Little Women fans: Should Jo have left Amy under the Ice?

[jeannineatkins]

As students recently came into class, one spoke of a contingent of Little Women fans who think Jo should have skated away after Amy fell through the ice of a frozen river. And then Jo could have married Laurie. “Anyway, Laurie turned into a drunk and died young, so it worked out, “ she said

Comments

[d_michiko_f]

I really really need to reread LITTLE WOMEN! I still own the copy my aunt gave to me when I was in 5th (or maybe it was 6th) grade. It's been that long since I read it!

[jeannineatkins]

Debbi, you'll laugh, you'll cry! The movie is actually pretty good, too -- though one of my students said she couldn't stand Winona Ryder's take on Jo ( a young Kirsten Dundst as Amy... my daughter, then quite young when I dragged her to it, was most taken with that river scene!)

[lurban]

I could not stand Ryder's Jo -- and I love her otherwise.

And I was always dissatisfied with Jo's marriage. I didn't know Alcott fought the ending.

But yes, hooray for the fictional Jo getting over the burnt manuscript. I actually find that a pretty good lesson for myself -- not only the people being more important than books part, but the point that even if one manuscript goes up in flames, there are other stories still to be written.

[lurban]

I loved that book at 9 and wanted to be Jo -- but when I tried to reread it a few years ago, I couldn't. It struck me as overly sappy and cloying. Could just have been my mood, though. Maybe I should try again.

[radio__america]

Absolutely! I never have felt that she should have let her die there. A burnt manuscript can be rewritten and then it may even just turn out better, a life cannot be replaced.

[jeannineatkins]

Spoken as the loving patient wonderful sister that you are!

[seaheidi]

What Amy did burning Jo's manuscript is one of the worst "sister" deeds ever! I have two younger sisters so could relate to Jo. No, I don't think she should have let her die in the ice. Sister's do terrible things to each other, usually out of jealousy and usually when they are young. It's bad enough having a burned book, you don't want to mess with "and I let my sister die" kind of karma. =)

[jeannineatkins]

yeah, even a fictional sister. But the scene did add to the drama, which is what was so cool.
Hoping to hear real baby news from you soon, Heidi!

[seaheidi]

thanks.
and good thing i'll have a son and a daughter so hopefully they'll be no book burning in our house. =)

[jamarattigan]

I still love Little Women very much, and was thrilled to visit Orchard House years ago. When you read such a book at age 9, and then have to wait years and years till you're an adult to visit the house, it really means that much more.

I totally agree that Jo did the right thing to save Amy. Marrying Mr. Bhaer did seem like a compromise, though. I don't think it would have hurt the story to let Jo remain single, do you?

[jeannineatkins]

The docents at Orchard House are so nice, too. They try to make you feel at home, which, for so many, is what they expect.

I agree that I'd be perfectly happy if Jo remained single. The biographers find a few hints of romance in Alcott's life, but I don't see anything that would have been worth it for her to give up her independence, which in the mid 1800s, she would have pretty much had to. Her contemporary, Frances Burnett, stayed engaged for seven years before her first marriage, then once she earned money traveled .. a lot.. and overseas.

[beckylevine]

I love when you do this. :)

Here's my 2 cents. I barely remember the ice. (I tend to skip LW when I reread & go right to Jo's Boys, I like the boys a lot, and I don't have to read about Beth again--I'm a wimp!)What I do remember is, hello?! Jo never loved Laurie--not that way. She says it, and it's true. The only reason she's sad and blue about going away from him is that she had to hurt his feelings and that she is, natch, wondering if she WILL ever find the person that's right for her. Luckily, for all the subsequent books, she does--Prof Bhaer.

Myself, I always felt a little sorry for Amy, because although Laurie loved her, he WOULD have married Jo first, if she would have had him. That's because Laurie was and is always just a tad on the immature side, which is another reason he was right for Amy & NOT Jo.

There. The final word. :)

[jeannineatkins]

I'm with you that Laurie was a buddy. And that Prof. Bhaer, why not -- they did get to run that charming school full of boys.

You would probably enjoy the musical that came out a few, oh, okay, maybe ten? more? years ago as they had your take on Amy and Laurie -- they're both depicted as fairly silly and thus a perfect match.

Since my older sister got to be Jo when we played, I still have some longheld allegiance to Amy! She wasn't totally an airhead!

[beckylevine]

Oh, I think Amy was a lot smarter than Laurie! :)

[jeannineatkins]

yes, of course! (but thanks for clarifying!