Little Women: Your thoughts!

And get reading Chapter 11- 15 (Experiments to A Telegram)

Readers, hello!

📖 First, your homework for this week (January 18- January 24): Read Chapter 11- 15. This section has one of my favorite chapters, “Experiments”. It’s a great one for lots of laughs, and also a great “pick me up” for when my daily work starts to feel like drudgery. Marmee’s advice that when we all do a bit of the “load” every day, it’s easier to bear is a great reminder.

🎧 Second- if you’re a paid subscriber, you’ll have access to a little audio guide that has some information on Alcott, and some background to some of what we’ve been reading so far. I’ll send it in a separate email (and possibly a few days late, as I’m travelling right now! But it’s coming!)

"All of the philosophy in our house is not in the study, a good deal is in the kitchen, where a fine old lady thinks high thoughts and does good deeds while she cooks and scrubs." - Alcott’s Journal. This is a photo of the real Alcott’s kitchen at Orchard House (visit the website here)

Playing Pilgrims

If you have the annotated edition, then you’re getting your fill of Pilgrim’s Progress references! But something I love about this story (and it reflects Alcott’s father’s specific philosophy on education) - is that it’s fun. The girls are playing pilgrims. In chapter 1, Mrs March reminds the girls how they used to re-enact the book by dressing up as pilgrims and climbing the stairs to the attic, fighting off Apollyon and the hobgoblins, and getting tasty treats in the meadows outside the Celestial city. Amy says, “I’d rather like to play it over again, if I wasn’t too old for such things.” And Marmee says, “We are never too old for this my dear, because it is a play we are playing all the time.”

I often think of “trying to do the right thing” as a whole lot of work, a long list of “shoulds” I need to check off a list, and constant guilt for failing to live up to my own ideals. On a surface reading, something which seems to be missing in the Marches understanding of the book Pilgrim’s Progress (and the Christian life) is the idea of grace. We’re not striving our way to the Celestial city, trying to be good enough, and fighting off temptation and our own character flaws through sheer willpower. After all, Christian’s “burden” tumbles off at the cross he encounters not very far on his journey. It’s the cross that takes his burden away, not his determination. And when he wins a battle, it’s often through a gift he has been given: words or messages from another pilgrim, weapons gifted by the King’s messengers, or once an angel actually appears to get him back on the right path. At first read, it does seem like this story (as opposed to the original Pilgrim’s Progress) is just a lot of working hard to be good enough.

A lot of 19th century children’s literature can feel tiresome - both from the cheesy sermonettes (which thankfully, Alcott’s humour allows her to avoid), and just the content: it seems exhausting to “be good” all the time. At the same time, the point of Pilgrim’s Progress is this idea that this is just reality: it is hard work becoming good. The King has saved us from the city of destruction, but there’s still a long journey ahead. We’re not perfect. It is possible to grow in virtue, to become more of the people we were created to be, to better reflect our King and his ways.

This time through, I noticed an emphasis on the fact that the girls are “playing pilgrims”. And I think there is a lot of grace in that word, “play”. It’s not a drudge, it’s a joy. The girls are not left alone to struggle against their envy, their tempers, and their pride. We see the gift of grace that is Marmee, who comes along with an encouraging word, or funny story. We see the gift of other people - sisters who both understand your world and help you bear it, yet also poke at your character flaws. We see the gift of friendship in Laurie, and in Mr. Laurence, whose generosity graces them with numerous gifts. We see the gift of a sense of humour! To be able to shift your perspective and make yourself laugh at the irritating trials of life and your own mistakes. We also see a quiet hand of grace orchestrating events - that Meg should overhear that gossip at the ball, but not let it completely damage her innocence, that Laurie should be there to help rescue Amy from the pond, that Mr. Laurence should be moved to give Beth his piano, encouraging her bravery. It is even a grace that Amy’s pickled limes were caught out! Amy was able to become a better person away from the influence of those silly girls.

“Playing Pilgrims” put a bit of “romance” over the very dull task of “being good” (as Jo notes earlier). Sometimes it is easier to do the right thing when you see your small actions as bound up in a larger story or purpose. It’s easier to face the croaky Aunt Marches of our lives when we see our work as part of a grand story. That is a grace as well.

What do you think?

Share your favorite quotes, comments, or themes that jumped out to you in the comments (if you’re reading this on email, you’ll need to open it in your browser to comment. If you just reply to this email, no one else will see it!)

• Do you have a personal story of how turning something into a game helped you to get a hard (or mundane) task done? How do you feel about the “shoulds” - are you overly responsible and paralyzed by the need to do things right all the time? Or do you fall too far the other direction?

• What do you think of the girl’s burdens, hopes and dreams and how we are learning about their personalities and characters?

• Who is your favorite character so far? Who is “growing on you” this time through? Who are you most like?

• What have you noticed this time as you read (it can relate to ANY topic!)

• Any questions, or bits that were confusing? (If you don’t have the annotated edition, let me know what has you stumped, I’m pretty sure I’ve researched it!)

Share your thoughts! And happy reading!