The March sisters, Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth, are pilgrims set
on their own journeys to understand how to better themselves as individuals and,
as highlighted by part 2 of Little Women, to discover what make themselves
truly happy. The journeys taken by the
sisters are different, but the four of them start from the same departure point:
home.
Their
journeys began in the Christmas season, initiated by a letter from their father
who is away fighting in the Civil War.
The sisters each decide to work on their flaws, with Meg claiming that
she “…think(s) too much of her looks, and hate to work…”, Amy stating “I am a
selfish pig…”, Jo claiming “I’ll try… and not be rough and wild…” and Beth
deciding to work on her shyness (Alcott 9).
The mother gives each of them a copy of “Pilgrim’s Progress” for
Christmas to help them achieve this goal.
The progression of their journey is evident in all the girls. Beth, for example, improved on her shyness
and fear of other people, such as Mr. Lawrence, as seen by the excerpt, “Beth
blushed like a rose under the friendly look he wore, but she was not frightened
now, and gave the big hand a grateful squeeze…” (Alcott 60). Jo, as another example, seeks out her mother
for advice on how to control her temper, with her mother explaining “…we all
have our temptations, some far greater than yours, and it often takes us all of
our lives to conquer them. You think your temper is the worst in the world; but
mine used to be just like it” (Alcott 79).
The pilgrimages of the little women do not stop here. It continues into part 2, where the
pilgrimage develops into a lesson of true happiness.
In
chapter 13 the four sisters describe their hopes for the future, which they
refer to as “castles in the air” (142).
Meg stated she “would like a lovely house, full of all sorts of
luxurious things…” (Alcott 142). Jo
wishes to be a famous author as seen when she describes her castle in the air
as such: “I’d have a stable full of Arabian steeds, rooms piled with books, and
I’d write out of a magic inkstand, so that my works should be as famous as
Laurie’s music” (Alcott 143). For Amy,
it is “…to be an artist, and go to Rome, and do fine pictures, and be the best
artist in the whole world” (Alcott 143).
Along their pilgrimage the girls realize that their castles in the air are
different than what they expected. For
Meg she realizes she is truly happy marrying the poor Mr. Brooke and becoming a
motherly figure. For Jo, she finds
happiness marrying Professor Bhaer and sacrificing her sensationalist
writing. For Amy, she gives up on her
desires to be an artist and marries Laurie.
Little
Women demonstrates that life is a pilgrimage towards true happiness and
humbleness, which is seen through its stories and lessons.
I think you make an excellent point that Pilgrim’s Progress guides the four March girls through their journey to overcome their flaws. Because their mother appears to be the primary advice giver in the family and provides this book to the girls as a model for their life, it is safe to assume that this book is able to mold them into the women they intend to be. However, one thing I did notice in Little Women, is that the girls do not become successful, but instead, gain the qualities of a good lady. At the end of your post you state that the girls have gained “happiness and humbleness.” If we claim the Marches are their happiest not fulfilling their dreams, Alcott seams to suggest that becoming a strong and happy women is more in the form of character and good will, than in success. A great example of this is when Amy is chosen to go on the trip to Europe and Aunt Carrols says that she intended to ask Jo , but chose not to because she is “too independent” and has “blunt manners,” while Amy is “docile” (Alcott 301). Although Jo is older and more accomplished, her “independence” and dreams are actually what prevent her from enjoying a trip in Europe. As the girls go on this journey modeled through Pilgrim’s Progress, they are not in search to accomplish their goals, but their main agenda in Alcott’s eyes is to improve their character to that of a good lady.
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