The thing I like most about Scarlett O'Hara's encounters with Charles Hamilton is what she is thinking when she is talking to him. It never fails to make me giggle when she's flirting and things to herself that he looks like a cow, or when he is opening his heart to her and her mind is elsewhere. Poor Charles - one can almost be happy that he died while he was still under the illusion that he had captured the heart of the kind of girl he had always admired - one who was full of life. It would have broken his heart to have known that Scarlett had only married him with a cruel intention; she wanted to get back at Ashley for marrying Melanie Hamilton, Charles' sister, instead of herself.

Charles is not a major character by any means, but he leads to a series of events. If Scarlett had not married Charles, there would have been no Wade. She would not have had the protection of being Melly's sister-in-law. She would not necessarily stayed at Aunt Pitty's. She would have not been a widow (and who would want to miss the scene where she tries on a beautiful bonnet with her widow's weeds on, or any of the other scenes that come about when she was in "mourning"?)

Charles was first mentioned in the book in the first scene, where we find our Scarlett flirting and talking with Brent and Stuart Tarleton. (The following is from "Gone With the Wind", by Margaret Mitchell, page 11 in the softcover edition):

"You like 'em red-headed, don't you, honey?" grinned Brent. "Now, come on, promise us all the waltzes and the supper."
"If you promise, we'll tell you a secret," said Stuart.
"What?" cried Scarlett, alert as a child at the word.
"Is it what we heard yesterday in Atlanta, Stu? If it is, you know we promised not to tell."
"Well, Miss Pitty told us."
"Miss Who?" "You know, Ashley Wilkes' cousin who lives in Atlanta, Miss Pittypat Hamilton - Charles and Melanie Hamilton's aunt."
"I do, and a sillier old lady I never met in my life."
"Well, when we were in Atlanta yesteday, waiting for the homoe train, her carriage went by the depot and she stopped and talked to us, and she told us there was going to be an engagement announced tomorrow night at the Wilkes ball."
"Oh, I know about that," said Scarlett in disappointment. "That silly nephew of hers, Charlie Hamilton, and Honey Wilkes. Everybody's known for years that they'd get married some time, even if he did seem kind of lukewarm about it."
"Do you think he's silly?" questioned Brent. "Last Christmas you sure let him buzz round you plenty."
"I couldn't help him buzzing, Scarlett shurgged negligently. "I think he's an awful sissy."

At that point in the book, one would have no idea that he would end up being Scarlett's first victi.... I mean, husband. :)

Charles is only mentioned in passing again until he and Scarlett meet again face-to-face at the aforementioned Wilkes ball. (From GWTW, page 99-100)

Scarlett spoke pleasantly to [India] and started up the wide stairs. As she did, a shy voice behind her called her name and, turning, she saw Charles Hamilton. He was a nice-looking boy with a riot of soft brown curls on his white forehead and eyes as deep brown, as clean and as gentle as a collie dog's. He was well turned out in a mustard-colored trousers and black coat and his pleated shirt was topped by the widest and most fashionable of black cravats. A faint blush was creeping over his face as she turned, for he was timid with girls. Like most shy men he greatly admired airy, vivacious, always-at-ease girls like Scarlett. She had never given him more than perfunctory courtesty before, and so the beaming smile of pleasure with which she greeted him and the two hands outstretched to his almost took his breath away.
"Why Charles Hamilton, you handsome old thing, you! I'll bet you came all the way down here from Atlanta just to break my poor heart!"
Charles almost stuttered with excitement, holding her warm little hands in his and looking into the dancing green eyes. This was the way girls talked to other boys but never to him. He never knew why but girls always treated him like a younger brother and were very kind, but never bothered to tease him. He had always wanted girls to flirt and frolic with him as they did with boys much less handsome and less endowed with this world's goods than he. But on the few occasions when this had happened he could never think of anything to say and he suffered agonies of embarrassment at his dumbness. Then he lay awake at night thinking of all the charming gallantries he might have employed; but he rarely got a second chance, for the girls left him alone after a trial or two.
Even with Honey, with whom he had an unspoken understanding of marriage when he came into his property next fall, he was diffident and silent. At times, he had an ungallent feeling that Honey's coquetries nad proprietary airs were no credit to him, for she was so boy-crazy he imagined she would use them on any man who gave her the opportunity. Charles was not excited over the prospect of marrying her, for she stirred in him none of hte emotions of wild romance that his beloved books had assured him were proper for a lover. He had always yearned to be loved by some beatuiful, dashing creature full of fire and mischief.
And here was Scarlett O'Hara teasing him about breaking her heart!
He tried to think of something to say and couldn't, and silently he blessed her because she kept up steady chatter which relieved him of any necessity for conversation. It was almost too good to be true.
"Now, you wait right here till I come back, for I want to eat barbeque with you. And don't you go off philandering with those other girls, because I'm mighty jealous," came the increadible words from red lips with a dimple on each side, and briskly black lashes swept demurely over green eyes.
"I won't," he finally managed to breathe, never dreaming that she was thinking he looked like a calf waiting for the butcher.

Calf waiting for the butcher. I think that is why I enjoyed their encounters so much... Scarlett is so funny that way! :) And of course all you hard-core fans know that the next thing that happens is Scarlett sees Rhett Butler for the first (?) time. (I think it's first... I'll check on that!)

Then it is announced that the South is at war. What I am next going to quote from the book was turned into a memorable scene in the movie (one of my favourite scenes... who am I kidding? I love them all!!). It is from pages 108 - 109, when Charles proposes to Scarlett, but I won't make you read it... just click here if you would like to do so. :)

Charles dies after leaving Scarlett with a young son, Wade Hampton Hamilton, who is born never knowing his father (but he is immensely proud of him). I hope you have enjoyed my write up on Charles (the little I did... most of it is quotes). :)