The real life mirage

The 1936 classic "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Michelle is known primarily for its depiction of Civil War America and its impeccable laying of the characters. I for myself liked the novel for its depiction of how individuals fall for 'real life mirages'.

The protagonist Scarlett O'Hara has a lifelong obsession with Ashley Wilkes who (only) in her perception is one of the most 'manly' individuals - decisive, gallant, and chivalrous.

Ashley is the man with whom Scarlett is obsessed. Gentlemanly yet indecisive, he loves Melanie, his cousin and later his wife, but is tormented by an obsession with Scarlett. His failure to deal with his true feelings for Scarlett ruins any chance she has for real happiness with the true love of her life (Rhett Butler).

Due to her obsession with Ashley, Scarlett keeps ruining her every chance of getting true love from Rhett Butler. It is only towards the end of the novel that Scarlett realizes that she loves Rhett and never truly loved Ashley, but merely an idea of him[1]; by then however only its too late for her to reclaim Rhett's love.

Another similar 'real life mirage' is illustrated by Jeffrey Archer in 'As the Crow Flies'. Becky Salmon - one of the protagonists - falls for a good looking, handsome, charming army officer "Guy Trentham" only to realize about his unfaithfulness, but unlike Scarlett O'Hara, Becky's eye-opener comes comes early on in the story and she ends up marrying Charles Trumper - a husband who adores her for her life.

I have myself found to have been victim of such 'real life mirages' - one such got busted today. Since childhood, I had heard of Campion School, Bombay which was the namesake of my own Alma Mater in Bhopal. Campion School, Bombay was frequently found in the top league of school contests like the Britannia Quiz Contest anchored by the legendary Derek O' Brien. I always presumed that Campion in Bombay would have buildings and infrastructure much more magnificent than my own school.

However, today as I was going towards a client's office in Fort, I chanced upon two modest looking buildings and a small compound, and was dumbstruck to find the words "CAMPION SCHOOL" written on a plaque. Reminded of the huge campus I was used to calling school and the large buildings which we roamed around, I found Campion School Bombay dwarfed in comparison!

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Vikramaditya - Myth or Reality

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