Little Women discussion!
Our thoughts on the Amy & Jo dynamic? The Laurie & Jo drama??
Readers - hello!
First- your homework! This week (March 3-9), read Chapter 39 (Lazy Laurence) to Chapter 42 (All Alone).
And now! Here’s your chance to share what you’re thinking about this part of the book so far- jump down to the comments and share favorite quotes, scenes, or something that’s standing out to you this time around. If you’re stuck, here are some discussion questions for you to get those English 101 juices flowing (PS: Some of these questions are taken directly from the Owl’s Nest edition of Little Women!) :
There’s a lot of Amy and Jo in this section. How would you describe the relationship between the two of them now that they are older? How do you see their similarities and differences leading to clashes?
Jealousy is an ugly word - not one I like to think about! But sometimes honest depictions of vices not only make characters relatable to us, they help create in us a longing for virtue. What are some of the flaws you see characters struggling with in this section? How do their struggles impact you in light of your own struggles?
The BIG SCENE between Jo and Laurie occurs here… thoughts?? Would they have worked out? Could they have worked out? Yes? No?
Some more thoughts on this section, and we can pretend it’s a coherent essay:
So, so much big stuff packed in here. Of course, the Jo and Laurie CONVERSATION which I don’t want to say too much about because I really want to know what you all think ( I mean, I’ll jump in the comments and share my thoughts!) One thing to note is that all the movies show this conversation happening before Jo goes off to New York. As if she has this conversation with Laurie then runs away to try her hand on her own in the city. The order in the book is significant, I think. She has this conversation with Laurie after returning from New York, and has already met Professor Bhear, tried her hand at being an author, and had some adventures. It’s Laurie who packs up and leaves to Europe after the conversation, not Jo.
Once scene I love in this section is Jo describing her first Christmas away from home. I really feel that “home” and ideas about what makes a home are woven throughout the entire book, and I love these glimpses we see now of the girls feeling homesick and realizing for themselves what made home so good (you could argue that Meg even feels a bit “homesick” in her own home as she’s starting out on her own!). And I absolutely love seeing how they re-create a sense of home for themselves away from Marmee. We see Meg coming around to realize that the values of thriftiness she grew up with still matters, and as long as there is joy, friendship, and warmth, her home will be delightful. We see Jo feeling very blue in New York at Christmas, but making up silly homemade presents for her new friends, and then getting the Christmas bundle from her family at just the right time! I am sure anyone who has been homesick in college can picture her joy of getting a care package full of odd things from home. We see Amy, prancing about Europe and still somewhat a bit too interested in balls and parties and sensibly marrying a rich man, but there are glimpses of her sturdy character shining through.
Speaking of home, we also get a chapter on Meg learning what it looks like to work as a team within the home, instead of being a domestic goddess and trying to do it all herself. These Meg chapters are perhaps more applicable to me now as an adult, but I find it fascinating that Marmee criticizes Meg’s over-absorption in mothering alone, and tells her to get John carrying some of the “mental load” as it were. You could probably read this section as a bit of a put-down to women (women are “weak” and need a strong man to help lead the home) - but I read it more as Marmee pushing for the ideal of partnership. She gives very modern-sounding post-natal advice (“Get out, read something besides baby blogs, stop drinking too much caffeine, and your mental health is important so get your husband to help!) This is 150 years ago! I’m impressed. As the kids would say, Marmee is #goals.
So- please — jump in the comments! What do you think so far??