Little Women

Laurie graduates from college with honor, much to the pride of the Marches and his grandfather. He has to stay for the ceremonial dinner but asks Jo if she can meet him the following morning. She agrees.

Jo is apprehensive that Laurie will reveal his feelings for her, which he does: “I’ve loved you ever since I’ve known you, Jo, couldn’t help it, you’ve been so good to me. I’ve tried to show it, but you wouldn’t let me; now I’m going to make you hear, and give me an answer, for I can’t go on so any longer” (390). As painful and difficult as it is, Jo knew this day would come, and she tells Laurie that she has never had any romantic feelings for him. Crestfallen, he persists that he will change for her love, and he even tries to bring in Mr. Laurence’s impending disappointment, when Laurie tells her the news. However, she is adamant: “I’ll never marry you, and the sooner you believe it the better for both of us” (394). Laurie is hurt and leaves; Jo goes to tell Mr. Laurence the truth. He sympathizes with her, despite his sadness that they will not be a couple.

When Laurie returns in a dismal state, his grandfather explains that he knows from Jo what has passed. Trying to alleviate the situation, he offers to travel to Europe with him. Although Mr. Laurence dislikes travelling, he chooses to do it for his grandson. He will stay in London and Paris to visit friends, allowing Laurie to travel by himself through Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. Laurie is reluctant but understands the sacrifice his grandfather makes for him to feel better.

On the day of his departure, Laurie asks Jo once more to reconsider, but she will not. At that moment, Jo realizes when he leaves “that the boy Laurie never would come again” (399).

When Jo arrives home that spring, she notices signs in Beth that she did not see before. Beth appears emaciated and “there was a strange, transparent look about [her], as if the mortal was being slowly refined away, and the immortal shining through the frail flesh with an indescribably pathetic beauty” (400).

Jo decides to use her savings and take Beth on a trip to the mountainside; when Beth refuses to go to the mountain because it’s far from home, they go to the seashore instead. Each passing moment confirms the fear that Beth may be dying, and they spend their vacation deeply devoted to one other without speaking of it. One day, Jo realizes while Beth is napping that her “cheeks were very thin, and [her] hands seemed too feeble to hold even the rosy little shells” (401). Beth awakes and understands that Jo knows that Beth’s death is imminent.

However, Jo still tries to deny the manifestations that are happening before her: “Beth, I can’t let you go. I’ll work and pray and fight against it. I’ll keep you in spite of everything; there must be ways, it can’t be too late” (403). Beth cries at Jo’s loving outburst because she does not want to leave this life, but she accepts her fate, knowing that she was never like the rest of her sisters—she had no ambitions for a career and no desire for marriage. Beth asks Jo to tell their parents the truth but upon returning home finds they sense it: “for Father and Mother saw plainly now what they had prayed to be saved from seeing” (405).

Laurie promises to spend his Christmas with Amy in Nice, France, and when they meet, they are delighted to see each other. Although he looks handsome, Amy discerns that something in his behavior is askew, as he is “not sick, nor exactly unhappy, but older and graver than a year or two of prosperous life should have made him” (408). Deciding not to probe further, she takes him to run errands with her.

When she goes to pick up her mail, she receives letters from home describing Beth’s decreasing health, and although she is worried, her family says she should stay in Europe, as her trip is a one-of-a-kind opportunity.

In the meantime, Laurie admires Amy, noting that “she was as sprightly and graceful as ever, with the addition of that indescribable something in dress and bearing which we call elegance” (410). They continue to discuss their adventures, and Amy learns, without much detail, that Laurie has been travelling aimlessly across the continent. They part until the Christmas party that night.

Later, in the hotel, Amy takes time to prepare herself for Laurie as she begins to see him as more than a friend and “she was conscious of a very natural desire to find favor in his sight” (411). With her artistic vision, she transforms her outfit with cheap materials and available items, such as flowers.

As Laurie escorts Amy into the ballroom, he compliments her. In the beginning, Laurie shows little interest in dancing with her. Amy, although she hides her displeasure, decides to focus her attentions on dancing and the other notable guests, including a Polish count. By the end of the night, his eyes catch her more frequently, and when she is flushed from dancing and sits next to Laurie, he fans her and brings her refreshment. He is intrigued about the “illusion” of her dress (416), which makes her attractive, and she admits that poverty has allowed her to be more imaginative by pushing her to make the most of what she has: “why, tulle is cheap, posies to be had for nothing, and I am used to making the most of my poor little things” (417). Although she is initially embarrassed to have said this, Laurie respects her for her frankness and her creativity, and he shows it by dancing with her for the rest of the night.

Meg’s twins keep her occupied to the point that “John decidedly missed the wifely attentions he had been accustomed to receive, but as he adored his babies, he cheerfully relinquished his comfort for a time, supposing with masculine ignorance, that peace would soon be restored” (418).

However, nothing changes. Meg is protective of the children and pours her energy into their well-being, which leaves Mr. Brooke to seek solace by going to his friend Mr. Scott’s house every evening. Although Meg is relieved that Mr. Brooke is amusing himself elsewhere, she begins to miss his presence at home.

Distressed, Meg wonders if it is because she is aging and unkempt. She discusses the situation with Marmee, who has experienced such a situation before and advises Meg that “too much confinement makes you nervous, and then you are unfitted for everything” (422). She suggests that Meg allow Mr. Brooke to assist her in handling the children, especially Demi, and that Hannah could come over to watch over the children while she does housework and devotes time to her husband.

Later, Meg creates an atmosphere so they may have an evening together by sending the children to bed early and dressing herself for Mr. Brooke. Although Mr. Brooke is surprised and happy at this new turn of events, it does not last long, as Demi disrupts them by waking up from bed. Meg tries to appease him by giving him sugar if he goes to sleep, but he returns, which causes Mr. Brooke to take Demi to bed and then refuse to listen to all his rants and cries. Although Meg is initially worried that Mr. Brooke is too harsh on him, she soon realizes “he does know how to manage them, and will be a great help, for Demi is getting too much for me” (428).

That night, Mr. Brooke and Meg enjoy their evening and attempt to understand each other’s interests—politics and millinery, respectively. Curious to know the reason behind Meg’s change, she confesses that Marmee helped her.

Soon, “[h]ome grew homelike again, and John had no wish to leave it, unless he took Meg with him.” All their neighbors and friends would visit them instead, as “everyone found the little house a cheerful place, full of happiness, content, and family love” (430).