Rhett, do you really--is it to protect me that you--"…
““Rhett, do you really--is it to protect me that you--" "Yes, my dear, it is my much advertised chivalry that makes me protect you." The mocking light began to dance in his black eyes and all signs of earnestness fled from his face. "And why? Because of my deep love for you, Mrs. Kennedy. Yes, I have silently hungered and thirsted for you and worshipped you from afar; but being an honorable man, like Mr. Ashley Wilkes, I have concealed it from you. You are, alas, Frank's wife and honor has forbidden my telling this to you. But even as Mr. Wilkes' honor cracks occasionally, so mine is cracking now and I reveal my secret passion and my--" "Oh, for God's sake, hush!" interrupted Scarlett, annoyed as usual when he made her look like a conceited fool, and not caring to have Ashley and his honor become the subject of further conversation. "What was the other thing you wanted to tell me?" "What! You change the subject when I am baring a loving but lacerated heart?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A character uses exaggerated chivalry to mask personal desire, revealing the tension between social honor and hidden passion.
In simple terms: He pretends noble motives while secretly longing for love.
Key Takeaway
Beware of false honor masking true intentions.
Themes
honor
love
deception
social expectations
Mood
dramatic
ironic
Type
literary
dialogue
When to use this quote
- courtship
- political intrigue
- personal confession
- literary analysis
- null
Key Concepts
masculine identity
romantic idealism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this reveal about gender roles in the era?
- How does honor justify personal desire?
A Different Perspective
The dialogue may romanticize manipulation rather than critique it.