The Young and the Reckless: Pirates I Have Loved

Perhaps 2007 will go down as the Year of the Pirates. Had the cinematic trilogy featured anyone other than Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, I doubt it could have been such a triumph. I’ve always had a thing for a man in eyeliner, and Lord knows I’m not the only one. Here’s the perfect, bewildering, beguiling, hot marriage of rebel with a cause and sensitive guy. (Men perplexed at the whims of women need only don some clunky jewelry and a soul, though snaring the lady of his dreams is no guarantee to a man of happiness.) Those effete mannerisms mixed with smoldering playfulness and an indomitable thirst for adventure makes for a scrumptious pirate. Yeah, thanks JD, honestly, it was so fun to have a giant crush these past few years that wouldn’t actually alter the course of my life.

Of course, I’ve a predilection toward the pirate, and later I married one- thought he was a ‘sea captain’ but semantics like that tripped up even romantics like me…it began when I was in the twilight years, ten, twelve, the years when I begun to emerge…through my noble literary quests I found my first love, Rhett Butler. Well, actually my first crush was Barbra Streisand, a little weird I admit- but she gave me this lifelong pride in being a Second Hand Rose. She used to be the queen of vintage Salvation Armani before that dreadful old lady bob and the beige dresses- is that my fate? Regardless, her archetypal presence still reigns in the drag circles I occasionally mingle in.

Thankfully, that particular estrogen surge left as quickly as it appeared. Enter the man of my dreams, Rhett Butler. I mean, God, if any man out there is wondering, “What do women want?” just observe Rhett’s every thought and action. Watch how his shit plays out. A man of such ill repute must also be solid and fight for what he believes in, tell the truth, adore us. This man, my friends, is why Gone with the Wind had the kind of substance it did: Rhett’s character and the way he saw things showed profound truths about human nature. Rhett was dashing and intriguing, but polite enough to keep to the wings for the duration of much of the story. He did not need to be flashy, though he enjoyed it when appropriate. Rhett seemed to be the glue, not just of a fictional book, but of the whole world.

Obviously my feelings about this man are strong, and because I hadn’t heard any preamble about the book, it hit me by total surprise: Rhett Butler’s People, a novel by award winning Civil War-era novelist Donald McCaig. The shock of it is rather, well, like having your childhood pirate pop unexpectedly in town some twenty years later for a clandestine rendezvous.

The Margaret Mitchell estate chose the novelist, and I have complete assurance that this writer is competent to create an unforgettable and honourable oeuvre. The fact remains, however, that he is a man. Is it fair for a man to tell Rhett’s story? The strength of Mitchell’s writing was her profound understanding of the human heart in all its guises. Her success at creating the dream lover of every woman to come after 1936, when GWTW was first published, was simply creating the absolute female ideal. Which only a woman could know. (I’m not being sexist: can a woman create the woman of men’s dreams? I doubt it.)

In addition to flawlessly colouring the details of female fantasy, each character was a fully illustrated archetype, unfolding via natural ‘show don’t tell’ storytelling. Were the things Mitchell noticed things McCaig would notice? While this question is surely relevant no matter who wrote the book, I admit to some trepidation for the emotional nuances of the character. I don’t want to get confused- after all, no matter how amazing this guy is, he is not the creator of Tara and friends, who are real people to half the world.

So, what if Rhett has changed? I know that has the power to change me. This is a unique chance to shatter something I prefer to leave in tact. There is much at stake here.

But of course, I would never have the strength to stay away and leave well enough alone. Come on. You know I was on the phone within seconds of hearing the word, with Book City. It made me sad that the clerk had never heard of it. What kind of marketing plan was that? And what bookstore wouldn’t have a five-minute meeting to recap the event and to have fancy editions of Gone With the Wind…astonishing. It seems there is an unfortunate lit scene poopooing of Gone With the Wind. All I can say to any of that is: did you read the book? Simple. Those who say they have usually carry brittle reasons for their disdain, but face facts, any one who HAS read the damn book would agree over and over, “Gone with the Wind- that’s probably my favourite novel of all time.” “Best book ever.” “Amazing book.” Here was a work by a very peculiar and outrageous woman that tied up a thousand ends masterfully. Here is a book that recorded war differently, as a woman always will- it’s the story of the people. The rich and spoiled digging in the same dirt as their slaves, and what the hell they talked about in the fields. About love and birth and family carrying on through hell. About losing your boys and your fathers and husbands for a war that most didn’t even believe in, including Rhett, of course. He knew the truth: the Cause was rubbish, but that men love war.

Well, Whatever. I wish some book types would recognize an event of such historical anticipation, really, even if it were not earmarked for the obscure prizes, even if it is destined to be consumed by ‘mass culture.’ Perhaps the Americanism of the story has fallen out of favour in recent years, but come on, a lot of stories take place in the United States. Some of my best ones did! The library came through for me today, God bless you redheaded ladies at the Todmorden Branch. It’s very likely a book I will buy, regardless, to have and to hold, but I couldn’t wait.

So who is Rhett Butler? Not sure how Mitchell found the words: I don’t have them. Now here’s a scoundrel who commands and deserves respect without actually lording over anyone. A man so free to do what he wants, he feels a reputation is a ball and chain. And yet, in such rebellion and dangerous devil may care machismo, you know you can depend on Rhett to do the right thing. He’d despise a word like morality, yet you could count on him- unless you tried to play mind games with him, something some women have a weakness for, admit it ladies. You can’t win with Rhett, though, because he knows how people work, and as hedonistic as he seems, he cares for his family and loved ones in ways that are passionate and absolute. He’s a man who loves she thrill of the gamble, literal and in life, and usually calculates correctly. He will never compromise the truth even if you’re begging for a lie. He’ll give you his heart without reservation if you would just be courageous enough to express your own desires, physical and spiritual. He is not received by any societal groups except brothels and pirates. Yet you’ll find him easily slipping into the most unexpected circles and making casual, pleasant company. You feel at ease in Rhett’s presence, whether you are a millionaire or a whore.

So here goes. And I’m opening my heart to McCaig’s story because it came out of him, and the gift is that I’m able to read it. Many stories remain unopened, inaccessible. I’m grateful.

Madcap Captain Jack was a whole lot less refined than Rhett Butler, and Rhett’s not really a pirate. I mean, he IS really a pirate. But he does not live roughly on the seas or have a parrot or chest of gold or haunted ships and other such ‘lore’ that was so wonderfully vivid in the Pirates of the Caribbean spectacle. Depp gave depth to this sort of rogue – but then, Depp reminds me a bit of Mr. Butler on various occasions, not just this one. I was sorry that there weren’t going to be annual installments, but Jack sparrow must stay in tact, too- stuffing another actor in his clothes so JD could move on to new challenges would be hideous.

Exit, my beloved pirate, and now I walk down the planks, ready to open my new book, to reunite with my long-lost lover.

Lorette C. Luzajic

Don’t be shy: I’ve got a lot more stuff for you to read! Catch more at my main site, www.thegirlcanwrite.net, and try my other blog, Chatterbox, at www.thegirlcanwrite.wordpress.com.