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Caroline Irene "Carreen" O'Hara is the youngest daughter of Gerald and Ellen O'Hara, the younger sister of Scarlett and Suellen O'Hara. After losing her beloved fiancé Brent Tarleton, she became a nun in a convent in Charleston.

She is played by Ann Rutherford in the film.

Overview[]

Carreen is described in the novel as "shy and easily led." She is good-natured and unselfish, and follows her mother's and Mammy's edicts without argument.

Physical Description[]

In the novel, not much is said about her physical appearance except that she is small for her age and has a "delicate profile and wishy-washy expression."

Biography[]

Born in 1848 (est.), Carreen is three years younger than her sister Scarlett, and two years younger than her sister Suellen. Carreen is thirteen at the beginning of the novel.

In 1864 she, along with her mother and sister Suellen, became ill with typhoid. Although she did survive, it took many months and her strength was never fully recovered. After the war ended she spent much of her time nursing soldiers as they passed through, and most of her remaining time in prayer for Brent and her late mother. Though always willing to work, her health prevented her from doing the more difficult and tiring tasks.

CareenScarlettSuellenatTwelveOaks

Photo of Careen with Scarlett and Suellen at Twelve Oaks

Will Benteen fell in love with her as she nursed him, but the feelings were not reciprocated, and in 1866 she left Tara to join a convent in Charleston. Her life after this point is never mentioned.

Brent Tarleton[]

During the war she is courted by Brent Tarleton, and is engaged to him at the time of his death at the Battle of Gettysburg. She does not recover from this loss, and eventually chooses to become a nun. Carreen was very much in love with Brent Tarleton, even while he was still her sister's beau prior to the war. He begins to court her during his first furlough, and by early 1863 they were engaged. Before they could be married, Brent was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, along with his two remaining brothers. The loss was devastating to her.

Religion[]

In the novel, Careen is a staunch Catholic and takes religion more seriously than her sisters. Both of her parents were Catholic. Gerald was Irish Catholic and, during his funeral, she choses the words to be spoken at his funeral. Many people present at the funeral are Baptist and Methodist though so they are shocked by the Catholic service led by Will Benteen so Ashley Wilkes steps in and recites an Episcopal burial service which he had "often read over slaves buried at Twelve Oaks."

Trivia[]

  • Carreen's personality is most like her mother's out of all O'Hara girls.
  • It is possible Caroline Irene was named after the O'Hara's neighbour Caroline Meade. Her husband quite possibly delivered Carreen when she was born.
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