Wade Hampton Hamilton Character Analysis in Gone with the Wind

Wade Hampton Hamilton is Scarlett and Charles Hamilton’s son. When he’s young, Scarlett resents him for taking away her youth, and is annoyed by his presence. He was traumatized the night they fled Atlanta with Rhett while it burned, and lives in constant fear that the Yankees are coming for him. Scarlett doesn’t realize this, and yells at him for nagging her. Wade grows distant from Scarlett and comes to fear her because of the cold and callous way she treats him, preferring the company of Melanie who is kind to him. Rhett is also kind to Wade, understanding that Scarlett has neglected him. Rhett assures Wade that he cares about him and encourages him to cherish Charles, the father he never met, as a hero.

Wade Hampton Hamilton Character Timeline in Gone with the Wind

The timeline below shows where the character Wade Hampton Hamilton appears in Gone with the Wind. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Practicality, Tenacity, and Selfishness Theme Icon

Months later, Scarlett gives birth to Charles’s son and names him Wade Hampton. The birth is surprisingly easy on her, but Scarlett still feels low and depressed.... (full context)

...Scarlett comes home from these visits thin and snappy, Ellen decided to send her and Wade to Atlanta. There, Melanie has been staying with her and Charles’s aunt, Miss Pittypat Hamilton.... (full context)

Looking Forward vs. Looking Back Theme Icon

...voices his disapproval when he sees that Scarlett has put young Prissy in charge of Wade. Scarlett recalls that Charles said Peter practically raised him and Melanie after their parents died.... (full context)

Peter settles Scarlett in the carriage and tells her to make sure Prissy doesn’t drop Wade. He’s right to worry; Prissy is indeed a poor nurse. But she’s the only person... (full context)

Charles’s Uncle Henry Hamilton also urges Scarlett to stay. He points out that Wade should grow up on the property he’ll one day inherit, which will eventually be extremely... (full context)

...jealous of Melanie and dislikes Miss Pittypat, but she’s happy. The enslaved staff even take Wade Hamilton off her hands. She’s only sad when Melanie mentions Ashley’s name or reads his... (full context)

...have a son like Phil. She confesses that she’s jealous of Scarlett because she has Wade. She could bear Ashley’s death only if she had his baby to comfort her. Scarlett... (full context)

The Civil War and Reconstruction Theme Icon

...Phil will join the fight. Scarlett and Melanie think of Ashley while Rhett Butler holds Wade Hamilton and plays with him. That morning, Miss Pittypat decided to kill the old rooster.... (full context)

...exhausted. Miss Pitty, Scarlett, and Melanie tend tirelessly to the wounded in their house. Little Wade hangs frightened in the background as wagons bring wounded and dying men into town. Melanie,... (full context)

...she’s too small to have children. So Miss Pitty leaves for Macon while Scarlett, Melanie, Wade, and Prissy stay in Atlanta. (full context)

The siege comes closer and closer to Atlanta. Wade and Prissy hide in the basement, but Melanie was told to stay in bed, so... (full context)

...that the Yankees and the Confederates are fighting along the southern train line, Scarlett cancels Wade’s trip. The siege continues, but Hood holds the Yankees out of the Atlanta. Slowly, Scarlett... (full context)

...is sick or might even be dead. If she dies, Scarlett will be stuck with Wade and Melanie. Scarlett daydreams about the miles of white cotton at Tara, and the enslaved... (full context)

...beats so fast that she can’t eat. Her sugarless coffee tasted even worse than usual. Wade is scared, but Scarlett tells him to play outside. Then she sits on the stairs... (full context)

Scarlett goes into Melanie’s room and says cheerfully that Wade’s birth was over in no time. Melanie hopes hers will be that fast. Scarlett sponges... (full context)

Scarlett arrives back at the house. She tells Wade, who’s crying, to go make mud pies in the yard. Once inside, Scarlett tells Prissy... (full context)

...Meade is trying to bury him before the Yankees arrive. Melanie tells Scarlett to take Wade and go, since she’s going to die. Scarlett refuses to leave. (full context)

...afraid. Scarlett is upset that he is mocking her again. She tells Prissy to get Wade’s feather bed, then she and Rhett go upstairs to Melanie’s room. Scarlett explains what is... (full context)

Outside, everyone gets into the rickety wagon. Melanie lies on the featherbed with Wade, Prissy, and the baby. The horse is thin and unwell, but Rhett says it was... (full context)

...making Scarlett feel hot and then cold. Scarlett comes back to herself when she hears Wade calling her. She slaps Rhett across the face and calls him a “nasty, low-down cad.”... (full context)

The sun wakes Scarlett the next morning. Wade is asleep on her lap, and Melanie, Prissy, and the baby are curled up in... (full context)

...gets out, takes the horse’s bridle, and tells Prissy to get out and walk with Wade. Prissy and Wade complain, and Scarlett scolds them. Scarlett wonders why God invented children; Wade... (full context)

...Scarlett directs Pork to carry Melanie into one of the rooms, and Prissy to get Wade a drink of water. With bleeding fingers, Scarlett holds Gerald’s hand and asks if Carreen,... (full context)

...except Melanie, who tells Scarlett to give her portion to Dilcey. Her selflessness irritates Scarlett. Wade acts very strange, but Scarlett doesn’t realize he’s constantly terrified. His life has vanished, and... (full context)

The house is quiet that day. Everyone except Scarlett, Wade, and the three sick women are out looking for the hog. Scarlett can’t bear the... (full context)

...willing to kill the Yankee too. Underneath Melanie’s gentleness, Scarlett sees courage. Carreen, Suellen, and Wade call out, scared. Melanie sticks her head in their room and tells them Scarlett was... (full context)

Scarlett runs into the house, Wade sobbing at her heels. She goes to her bureau and grabs the Yankee man’s wallet.... (full context)

...wallet in the baby’s diaper. She runs downstairs, wondering if she’s alone. Then she sees Wade cowering by the stairs. He runs to her and grabs her dress. She tells him... (full context)

...Scarlett, when the Yankees enter Tara, it’s a personal rather than national insult. She clutches Wade and the baby while the Yankees slash feather beds looking for treasures. The tobacco-chewing sergeant... (full context)

...things and stealing. A man appears holding Charles’s sword. Scarlett had given that sword to Wade on his birthday as a token of his father. Scarlett says they can’t take that... (full context)

...lit branches on the floor. She rushes to the dining room for a rag rug. Wade lies in the hall with a peaceful expression on his face. Scarlett believes he’s dead,... (full context)

...Her body hurts from burns, but Melanie assures her the fire is out. Scarlett hears Wade hiccupping—he isn’t dead. She looks at Melanie’s sooty face, and says she looks like a... (full context)

...save it forever. Scarlett scoffs, saying she hopes she has lots of Greenbacks to give Wade when he grows up. (full context)

...Uncle Henry’s generosity. Scarlett knows Henry is struggling to save this property that belongs to Wade at his own expense. Scarlett changes the subject cheerfully to news of old friends. Pitty... (full context)

...lies that she was selling embroidery to the Yankees to earn money for her and Wade. She starts to cry on his shoulder. He comforts her, saying he won’t tell Pitty,... (full context)

...gives Scarlett $300, so Scarlett sends Mammy to Tara to deliver the money and bring Wade back. Scarlett wonders what Ashley thinks of her. She’s homesick when she realizes she estranged... (full context)

...he likes babies. Scarlett is surprised, but then remembers how well Rhett got along with Wade. Rhett says she shouldn’t be driving alone. She might be raped or robbed, and this... (full context)

...a watch. She hands him Gerald’s opulent gold watch. Pork says it should belong to Wade. Scarlett says Wade never did anything for Gerald and asks if Pork would like her... (full context)

Wade is very scared the day Scarlett gives birth. That morning, Mammy rushed him to Pitty’s... (full context)

Rhett comes into the dining room. Afraid of being yelled at, Wade shrinks away, but Rhett smiles joyfully and says Wade has a sister. Wade runs to... (full context)

Mammy enters the room, smiling widely. Wade is delighted to see Mammy being nice to his stepfather. Rhett makes Mammy a drink... (full context)

...in the sitting room. Scarlett pores over her account books and Rhett plays with Bonnie. Wade is restless. Annoyed, Scarlett tells him to go out and play. Wade says he has... (full context)

Wade asks shyly if Rhett fought in the war. Rhett says he was in the army... (full context)

Scarlett asks Rhett why he lied to Wade, and Rhett says a boy should be proud of his stepfather. Rhett says he’d never... (full context)

...votes Democratic and attends the Democratic meetings. To everyone’s shock, he goes to church with Wade, whose religious education Scarlett has neglected. He dresses more modestly and acts humble and charming,... (full context)

Scarlett tries to spend more time with Wade and Ella, but she realizes that Rhett was right—she was too busy making money when... (full context)

Scarlett is in Marietta when Rhett sends an urgent telegram that Melanie is ill. Leaving Wade and Ella with Prissy, Scarlett gets the first train to Atlanta. It moves painfully slowly... (full context)