---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really don't know why Scarlett has such…"
description: "\"I really don't know why Scarlett has such appeal. When I began writing the sequel, I had a lot of trouble because Scarlett is not my kind of person. Sh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/alexandra-ripley-20824_appeal_i-really-don-t-know-why-scarlett-has-suc_2044730.jpg"
---

#  I really don't know why Scarlett has such appeal. When I…

![“I really don't know why Scarlett has such appeal. When I began writing the sequel, I had a lot of trouble because Scarlett is not my kind of person. She's virtually illiterate, has no taste, never learns from her mistakes.” quote by Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/alexandra-ripley-20824_appeal_i-really-don-t-know-why-scarlett-has-suc_2044730.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/alexandra-ripley-20824_appeal_i-really-don-t-know-why-scarlett-has-suc_2044730.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/alexandra-ripley-20824_appeal_i-really-don-t-know-why-scarlett-has-suc_2044730.jpg)

> “I really don't know why Scarlett has such appeal. When I began writing the sequel, I had a lot of trouble because Scarlett is not my kind of person. She's virtually illiterate, has no taste, never learns from her mistakes.”

[Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author struggles with a character she dislikes, highlighting challenges of writing unlikable protagonists.

**In simple terms:** Writing a character you dislike is hard.

Key Takeaway

Find empathy for all characters.

Themes

writing character development conflict

Mood

analytical critical

Type

literary creative

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- screenplay drafting
- character workshops
- creative blocks

Key Concepts

authorial voice moral ambiguity character empathy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you humanize an unlikable character?
- What responsibilities do writers have to their audience?

A Different Perspective

Readers may reject a poorly liked character despite skill.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Scarlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scarlett/) [Sequel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sequel/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

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> [“You know, Scarlett, Rhett didn't give a damn, and frankly, I don't either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myra-mcentire/you-know-scarlett-rhett-didn-t-give-a-damn-and-frankly-i-don-t-either-2/)

[Myra McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myra-mcentire/)

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> [The first is that instead of writing a sequel, which is what most people do, this is in fact a prequel. Although we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-collins/the-first-is-that-instead-of-writing-a-sequel-which-is-what-most/)

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> [“I really enjoyed hearing the likesand dislikesof my readers at book clubs as well as meeting new fans at the book signing at The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alexander-greenwood/i-really-enjoyed-hearing-the-likesand-dislikesof-my-readers-at-book/)

J. Alexander Greenwood

> [I am writing a sequel to The Touch because I want to further explore the Chinese question that I have raised. There will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/i-am-writing-a-sequel-to-the-touch-because-i-want-to-further-explore/)

[Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/)

> [“To everyone who thinks writing a sequel should be easy because you've already clreated the universe: Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha! Heh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/to-everyone-who-thinks-writing-a-sequel-should-be-easy-because-you-ve/)

[John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/)

> [“Imagination Is the 1st step to writing the sequel to your life. Dare to believe and you’re sure to receive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/imagination-is-the-1st-step-to-writing-the-sequel-to-your-life-dare-2/)

[Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/)

> [Imagination Is the 1st step to writing the sequel to your life. Dare to believe and youre sure to receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/imagination-is-the-1st-step-to-writing-the-sequel-to-your-life-dare/)

[Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/)

> [The biggest difference in writing a sequel is that now there are expectations. But also - and this is the awesome part - now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-federle/the-biggest-difference-in-writing-a-sequel-is-that-now-there-are/)

[Tim Federle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-federle/)

> [“Either way, you wrote the book and now you’re complaining about the reviews I’m giving it,” I quipped. “Fair enough.” He held up his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/either-way-you-wrote-the-book-and-now-you-re-complaining-about-the-2/)

[Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/)

> [“Can I hug you?" "Do you want to?"said Bod. "Yes." "Well then."He thought for a moment."I don't mind if you do." "My hands won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/can-i-hug-you-do-you-want-to-said-bod-yes-well-then-he-thought-for-a/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“I wish to Heaven I was married," she said resentfully as she attacked the yams with loathing. "I'm tired of everlastingly being unnatural and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/i-wish-to-heaven-i-was-married-she-said-resentfully-as-she-attacked/)

[Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/)

> [I think I'd like to do a big movie with a strong female lead, whether or not she would be a superhero. I'm more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-think-i-d-like-to-do-a-big-movie-with-a-strong-female-lead-whether/)

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## More by Alexandra Ripley

> [“Happy is the best way to be because then you can let other people be happy, too. Their own way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/happy-is-the-best-way-to-be-because-then-you-can-let-other-people-be/)

[Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

> [“What was the use of love if all it did was ruin things?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/what-was-the-use-of-love-if-all-it-did-was-ruin-things/)

[Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

> [To anyone with a drop of Irish blood in them the land they live on is like their mother. It's the only thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/to-anyone-with-a-drop-of-irish-blood-in-them-the-land-they-live-on-is/)

[Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

> [“I’m going to make a world for myself by my rules, not anybody else’s. Don’t worry about me. I’m going to learn to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/i-m-going-to-make-a-world-for-myself-by-my-rules-not-anybody-else-s/)

[Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

> [“What a waste! What a horrible, senseless waste. When happiness was so wonderful, how could anyone cling to a love that made them unhappy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/what-a-waste-what-a-horrible-senseless-waste-when-happiness-was-so/)

[Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

> [“No woman can be truly beautiful who is not, also sometimes, truly ugly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/no-woman-can-be-truly-beautiful-who-is-not-also-sometimes-truly-ugly/)

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> [“I won’t think about it now, there’s nothing I can do about any of those things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/i-won-t-think-about-it-now-there-s-nothing-i-can-do-about-any-of/)

[Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

> [And if things always stayed the same, Scarlett, what would be the reason for bothering to draw breath?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/and-if-things-always-stayed-the-same-scarlett-what-would-be-the/)

[Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

> [“Rhett glanced over his shoulder as if there had been a sound. His eyes met hers, and surprise stiffened his lithe body. For a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/rhett-glanced-over-his-shoulder-as-if-there-had-been-a-sound-his-eyes/)

[Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

[Explore all 30 Alexandra Ripley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/)

## More Appeal quotes

> [Trump's enduring appeal is a resource to be harnessed by the Republican Party, not a burden to be jettisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/trump-s-enduring-appeal-is-a-resource-to-be-harnessed-by-the/)

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[Ichiro Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-suzuki/)

> [The dictum of the industry is such that I can't only do films that appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biju-menon/the-dictum-of-the-industry-is-such-that-i-can-t-only-do-films-that/)

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> [I'm not going to appeal to violence or aggression - of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/i-m-not-going-to-appeal-to-violence-or-aggression-of-course-not/)

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> [I think Trump is a very interesting candidate in this sense: I think he has cross-party appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-trump-is-a-very-interesting-candidate-in-this-sense-i-think/)

[Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/)

> [I think great songs appeal to people at any age. Kids love the Beatles, too. Kids love Tom T. Hall. Of course, Tom T.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-great-songs-appeal-to-people-at-any-age-kids-love-the-beatles/)

[Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/)

> [When you are producing for ABC, you are producing for a big tent network. So when you are thinking about your story lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/when-you-are-producing-for-abc-you-are-producing-for-a-big-tent/)

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[Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/)

> [Barbarism is the absence of standards to which appeal can be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/barbarism-is-the-absence-of-standards-to-which-appeal-can-be-made/)

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> [There is a certain androgyny to my appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-barkin/there-is-a-certain-androgyny-to-my-appeal/)

[Ellen Barkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-barkin/)

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Browse all 432 Appeal quotes

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