GONE WITH THE WIND is a book both profoundly woke and un-woke. The un-woke part is very famous. The main characters are slave owners and slave apologists, and it is fascinating to see how they construct a world in which they can still live with themselves. It’s wild to see people living their daily lives while committing atrocities. The woke part I rarely see discussed, but for me it’s pretty woke: and that’s the character of Scarlett O’Hara. I can’t think of a book previous to this that has a female character who clearly and explicitly manipulates being female to her advantage. I also can’t think of an earlier female character who makes her own money and is proud of it.
Also interesting, and I think something you rarely see written about, is the really horribly mean act of keeping someone dangling. Ashley Wilkes does it to Scarlett O’Hara, and it’s really sad. I think this happens a lot: you enjoy someone else having a crush on you, because you like the attention, so instead of doing the kind thing (making it clear they have no hope, so they can get over you), you keep it going, enjoying the validation, and making them go slowly crazy. Meanwhile you act all innocent like they are the pathetic one.