Little Women

The family makes an effort to accept Beth’s death: “The pleasantest room in the house was set apart for Beth, and in it was gathered everything that she most loved—flowers, pictures, her piano, the little worktable, and the beloved pussies” (446).

Each member goes out of his or her way to create happiness for Beth in her last days: Meg brings her children, John sets aside money for her favorite fruit, Hannah cooks her best dishes, and gifts and special items arrive for her. Yet even in ill health Beth continues to create “little things” (486) for the schoolchildren that passed by the house

Jo guards Beth and never leaves her side; Beth says she feels stronger when Jo is near. One night, Beth finds a poem that Jo has written about her, extolling her virtues and all that she has meant to Jo. This gives Beth solace to know that she is loved and that her life is significant in some way. When Jo awakes, Beth has a request for her: “You must take my place, Jo, and be everything to Father and Mother when I’m gone” (451). Jo promises to do her best.

In the spring, during the dark hours of the morning, Beth breathes her last breath, and the family is comforted by “a face so full of painless peace that those who loved it best smiled through their tears, and thanked God that Beth was well at last” (452).

Laurie’s new active nature impresses his grandfather, to whom Laurie devotes himself. However, internally Amy’s lecture propels Laurie to make better use of his life. He realizes, “Jo wouldn’t love him, but he might make her respect and admire him by doing something which should prove that a girl had not spoiled his life” (453).

When Laurie starts sulking again, he goes to Vienna in an attempt to compose a musical piece. While he does, he tries to imagine Jo as his heroine, but these thoughts make him laugh, as he remembers only her “oddities, faults, and freaks” (454). Instead, he changes his mental picture to a muse that “always had golden hair, was enveloped in a diaphanous cloud, and floated airily before his mind’s eye in a pleasing chaos of roses, peacocks, white ponies, and blue ribbons” (454).

Like Amy, he soon accepts he is not a musical genius and most importantly realizes his love for Jo wanes each day. He decides to ask her one more time for her decision. Jo responds that he must move on and tells him that Beth’s condition has left her devastated. She begs that he keep this news from Amy.

In the meantime, while Laurie and Amy exchange letters, Amy declines Fred Vaughn’s proposal of marriage. She remembers Laurie’s words about not marrying for money. When Amy discovers that Beth has passed, she wishes for Laurie to come, and he does so when he finds out about Beth’s demise himself.

As they embrace, each one knows that the other is right for them, but they become embarrassed of their thoughts. However, Amy’s grief presses Laurie to stay longer.

Gradually, in their time together, they express the unsaid while rowing on a lake. Laurie observes, “I wish we might always pull in the same boat. Will you, Amy?”—to which she responds, “Yes, Laurie” (465).

The loss of Beth stirs sorrow in Jo as she tries to lead a normal life. She delves into household work and invokes the memory of Beth, resuming the duties that Beth would have conducted. Jo also aims to take care of her parents and to grow closer with Meg.

Ultimately, it’s Jo’s writing that soothes her pain, and she begins to write from an authentic place. Her family is delighted with her newest story, and her father sends it to be published. To her surprise, the story not only commands a high price but is well-received.

Meanwhile, Amy and Laurie write of their engagement, and Marmee is relieved when Jo expresses her approval of the match. However, Marmee knows that Jo is lonely and assures her that she is loved by so many and that she should be content with that until “the best lover of all comes to give you your reward” (472).

Though happy for Amy, Jo asks herself “why one sister should have all she asked, and the other nothing” (473). While looking through her things, her eyes fall upon the professor’s message in her books and thinks, “Wait for me, my friend. I may be a little late, but I shall surely come” (473).

Jo, depressed by her fate as a spinster, comes to accept this very possible reality of her life when Laurie arrives unannounced. However, the two greet each other as friends despite the fact “there was a barricade […] a natural one, raised by time, absence, and change of heart” (477). 

Laurie explains that he and Amy are married because Aunt Carrol would not let them return home due to decorum and as he describes their honeymoon in Valrosa, Jo feels that he has moved on. However, Laurie still addresses the situation by admitting, “I never shall stop loving you; but the love is altered, and I have learned to see that it is better as it is. Amy and you changed place in my heart, that’s all” (479).

They tease each other like old times and when Amy enters calling for Jo, the whole family meets and embraces as Mr. and Mrs. March note that “their youngest had done well, not only in worldly things, but the better wealth of love, confidence, and happiness” (482). As the merriment continues, Jo is again overwhelmed at the prospect of her life spent in solitude when someone knocks the door.

To her amazement, it’s Professor Bhaer; Jo ushers him into the house and introduces him to her family. Each member takes to him warmly, including the children, and his ease and friendliness capture even Laurie. In the meantime, Jo is aware of her reaction and tries to keep her excitement in control as she finds him more pleasing and blushes at the idea that he is dressed as if “he’d been going a-wooing” (487).

Before the night ends, they sing, with Amy beginning with one of Beth’s songs. Before the sadness can take over, Jo asks the professor to sing, and he does with gusto. Later, in his own room, he kisses a picture of Jo and falls asleep.