Is This Scene from "Gone With The Wind" Realistic?

[mystacall]

I think it could have happened and he would have done it to appease her...Women back then were very Gentile...meaning..they had to protect their girls and family from scandal. So yeah it probably could have happened...thats one of my fav movies....I remember the scene exactly.

[flazatty]

Near the beginning of the movie, Ellen O'Hara comes home after attending Emmy Slattery in childbirth. She found out that the child is the illegitimate offspring of the O'Hara's overseer, Jonas Wilkerson. As a result, she insists that her husband fire Jonas "first thing in the morning," and Gerald reluctantly agrees. In your view, how realistic is the scene? In other words, would a plantation owner really care whether the overseer was playing around on the side? Or is the fact that he got caught is what created the problem? Thanks to all who respond.

[Ken]

The demand was realistic from two points.the movie depicted Ellen as a strong woman, not subservient to her husband. And, Gerald, being of Irish descent would have probably disapproved of his overseer's behavior. But, may not have acted on it without his wife's prompting.

[Ken]

The demand was realistic from two points.the movie depicted Ellen as a strong woman, not subservient to her husband. And, Gerald, being of Irish descent would have probably disapproved of his overseer's behavior. But, may not have acted on it without his wife's prompting.