick landed Clark Gable the role. The role of Rhett Butler is one of Clark Gable's most recognizable and significant roles. Several sequels to Gone with the Wind bring the character back, including the miniseries Scarlett, based on the novel of the same name by Alexandra Ripley, as well as Rhett Butler's People, a novel written by Donald McCaig. In addition to those two, a novel by Alice Randall, The Wind Done Gone, is an alternative account of the story from the perspective of a slave. Several musical adaptations also bring other portrayals of Rhett Butler, adding to the depth of the character.