I think it's hilarious that Rhett Butler is the model for every subsequent alpha male romance hero, because he's actually one of literature's most desperate simps. Rhett is only saved from the appearance of simp-hood because the woman he's simping for has the emotional intelligence of a potato.
Pays $150 (equivalent to $5.5k in today money) in gold to dance with object of affection he knows hates him. Implied he shells out more gold for subsequent dances. This is 1860s equivalent of OnlyFans subscriber behavior.
Stays in a dangerous war-zone purely to save object of affection/simp-hood from invading army in the hopes of a gratitude hookup. Risked life to steal a horse for her, only to get one brief make-out, a slap on the face and a death wish as reward.
Risks getting arrested by returning to city he doesn't even like to see the chick who when he last saw her said she hoped a cannon ball fell on top of him. Upon seeing her is so desperate he nearly proposes marriage despite her clear gold-digging motives.
Only saved by sight of her need money gold-digging work hands, then is a sulky bitch about almost being honey-trapped. Can't resist asking if there are other backup men his goddess is about to con in place of him and even gives advice on how to trick them more effectively. PEAK SIMPING. Laughs it off two weeks later while also rushing to give her the money anyway!
Drives object of affection/simp-hood to and from dangerous job while she is married to/pregnant by another man!!! This is Richard Nixon driving Pat to and from dates with other men behavior!!!
Proposes marriage to object of simp-hood on day of her last husband's funeral, threatens to sing outside her window if she doesn't say yes. Bullies her into a yes, despite her pointing out she doesn't love him and is mostly agreeing to have access to his money.
Tries to play it cool but then passive-aggressively points out that she should at least pretend she loves him and, you know, say the words or whatever. Makes extremely pathetic joke about how "some wives falling in love with their husbands." RHETT. STWAP.
Tries to play the whole marriage proposal off like it's FWB/FB situation, as if he hasn't had a massive obvious crush on her for six years and doesn't have financial interest in a brothel and plenty of access to other women that he's not offering marriage to.
Builds her a tacky McMansion and enables all her worst tendencies of taste in the vain hope that NOW she'll love him.
When she's caught "cheating" on him finally gets so drunk that he can admit his own self-loathing at his simpitude and the weight of it breaks him free into true alpha status. Only saved from marital rape accusation by the fact that it's the one time his wife actually enjoys sex, probably because he's not simping for once!!! You should have tried this years ago Rhett!!!
Can't resist listing off his entire history of simping even when he's leaving her.
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