Little Women

[Marionette]

I guess there's no need to explain what this is? I've been re-reading this book recently, and just remembered how pissed I am about the ending...didn't like it when I was 11 and don't like it now (Jo/Laurie was probably the first and only ship that broke my heart like that:cry). What I didn't know when I was 10 was how much conflict there were between the reader's wish, Louise's own intent and the publisher's demand.

So...anyone read this when they were little (or not little)? Any thoughts on the ending?

[wicked_liz]

Jo/Laurie was the "adolescent romance" come true deal. I could see where public opinion would have been outraged that Jo (arguably, the most loved of the sisters) ended up with the ratty teacher/writer guy.

While I really wanted them to end up together, I really loved Laurie's scene where he comes upon her resting and takes her hand and explains that he still adores her but married Amy* (I may remember this wrong, it's been awhile ^^;)

Like they needed to be apart for each other to grow.

Mostly the book made me bitter against fiction for girls for awhile. Nothing ended up how I wanted it. Beth died, Jo married this guy with holes in his socks, Meg seemed bitter, and annoying Amy (whom I disliked 'cause I thought her vain and spoilt) ended up marrying adorable Laurie.

Luckily, when I was 13, I got the chicken pox, and my cousin gave me a copy of "Anne of Green Gables" and I was happy forever. Now there's an example of a ship satisfied. :D

[Marionette]

I know! Anne of Green Gables is the cure X) I don’t know if you saw this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6_KQdBBbKk&mode=related&search=) yet…but yeah, I wonder if Montgomery was one of the first generations of bitter Jo/Laurie shippers.

But...sigh. Remember when they first met how they talked and danced in the empty hall alone b/c they were both hiding from the party guest? Remember when they ran into each other on the way to the other's houses because they had fought and both can't wait to apologize and make up? Remember how he said that she'll always have him again and again...even through the latter books?

But in all seriousness, probably due to either societal pressure or bitterness at her own struggle, Alcott’s ending seem grimmer for me than Shakespearian tragedies. Every single one of the conformed (and there’s the theory that Beth died because she was to ideal for this world) and lived exactly the way they were expected to. What happened to the Castles in the Sky? What happened to their hopes and dreams? And this is the most apparent in Laurie (probably because he was the boy), who give up becoming a professional musician and inherent his grandfather’s wealth as well as his lifestyle – marrying Amy, someone who fits his “wealth”, is just a part of that conformity.

And Amy herself…I can’t stand her not only because of her nastiness and jealousy as a young teen, but what values she kept as an adult. To me her nature didn’t really change although she had matured; her life still revolves around being rich, she still goes out of her way to appear “upper class”.

Although I found a bit of comfort in searching for Laurie’s name in the Little Men sequels: Of course, I can’t say for sure like some people do that he loved Jo till the end, but the author certainly left a lot to the imagination. Laurie comes to Jo’s school often in the last two books, and when he’s not playing with the kids he’s alone with Jo. Their relationship does seems a bit ambiguous at times – at the very least you can see that he loved her more than ever, it’s just up to you to interpret what that love is.

I mean, this part should pretty telling:
"It is not always the ladies who do that best, Jo. It is sometimes the strong brave woman who stirs up the boy and makes a man of him;" and Laurie bowed to her with a significant laugh.

"No; I think the graceful woman, whom the boy you allude to married, has done more for him than the wild Nan of his youth; or, better still, the wise, motherly woman who watched over him, as Daisy watches over Demi, did more to make him what he is;" and Jo turned toward her mother, who sat a little apart with Meg, looking so full of the sweet dignity and beauty of old age, that Laurie gave her a glance of filial respect and love as he replied, in serious earnest,

"All three did much for him, and I can understand how well these little girls will help your lads."
It’s like…

Laurie: it was you, not the others who made me who I am.

Jo: No no no…I think it’s the other sister, you know, the one you married? And mom too.

Laurie: It’s all of you than.

By the way, Amy hardly appeared in the last books. When she’s praised it is mostly for how well she dresses and threw parties. She was shown interacting with Laurie once (neither of them was more affectionate than they have to be), and Jo was there with them. It was said after they married they had a “happy and harmonious” life – but more importantly it is because they both suited wealth, nothing was said of their relationship (also considering in a age that scorn contraception, they only had one kid XD). Laurie also whined to Jo that he “I get desperately tired of business sometimes, and nothing freshens me up like a good frolic with your boys.”

PS: and the old German guy...like someone else had said: "I have nothing against him, other than the fact he wasn't Laurie." And oh, also I don't believe that Jo needed someone who's like a father to her to "tame" her, or that she isn't good with Teddy because they bicker...I mean, you fight but you always learn to work it out, isn't that what relationships are about?

[Nell]

haha totally agreed there, I loved Jo/Laurie, hated that they didn't end up together. I also watched its movie hoping to remember that part wrong or the director to change the ending but the result was disappointing. I'd love to add more than this but unfortunately it's been a long time since I read the book. But the disappointment is the thing that shines most in the dusty memories of this book. It could have been much more satisfying.

[rei_ai]

The book has been erased from my mind, after reading it some years ago (when I was still a high school student). Now the memory had been relieved.

Actually, I only learned Little Women from Little Men (the animated version). That made me sucked up to 19th century novels and read them. (Victor Hugo, Jane Eyre, Charlotte and Emily Bronte and the likes).

After reading Little Men's prequel, I understood the deal between Jo and Laurie, and maybe, I had also wished for them to be together. It's just that I had learned Little Men before Little Women. It sucked to be spoiled.

Now that I remember the story, indeed, it's more tragic to see a true love married to an equally important person. Perhaps, if Jo and Laurie were more honest to their feelings, they wouldn't let pressure take the wrong direction (was it?).

The ending used to give me unsatisfaction, and I used to think that English novels might be like that for some social reason. However, Jane Austen proved that I was wrong.

[Marionette]

Yeah, that ending just left a lot of readers plainly disappointed and unsatisfied. Those are really the best word to describe it. I don't mind tragedy or comedy; it just has to be well written. And to me Little Women's ending isn't; the reasoning for Jo and Laurie "not being good together" is pretty weak, and the character's reactions are pretty forced (well, more Laurie's than anyone else's).

But like you guys said...usually a book like this will be left in our dusty childhood memories by now no matter how much we loved it. At least for me one of the reasons that it could generate so much emotion from me still is that I'm so deeply disappointed and unsatisfied (hey, those are feelings :P).

[Guildenstern]

I had only three thoughts on finishing 'Little Women'. None of them had to do with Jo because if I thought about it too hard I'd have lit the book on fire with rage.
1. Pickled limes
2. "Goddamn it, Amy"
3. "....Beth."

I can never read this book again, ever.

[Marionette]

I'm really curious for more details XP...

And don't worry, if you feel like it I'll fly over and join you where ever you are burning the books.

[cavisze]

@wickedliz: haha, my thoughts as well!

I actually saw the movie (the newer one, I have not seen the old one, though I want to now) before I read the book, and I didn't care so much about the Jo/Laurie pairing in the movie, because it was pretty obvious that both individuals were still too naive about both life and themselves to get married when Laurie gave his moving proposal.

But oooh...in the book...I was furious at the book! Still though, both characters (at least Jo) needed a little growing up and grounding before they could settle down. It makes sense that Amy ended up with Laurie in the sense that she was better suited for the lifestyle that Laurie did not want to fight against and that Jo did not want to have.

Er, and I just realized how old this thread is...
I did not read the books that came afterward, though. It is interesting to know that Laurie and Josephine maintained their connection.

[Marionette]

The ending made sense in a way, but that's what annoyed me about it in a way. Because everybody ended up being what they didn't want to be and what they were expected to be: Laurie succeeded his grandfather's business and all the girls (who lived) were housewives (Jo did a little more than that, but it doesn't fall far from it).

I know that they can't all run away and become poor musicians like Laurie's parents did, and not archiving what you dreamed of as teenagers aren't always a bad thing, but the book's ending have such a message of "settling" that I found it unsettling. Maybe it was just way to much reality in a children's book for me...actually, it's so perfectly Victorian that it was really unrealistic.
It makes sense that Amy ended up with Laurie in the sense that she was better suited for the lifestyle that Laurie did not want to fight against and that Jo did not want to have.
That's exactly why I hated how it turned out! Laurie marrying Amy the trophy wife is like the ultimate act of giving in to the "proper" way of life that was planned out for him. I definitely agree on the not mature enough thing, but I miss the boy that danced with Jo in the empty hall way because neither of them fitted in with that upper class party scene. And plus, that whole hiding from the crowd dancing by ourselves thing is just romantic; those two actually grow and developed their relationship, unlike the Amy thing which happens a bit too fast and scrams "rebound" way too loudly.

[ruukii]

Little Women? Gahh....honestly, I was so frustrated when I read the book because my favourite Jo/Laurie didn't come true; I started reading it when I was in high school >___> LOL If only they be more honest with their feelings. And I dislike Amy, she is like a spoilt and selfish youngest sis.