Little Men Part 2: Girls at Plumfield
I like Jo much better this time! She’s grown!
I’ve expressed before my annoyance at Jo for being mean and making fun of feminine girls, the Calls chapter etc. Also, adaptations don’t help. To me they portray her as annoying and mean, and I just want to slap her.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Jo respecting Daisy’s domesticity and even finding it valuable. So much that she was convinced that Daisy’s influence would do good on Nan, seeing as Nan is following her early steps.
I loved that when the boys didn’t let Daisy play with them, she built her a kitchen!!!! (with Laurie’s help). And when the boys didn’t let Nan into their club, she created the Cosy Club. And also how even when the boys where mean, the girls were generous and invited them to their spaces if they behaved well.
But she also wants the boys to learn to play with girls and be respectful to them. She does not approve of Demi, Tom and Nat ruining Daisy’s ball. It’s not funny.
Daisy (I guess I should warn you for spoilers??)
Daisy is a tiny Meg. She’s super sweet and domestic and just lovely. I often felt that she must be lonely being the only girl. Thank God Nan came! But seriously, her presence is so refreshing. In a school full of boys, Daisy’s garden has only flowers, she has a kitchen to play with, she cares for her dolls’ dresses.
She’s also very brave and loyal. When everyone suspected of Nat, she was the only one who defended him, she consoled him and adored his music. She also loves Demi. I understand why Louisa focused on Demi when John died, but I would have wanted to read more about Daisy’s grief.
Nan is a tiny Jo. She’s wild and energetic and Jo can recognize herself in the girl. Luckily Jo has matured and learn to respect limits and she tries to educate Nan in the same way. She’s such a contrast to Daisy. And they both help each other to not go too far.
I loved how brave she was for Rob when they got lost.
This is one of my favorite scenes:
“Yes; but I[Jo] keep talking, and lately she [Nan] has improved much. You saw how prettily she shook hands with you [Laurie], and how gentle she was with Bess. Daisy's example has its effect upon her, and I'm quite sure that a few months will work wonders.”
Here Mrs. Jo's remarks were cut short by the appearance of Nan tearing round the corner at a break-neck pace, driving a mettlesome team of four boys, and followed by Daisy trundling Bess in a wheelbarrow. Hat off, hair flying, whip cracking, and barrow bumping, up they came in a cloud of dust, looking as wild a set of little hoydens as one would wish to see.
“So, these are the model children, are they? It's lucky I didn't bring Mrs. Curtis out to see your school for the cultivation of morals and manners; she would never have recovered from the shock of this spectacle”, said Mr. Laurie, laughing at Mrs. Jo's premature rejoicing over Nan's improvement.
She’s learning limits but that doesn’t mean she loses her personality. It’s a bit worrying how willing she is to cut limbs, but I think it’s amazing that she wants to be a doctor. Like I said before, I appreciate that when she showed interest in healing and taking care of people, Jo automatically went for doctor, not nurse.
I thank Louisa for portraying a healthy female friendship between girls who couldn’t be more different.
