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ArchivesRe: A Theory on the Name Rhett Gregory's Posting
in reply to a message by Gregory Aalto
The first place anyone ever saw the name Rhett was in Gone With The Wind, published in either 1936 or 1937. It was the first name of a character called Rhett Butler who was created by Maragret Mitchell . While David 's theory on it being a variation of Rhys is possible the surname theory doesn't float.
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Replies
Sorry, Raven, but the theory that the name "Rhett" may have sprung from the Welsh surname "Rhys" is entirely plausible. Even had Margaret Mitchell invented the name, the author was familiar enough with the surnames of Great Britain to have selected the Irish surname of "Scarlett" for her heroine. (Which sounds a lot better than the author's original consideration of "Pansy O'Hara".)
The following is a quote from Loreto Todd, Reader in International English at the University of Leeds, and worldwide lecturer:
"Reece, Rees, Rhett, Rhys -- these names seem to be derived from the Welsh 'rhys' and to mean 'ardour, passion'. The first two forms are anglicisations of Rhys and Rhett is probably a pet form of the name... It is, of course, possible that Margaret Mitchell made up the name, but the use of 'Rh' suggests a Welsh link."
In addition, considering the meaning of the name "Rhys", one can see that this would be an entirely fitting name (in whatever form) for the character of Rhett Butler.
Margaret Mitchell carefully crafted her novel *Gone with the Wind*. I don't believe that she would have named her characters (along with some input from her editor, Harold Latham) without these names having a significance of some sort. Even the title of her novel was significant in having come from a line in Ernest Dowson's poem "Cynara".
-- Nanaea
The following is a quote from Loreto Todd, Reader in International English at the University of Leeds, and worldwide lecturer:
"Reece, Rees, Rhett, Rhys -- these names seem to be derived from the Welsh 'rhys' and to mean 'ardour, passion'. The first two forms are anglicisations of Rhys and Rhett is probably a pet form of the name... It is, of course, possible that Margaret Mitchell made up the name, but the use of 'Rh' suggests a Welsh link."
In addition, considering the meaning of the name "Rhys", one can see that this would be an entirely fitting name (in whatever form) for the character of Rhett Butler.
Margaret Mitchell carefully crafted her novel *Gone with the Wind*. I don't believe that she would have named her characters (along with some input from her editor, Harold Latham) without these names having a significance of some sort. Even the title of her novel was significant in having come from a line in Ernest Dowson's poem "Cynara".
-- Nanaea
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P.S.
Also enjoyed your own theory on how Margaret Mitchell may have derived the name. :)
-- Nanaea
Also enjoyed your own theory on how Margaret Mitchell may have derived the name. :)
-- Nanaea
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FYI: have you read gregory's posting? Or mine for that matter? I specifically said David's theory WAS possible. And if Margaret Mitchell was close to, and as the biographer and family believes, in love with Henry Love Angel wouldn't that make him significant?
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More theories on the name of Rhett...
I've been inspired by this one, because Raven's fiance is named Rhett and what can be more self-indulgently fascinating than to project one's own sentimentality into speculation regarding why an author may have selected a certain name for her character?
I have carefully consider Raven's painstakingly thought-out theory as to how Margaret Mitchell may have derived the name of Rhett. See, if you pronounce every syllable of her name the last one sounds like Rhett! Or maybe even Ghrett! And there was a man she was very close to named Henry Love Angel so that would explain where she got the H added to the last syllable! It could have been some kind of "message" to this guy! Cleeeeever, no?
So the following are possible names which Margaret Mitchell may have first considered for her character of Rhett Butler, but which may have been discarded by that stinker of an editor of hers -- Harold Latham -- who probably had NO romantic streak in himself AT ALL.
1. Ghee Butler (derived from "Peggy", the nickname by which Margaret went)
2. Lhynn Butler (derived from MM's middle name of "Munnerlyn")
3. Chhell Butler (derived from MM's professional surname)
4. Mharshh Butler (derived from MM's married surname. Hey, wait a minute... MM was married to John Marsh at the time, wasn't she? Whoa, I wonder what "secret message" she may have been sending *him*?)
But, getting back to MM's "secret message" to Henry Love Angel... Don't you get girly chills all over, just thinking about it?
Daividh, Pavlos, Mike? Do you guys get girly chills, too, with all this secret love message stuff? I think Raven really hit on something here!
-- Nanaea
I've been inspired by this one, because Raven's fiance is named Rhett and what can be more self-indulgently fascinating than to project one's own sentimentality into speculation regarding why an author may have selected a certain name for her character?
I have carefully consider Raven's painstakingly thought-out theory as to how Margaret Mitchell may have derived the name of Rhett. See, if you pronounce every syllable of her name the last one sounds like Rhett! Or maybe even Ghrett! And there was a man she was very close to named Henry Love Angel so that would explain where she got the H added to the last syllable! It could have been some kind of "message" to this guy! Cleeeeever, no?
So the following are possible names which Margaret Mitchell may have first considered for her character of Rhett Butler, but which may have been discarded by that stinker of an editor of hers -- Harold Latham -- who probably had NO romantic streak in himself AT ALL.
1. Ghee Butler (derived from "Peggy", the nickname by which Margaret went)
2. Lhynn Butler (derived from MM's middle name of "Munnerlyn")
3. Chhell Butler (derived from MM's professional surname)
4. Mharshh Butler (derived from MM's married surname. Hey, wait a minute... MM was married to John Marsh at the time, wasn't she? Whoa, I wonder what "secret message" she may have been sending *him*?)
But, getting back to MM's "secret message" to Henry Love Angel... Don't you get girly chills all over, just thinking about it?
Daividh, Pavlos, Mike? Do you guys get girly chills, too, with all this secret love message stuff? I think Raven really hit on something here!
-- Nanaea
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The wife talked me into watching "Bridget Jones' Diary" the other night. Funny flick. Even tho Renee Zellweger was insufficiently zaftig to be true to the book, I still got girly chills. Even old Fascists have their sensitive side...
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Off topic fascist digression
You may have heard of Taki Theodoracopulos a snotty and obnoxious Greek columnist-cum-shipping-heir-gone-astray whose political leanings are a bit to the right of Caligula . Taki's only saving grace is his biting sense of humor (he currently writes for New York Press).
At a party, Taki met a left-wing french intellectual lady he hadnt seen for years.
"Bonjour Taki, toujours fasciste?" she said.
"Bonjour ma chere, toujours putain?" Taki replied.
You may have heard of Taki Theodoracopulos a snotty and obnoxious Greek columnist-cum-shipping-heir-gone-astray whose political leanings are a bit to the right of Caligula . Taki's only saving grace is his biting sense of humor (he currently writes for New York Press).
At a party, Taki met a left-wing french intellectual lady he hadnt seen for years.
"Bonjour Taki, toujours fasciste?" she said.
"Bonjour ma chere, toujours putain?" Taki replied.
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I really envy you and Pavlos, Daividh. I was only kidding about my own girly chills. The closest thing we Satanists experience to girly chills is the rush one gets when pulling on a new pair of black, leather boots. With chains on 'em. Mmmmm! (I'm not
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I sense a certain Corvus Corax's feathers are soon-to-be-plucked :P
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