MargaretMitchellwasborninAtlanta，Georgia，in1900．HerfatherwasalawyerandthepresidentoftheAtlantaHistoricalSociety，andhermotherwasasuffragette（awomaninsupportofextendingtherighttovote，especiallytowomen）a
MargaretMitchellwasborninAtlanta，Georgia，in1900．HerfatherwasalawyerandthepresidentoftheAtlantaHistoricalSociety，andhermotherwasasuffragette（awomaninsupportofextendingtherighttovote，especiallytowomen）andanadvocateofwomen'srightsingeneral．MitchellgrewuplisteningtostoriesaboutAtlantaduringtheCivilWar，storiesoftentoldbypeoplewhohadlivedthroughthewar．MitchellattendedSmithCollege，awomen'scollegeinNorthampton，Massachusetts．In1919，shereturnedtoAtlantaandbegantolivealifestyleconsideredwildbythestandardsofthe1920s．Afteradisastrousfirstmarriage，MitchellbeganacareerasajournalistandmarriedanadvertisingexecutivenamedJohnRobertMarsh．In1926，encouragedbyherhusband，MitchellbegantowritethenovelthatwouldbecomeGonewiththeWind．Shewentthroughninecompletedraftsofthethousand-pagework，settinganepicromanceagainsttheCivilWarbackgroundsheknewsowell．Inthefirsteightdrafts，theprotagonist（主角）wascalledPrissyHamilton，notScarlettO'Hara（asthecharacterwasrenamedinthefinaldraft）．
GonewiththeWinddiffersfrommostCivilWarnovelsbyglorifyingtheSouthanduglifyingtheNorth．OtherpopularnovelsabouttheCivilWar，suchasStephenCrane'sTheRedBadgeofCourage，aretoldfromaNorthernperspectiveandtendtoexalt（颂扬）theNorth'svalues．Mitchell'snovelisuniquealsoforitsportrayalofastrong-willed，independentwoman，ScarlettO'Hara，whosharesmanycharacteristicswithMitchellherself．Mitchellfrequentlyrejectedconvention，divorcingherfirsthusbandandpursuingacareerinjournalismdespitethedisapprovalofsociety．
FemaleIntelligenceandCapabilityarehighlightedbyMitchellinthenovelGonewiththeWind．Despitetheseveregenderinequalityoftheirtime，womeninthenovelshowstrengthandintelligencethatequalsorbeststhestrengthandintelligenceofmen．Scarlettistricky，andmanipulatesmenwithease．SherunsTarawhenherfatherfallsill，andeventuallyrealizesthatshehasabetterheadforbusinessthanmostmen．Shebecomesaverysuccessfulmillowner，runningeveryaspectofthebusinessandputtingherweak，incompetenthusbandtoshame．Melanie，althoughsheisasubdued（闷闷不乐的）figure，exhibitsincreasingstre