IMHO,
Scarlett O'Hara is the
worst example of a
southern belle ever depicted in fiction. She shared her opinion in public, (not typical), married out of her class (VERY untypical) and generally acted in a way that would have embarrassed all of her direct family. A true southern belle was her cousin, Melanie, who married
Ashley Wilkes, the true
Southern gentleman (unlike Rhett).
Stella, and the other women in the various Tennessee Williams plays (Streetcar named Desire, Cat on a Hot tin roof,etc) are much more representative of the species.
Example:
"I have always relied on the kindness of strangers"
thanks for the info. Lometa.