MovieChat Forums > Scarlett (1994) Discussion > Why didn't they......?

Why didn't they......?

posted 15 years ago by valjoedg
8 replies | jump to latest

When Fenton was beating and raping Scarlett she was screaming her lungs out. Before hand at least two people saw her run up the stairs followed closely by Fenton who was holding a fireplace poker. He gained entrance to her room. As the beating and rape was going on in her room everyone in the entire house heard her screams.
Why didn't they help her? The guy came running when her screams of finding Fenton dead. They arrested her.
At her trial none of the servants who testified said anything of what they heard......Fenton running after her with the fireplace poker...her screams for help...the sounds of the beating and rape...no one said any of that.
Why didn't they help her by stopping the whole beating and rape? At the trial why didn't they say, "Lord Fenton chased Mrs. Butler with the fireplace poker." or "Lord Fenton was beating Mrs. Butler." WHY DIDN'T THEY HELP?

[–] Anjewel 14 years ago

They were servants, he was a Lord. They knew what was going to happen, but they wouldn't have been able to do anything about it. If they had done anything to intervene most likely they would have been imprisoned for assualt regardless of their just motives. Back then the legal system served only to help those with prominence and fortune.

[–] furienna 14 years ago

They were servants, he was a Lord. They knew what was going to happen, but they wouldn't have been able to do anything about it. If they had done anything to intervene most likely they would have been imprisoned for assualt regardless of their just motives. Back then the legal system served only to help those with prominence and fortune.

I think this is the sad truth. Servants weren't allowed to intervene, when their masters did something wrong.

Yes, it's true! IMDB has reached Sweden!

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

They could've called a cop and I don't understand why her defense is difficult when there were many witnesses to her rape, beating, and threat to her life. I don't even understand why it had to go to court, the cops could've questioned her and the servants that very night and found her to be a victim.

[–] jlyn1980 14 years ago

Because in those days women had no rights. You could get raped in the middle of a busy road, and no one would stop and help. Because you must have done something to deserve it or bring it on.

Namaste

[–] louiseculmer 9 years ago

men did not go around raping women in the middle of busy roads. men, like women, had reputations to preserve. They might go to prostitutes etc, but in public at any rate they behaved courteously to women.

[–] unknown_soul278 10 years ago

My question is what the hell was the point of that scene to begin with? It did not happen in the book. She was set to marry Fenton and become a Countess but he never raped her.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

Did she sleep with him before marriage in the book too? Because it seems out of character for Scarlett to risk her reputation that way especially in the 19th century.

[–] louiseculmer 9 years ago

I think we are meant to understand that the servants are too afraid of their villainous employer to come to her aid. it is n extremely exaggerated and melodramatic story. in real life, respectable women did not visit men alone unchaperoned anyway. you would expect her to have at least a maid with her.