Chapters 16-17

Chapter 16 -- It’s All About Sex...


Chapter 17 -- ...Except the Sex
OK ..the sex chapters. The key idea from this chapter is that “scenes in which sex is coded rather than explicit can work at multiple levels and sometimes be more intense that literal depictions” (141). In other words, sex is often suggested with much more art and effort than it is described, and, if the author is doing his job, it reflects and creates theme or character. Choose a novel or movie in which sex is suggested, but not described, and discuss how the relationship is suggested and how this implication affects the theme or develops characterization.

In the movie Gone with the Wind, Rhett Butler is mad that Scarlett can not see what is in front of her; instead shes pinning over Ashley Wilkes. He becomes drunk and forcefully kisses her then packs her up the steps to her bedroom presumably to have sex but the scene ends there. The relationship is suggested by what happens before he dramatically packs her off. He says that even though she is pinning over Ashley that she still manages to turn him on while she claims that he is jealous, Which he admits to at once. This develops characterization by showing a not so pleasant side of Rhett Butler.