Dolly Merriwether is one of the leaders of Atlanta society and a friend of Pittypat Hamilton and Caroline Meade.
Biography[]
The war changes much for the Merriwether family. After they lose their fortune, Dolly and her daughter Maybelle begin to bake and sell pies and other baked goods. As time progresses, they start selling to the Yankees as well.
Rhett Butler set about winning over Dolly Merriwether because of her place in society, wanting to secure a place for his daughter Bonnie in the high and mighty homes of the influential. Dolly thought a man who loved his child so much must be good, and it was confirmed in her mind when he made a contribution to the Association for the Glorification of the Graves of the Glorious Dead, and even invested in her bakery.
Later, Captain Butler came to Dolly for advice on how to stop his daughter from sucking her thumb. Dolly advised putting quinine on her thumb, which did the trick.
Bonnie was formally accepted into Atlanta society when Dolly Merriwether invited her to her grandson Napoleon Picard's birthday party. However, Bonnie died before she could make it.
Personality[]
Scarlett O'Hara describes her as shrewd, confident and opionated but notes Dolly will always listen to the opinions of the men around her before expressing her own.
Trivia[]
- It is possible that Dolly was named after Dolly Madison, wife of President James Madison, who was First Lady from 1809 to 1817 (the period in which Dolly would have been born).