Blogging Project

I have so much to say about this book

[yerutibattilana28]

# Blog Entry 5: Jekyll's Confession

The final chapters contain Dr. Jekyll's confession, which finally explains everything. Through a scientific potion, Jekyll transformed himself into Hyde, creating a separate physical form for the darker aspects of his personality. At first, he enjoyed the freedom Hyde provided. He could act without concern for social expectations. However, the freedom quickly became uncontrollable.

Jekyll explains that eventually, transformations began occurring without the potion. This is important because it demonstrates how repeated immoral behavior can become a habit. The more Jekyll embraced Hyde, the less control he had over his own identity.

The suffering caused by Hyde's crimes did not disappear simply because another name was attached to them. After all they still came from Dr. Jekyll's impulses. The author reminds readers that actions always have consequences, regardless of how we justify them.

Macauley, Charles Raymond. Illustration from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. "Solely occupied by one thought-the horror of my other self ". 1904 edition, Scott-Thaw Company, 1904.

After finishing the novel, I believe that the lesson is that we must recognize our flaws and take responsibility for our actions rather than pretending they belong to someone else. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde remains relevant because it explores a struggle that still exists within human nature today.

[yerutibattilana28]

# Blog Entry 4: The Truth Begins to Surface.

The tension increases as Poole seeks Utterson's help. He thinks something terrible has happened inside Jekyll's laboratory. The atmosphere in these chapters is intensely sinister. Fear and uncertainty dominate every moment.

The apparent solution only creates more questions, when Utterson and Poole finally break into the laboratory they discover Hyde's body lying on the floor and Dr. Jekyll has disappeared.

Macauley, Charles Raymond. Illustration from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. "Poole and Utterson break into Dr. Jekyll's laboratory". 1904 edition, Scott-Thaw Company, 1904.

The documents left behind reveal that Jekyll's experiments involved more than ordinary science. His desire to separate the good and evil parts of human nature led him into dangerous territory. Instead of controlling his darker side, he gave it freedom and what began as curiosity eventually became an addiction as Hyde grew stronger than Jekyll...

[yerutibattilana28]

# Blog Entry 3: The Return of Hyde

After Hyde disappears following the murder, Dr. Jekyll seems transformed. He reconnects with friends, attends social gatherings, and appears happier than before. For a brief period, it seems as though he has escaped whatever influence Mr. Hyde had over him. Utterson feels relieved, yet the atmosphere of the novel suggests that the peace will not last.

Soon, strange events begin occurring again. Dr. Lanyon, a close friend of Dr. Jekyll, experiences a terrible shock that changes him completely. He refuses to discuss what happened and becomes seriously ill, his decline introduces a new layer of mystery. Whatever secret Jekyll is hiding appears powerful enough to destroy not only himself but also those who learn the truth.

Macauley, Charles Raymond. Illustration from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. "Dr. Lanyon.". 1904 edition, Scott-Thaw Company, 1904.

Dr. Jekyll withdraws from society and locks himself away again. The respectable doctor who once enjoyed friendship and admiration now lives in fear. The contrast between Jekyll and Hyde is dramatic. One seeks acceptance and respect, while the other pursues selfish pleasure without limits.

Perhaps Hyde is not an outside force but a part of Jekyll that he refuses to acknowledge. A lot of people try to divide themselves into "good" and "bad" parts, pretending that their darker thoughts belong to someone else. Stevenson seems to suggest that such separation is impossible. The parts of ourselves we ignore often return stronger than before.

[yerutibattilana28]

# Blog Entry 2: Spiraling out of control.

When Utterson visits Jekyll, the doctor appears cheerful and confident. He insists that everything is under control and asks his friend not to worry. However, his reassurances feel suspicious, Dr. Jekyll seems determined to protect Mr. Hyde despite knowing how unpleasant he is.

This contradiction makes Jekyll interesting as a character.

The murder of Sir Danvers Carew marks a major turning point in the novel. Mr. Hyde attacks an innocent elderly man with shocking brutality. The crime is so violent that it feels almost animalistic. At this point, Hyde is no longer simply rude or unpleasant; he has become a murderer. His actions reveal what can happen when cruelty and selfishness are allowed to grow unchecked.

Macauley, Charles Raymond. Illustration from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. "Clubbed Him to the Earth". 1904 edition, Scott-Thaw Company, 1904.

This event made me think more about Mr. Hyde's symbolic meaning. Intrusive thoughts alone do not define a person, but acting on harmful impulses has real consequences. Hyde's crimes begin to affect everyone around him. As fear spreads through London, the mystery surrounding Dr. Jekyll deepens.

[yerutibattilana28]

# Blog Entry 1: Who or what is Mr. Hyde?

The first chapters of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert L. Stevenson immediately create an unsettling atmosphere. Through Mr. Utterson and his cousin, we are introduced to the strange story of a little girl being trampled by a cruel man named Mr. Hyde.

Dr. Jekyll is introduced indirectly through other characters before we truly meet him. We learn that he is a respected doctor, wealthy, admired by society. And that is why his connection to Hyde immediately raises questions. Why would a man with such a good reputation leave his fortune to someone so unpleasant? Utterson even becomes increasingly worried that Hyde is blackmailing his friend.

Macauley, Charles Raymond. Illustration from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. "Mr. Hyde savagely tramples a little girl". 1904 edition, Scott-Thaw Company, 1904.

The quiet streets of London hide dark corners, just as respectable people may hide darker sides of themselves. This contrast between appearance and reality appears constantly throughout the novel. The city itself almost feels like a reflection of the human mind.

As I read the first part of the book, I couldn't stop wondering whether Hyde represents something deeper than a simple villain. His appearance causes discomfort without any specific reason, which makes me think he symbolizes the darker impulses people try to hide (got it?). Everyone experiences intrusive thoughts, anger, selfishness, or temptation, yet are quick to judge the ones who speak about the topic. If that is true, the novel is already asking an important question...

What happens when a person stops resisting their darkest desires?

[yerutibattilana28]

Blog Project: Carmilla 6° Entry: The Haunting Ends, But the Memory Lingers. Final Reflections.

1. The Fog Lifts

As Carmilla nears its end, secrets are uncovered.

From page 100 onward, all the pieces fall into place. Laura and her father, along with the General and a team of investigators uncover Carmilla’s crypt beneath the ruined chapel of Karnstein. They learn her real identity: Countess Mircalla Karnstein, a noblewoman who died centuries ago and has continued to prey upon girls like Laura and Bertha ever since.

2. A Beautiful Revenant

When they find her body, it's horrifyingly pristine. She appears to be merely sleeping, her beauty untouched by time. The act of driving a stake through her heart and beheading her feels almost sacrilegious, not just because of the violence, but because of the intimacy that came before it.

Carmilla wasn’t some hideous monster. She was someone Laura loved, someone who kissed her, whispered to her in the night, and touched her soul, even as she fed on her life.f

3. The Haunting Aftermath

But what’s perhaps more haunting than Carmilla’s death is Laura’s voice after it. She survives, yes, but she does not rejoice.

Laura narrates with a kind of quiet devastation, she admits that the memories never leave her. She’s not grateful, she’s not relieved. There’s no triumph in Carmilla’s destruction, only loss, confusion and grief. Even when the vampire is gone, the longing remains.

“I live in constant dread of some recurrence of the astounding horror of the past.” (LeFanu, 108).

This ending isn’t clean. It’s not cathartic. Instead, it reflects something deeply real about trauma and about love that isn’t fully understood. Carmilla wasn't just a vampire. She was a woman who loved Laura in a world that had no language for that kind of love, and no mercy for its expression.

4. Final Themes and Thoughts

Love as Haunting: Laura isn’t just haunted by the horror, she’s haunted by the love. Carmilla’s affection was as dangerous as real.

Queerness and Otherness: Carmilla is destroyed by institutional forces: the General (military power), the priest (religious power), and Baron Vordenburg (hereditary scholarly authority).

We could interpret that together they form a patriarchal system that condemns her seduction, her refusal to conform and her refusal to die when she was supposed to, over a century ago(just like queerness). Carmilla is not just a vampire, but a woman whose difference could not be tolerated.

The End Is Not an Ending: The final image is not one of closure but of uncertainty. Laura never fully recovers. And neither do we.

5. The Tragedy of Romance

Reading Carmilla from beginning to end, what stays with me isn’t the horror, though it’s masterfully done. It’s the love, and the way it’s both cherished and condemned. Carmilla’s story is a gothic tragedy disguised as a vampire tale or perhaps it’s the other way around. And in Laura’s lonely voice at the end, we hear what’s left behind, a beautiful wound.

Carmilla and Laura illustrated by D.H. Friston from The Dark Blue

📚Works Cited:

Le Fanu, J. Sheridan. Carmilla. 1872.

[yerutibattilana28]

Blogging Project: Carmilla 5° Entry: Growing Dread.

1. Unmasking Carmilla

In this stretch of Carmilla (pages 70 to 100 or so), the tension begins to thicken, and Laura’s unease is now replaced by fear. These pages mark a shift from mysterious affection to haunting revelation.

Carmilla’s strange behaviors, sleeping during the day, locking her doors, avoiding religious imagery become harder for Laura to ignore. Our narrator, Laura, begins to feel the toll of their strange bond. She feels increasingly ill, weakened by nightmares and fatigue, echoing the fate of previous victims we’ve begun to learn about through whispers.

2. The General's Arrival

I enjoyed this segment more than any other because it’s in these pages that the General’s story emerges. He recounts the death of his daughter, Bertha Rheinfeldt, who succumbed to the same mysterious illness that now seems to be afflicting Laura, and, crucially, he names the girl who lived with them and vanished mysteriously: Millarca. It’s a gut punch moment.

What stands out is the eerie repetition of Carmilla’s pattern. She enters a household under a false identity, quickly forms a strangely intimate bond with a beautiful young woman, then leaves behind death. Carmilla doesn’t just kill, she seduces, confuses and lingers in memory. It’s not just physical; it’s emotional and psychological possession.

3. Duality

There’s also a growing sense of helplessness. Laura suspects something is wrong, but she cannot resist Carmilla. What I love about this portion is the ambiguity, Carmilla isn’t a villain in the traditional sense. She’s still gentle, loving, and protective but also parasitic. It’s both beautiful and disturbing, just as I mentioned in my first entry, everything hints this duality, the scenery, the water lilies, etc. We’re watching a love story and a horror story unfold simultaneously, and the tension between the two is electric.

Carmilla by IreneHorros posted on DevianArt.

Carmilla’s affection for Laura still reads as romantic and intimate, even as it begins to harm her. It reflects 19th century fears of "unnatural" female bonds, but also the undeniable reality of them. Carmilla’s hold on Laura is emotional as much as supernatural. Laura doesn’t fight back, she fades, drained not only by blood loss but by emotional confusion.

4. The Cycle

We start to see how Carmilla has done this before, and how she likely will again. She is history repeating itself, a beautiful ghost walking the same path, destroying the same kind of love she pretends to offer. This section is the slow drop before the plunge when everything Laura feels begins to unravel, and we as readers start fearing what comes next. Carmilla is not just a guest in the house, she’s a haunting, a long buried secret.

[yerutibattilana28]

Blogging Project: Carmilla

4° Entry: The Cost of Being Chosen.

1. When the Predator Whispers Love.

J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla is a study in how affection can be weaponized. Carmilla doesn’t overpower the main character (whose name was finally revealed around page 60), she seduces her emotionally, erotically and psychologically. The power imbalance isn’t physical, but existential: Carmilla is around 160 years old and knows exactly what she’s doing, while Laura is a lonely teenager who wants desperately to believe she’s loved. That’s what makes their relationship so unsettling.

2. The Unseen in Plain Sight.

Carmilla kisses Laura, tells her she loves her, deepens their bond and persuades her to sleep with a charm that’s supposedly protective, claiming she also saw a dark figure in her room and touching the charm made it vanish. But we know Carmilla was the dark figure; I thought for a moment that perhaps persuading her to use the charm was an attempt to refrain herself from attacking Laura. But the charm is not protective, it’s merely herbal, a tool to deepen Laura’s sleep and leave her vulnerable. Even Carmilla admits this later, but Laura misses the clue. It's often said that the most effective way to hide something is to place it in plain sight.

3. The Consent that Never Was.

In these unnaturally deep sleeps, Laura begins to describe strange physical sensations: hearing Carmilla’s voice, her own breath agitated, her heart pounding, her body convulsing, a cold river flow and weakness afterwards. There’s an implied climax. But Laura never recognizes it as a violation or even as intercourse. She suspects she's ill, but later she refuses to believe so, since there's no pain.

She hides everything from her father. She knows she’s fading. And yet, the more she fades, the more Carmilla adores and shows affection towards her.

4. Lies with Surgical Precision: Manipulating the World Around Her.

One night Laura sees the vampire near the bed, drenched in blood, she assumes the blood was Carmilla’s, that someone tried to assassinate her. But we, the readers, understand the truth Laura can’t yet face: the blood was hers.

Laura wakes up to Carmilla covered in blood by D.H. Friston From The Dark Blue.

Laura's concern for Carmilla makes everyone search the girl to make sure she's alright, no one can find her even though all the doors and windows were locked.

The next morning, Carmilla reappears and carefully chooses her words, gently feeding a theory Laura’s father can accept: nothing sinister, just sleepwalking. And everyone believe it. Carmilla builds plausible denial. Cover stories. The more obvious the horror becomes, the more elaborate the rationalisations grow, from Laura and from the adults who should protect her.

5. The Mask of Romance

And that’s why Carmilla still resonates. It shows how abuse hides inside desire. How grooming can wear the face of romance. It presents a sapphic relationship that is both deeply romantic and deeply harmful, something still rarely acknowledged, even today.

[yerutibattilana28]

Blogging Project: Carmilla

3° Entry: The Paradox of Attraction and Repulsion.

1. Queer desire in a repressive world.

Through the main character's impatient curiosity, we soon find out the girl they shelter is indeed, Carmilla, the vampire from years ago. They recognise eachother but seem to have different versions of the same incident. Fate seems to bring these two ladies together, but the protagonist feels just as attracted as scared of her guest, feeling conflicted.

In 19th-century society, sapphic feelings were not only taboo, they were unnameable. So when Carmilla touches her, embraces her, kisses her, then shows apathy towards her, the protagonist melts yet feels abhorrent almost immediately. The love is intoxicating, but society has taught her it's wrong.

Vampires often symbolize the forbidden, the repressed, and being different from the normal human being.

2. Carmilla’s Illness & Cultural Alienness

Carmilla is always tired, faints, and reacts violently to rituals like funerals or hymns. This strangeness works on multiple symbolic levels:

As a vampire: She’s undead, so she’s naturally sickly in sunlight and maybe weakened by religious rites.

As a queer outsider: She doesn't fit in with Styrian society. She has her own customs, ways of speaking, and doesn't explain herself. She refuses to conform, she’s a symbol of hidden female sexuality.

The funeral rage: These might reflect how societal traditions (mourning, religion, family duty) are unbearable or toxic to someone who exists outside of them like a queer woman.

3. The Deaths of Young Women

The girls in the village die after claiming to have seen ghosts or been attacked; just like what nearly happened to the protagonist in the past. And now I realize something so obvious that went right over my head in my last analysis: after her first encounter with the vampire, her father brought a priest and a doctor to medicate her.

This reminds me of that One Direction song that many fans have theorised to be about a homosexual romance. The lyrics say: "...Just me, her and the moon... Love can be frightening for sure... You love who you love there ain't no other way... The priest says it's the devil, my mom says it's the flu, but girl, it's only you..." It perfectly captures how a queer confession has to be made in secret, the moon as their only witness, how scary it is to love someone the same sex as yourself, how religion sees queerness as the devil’s work and how psychiatry or family might label it as an illness.

The deaths after seeing a ghost or being in contact with a vampire feel like a metaphor for society’s punishment of those who step outside the norm. Love becomes a "fever" or a "ghost", something forbidden, misunderstood.

4. The Portrait & Ancestry

A restored portrait in the castle reveals Carmilla (as Mircalla) is around 160 years old and part of the protagonist’s own lineage. This is huge, the theme of haunting inheritance. Carmilla isn’t just an intruder; she’s part of the family, the narrator can't escape her. It could be seen as a metaphor for inherited queerness, a part of the narrator herself that she's just beginning to see and fear.

5. The Dentistry Scene

That weird moment where the man offers to file down Carmilla’s teeth is both ironic and horrifying: It strips away her power. Her sharp teeth are part of her identity, trying to round them is like trying to domesticate her, make her safe, “normal”. It reflects fear of female power or sexuality: Sharpened teeth are a threat, but also a symbol of agency. The idea of dulling them ties into Victorian ideas of taming dangerous women.

6. Love, Fear, and the Moonlight

Carmilla’s romantic confessions, especially under moonlight, are some of the most poignant in early queer literature. She always seems to vanish or weaken just when connection is strongest.

Moonlight as illusion: Their love can only exist in secret, in shadows. The daylight (society, judgment) can't allow it.

The push-pull of forbidden intimacy: Carmilla says "I have been in love with no one, and never shall. Unless it should be with you". It’s passionate, but also isolating. There’s no space for them to exist openly.

So what does all this symbolize?

In one word: Paradox.

Carmilla is both lover and predator. The narrator feels both desire and terror. Their relationship is tender but doomed. The vampire is dead yet at the same time alive.

It’s a deeply queer Gothic tale: a story about a love that can’t name itself, can’t thrive in the light, and must live in whispers and haunted bedrooms. Carmilla’s refusal to explain herself is powerful, because she doesn’t have to. She just is. She embodies mystery, longing, and danger.

[yerutibattilana28]

Blogging Project: Carmilla.

2° Entry: My Takes on the Characters.

1. Subtle Foreshadowing.

The people who live in the castle match the place: quiet, kind, but marked by grief. The father is an English gentleman, refined and affectionate. He quotes Shakespeare, which immediately makes everything feel like foreshadowing; because of course, Shakespeare means drama, longing, love, madness, death. The mother, Styrian, is long dead.

2. Curious as a Feline.

The main character and narrator is their daughter, nineteen, sheltered, and clearly adored by everyone. She has two governesses: one soft and motherly, the other elegant and more polished. They take care of her like she’s a fragile thing, and she kind of is. She’s sensitive, curious, dreamy, and feels very lonely.

She was longing for companionship when she learned the visit she’s been waiting for had died just before traveling. She got so disappointed and seeing an opportunity to acquire a new friend she begs her father to shelter the girl who fell unconscious in the carriage accident near the castle.

Our main character just wants a friend, but I can’t shake the feeling that this girl is too beautiful to be good; just like the vampire from her childhood.

3. Was it Fate?

There’s no way the accident happened right there by chance, not in the middle of a forest, near a castle so far from everything. That whole scene feels like it was meant to happen. The woman who comes out of the wreck is described with so much beauty and detail. And then there’s the mysterious black woman with deformed teeth who didn’t get out of the carriage at all. There’s something chilling about her, something off.

Why did the lady leave her daughter for three entire months with strangers just because they offered shelter? Where was she going in such a hurry that she couldn't wait for her own daughter to recover from the shock of the accident? So many questions that apparently, will stay unanswered.

4. Everything Hints at More.

She whispers that her daughter has a mysterious illness (just like Lady Bertha Spieldorf who died under strange circumstances) and claims she won’t speak a word about who they are, where they're from or anything of that matter. It’s shady. And if I'm not mistaken, General Spieldorf also mentioned in his letter he would pay them a visit in about three months if he survives some kind of quest after discovering the actual reason of his niece's passing (which remains a mystery to both the main characters and us readers).

Everything about that moment gives off the feeling that something bigger and darker is unfolding right under everyone’s nose.

Illustration by D.H. Friston from the first edition of Carmilla, published in The Dark Blue in 1872.

[yerutibattilana28]

Blogging Project: Carmilla.

1° Entry: The Castle in Solitude, A Gothic Setting.

1. Poison Beneath the Petals.

Reading Carmilla feels like lying in a velvet-lined coffin, it’s a gothic fantasy. It’s one of the first vampire stories ever written, even before Dracula, which makes it more haunting and fascinating since it’s not a copy of Stoker’s classic, it preceded it. Situated in Styria, everything about the setting whispers “gothic”: the castle, the landscape, the way everyone and everything seem so mysterious and full of melancholy.

The Schloss¹ rises from the forest on a natural little hill, completely surrounded by trees. The old road leading up to it crosses a stone bridge where swans drift silently through water filled with lilies. Swans: graceful, delicate, almost ghostly and lilies: beautiful yet poisonous. That combination of softness with danger underneath is everywhere in this story. It’s the vibe. Delicate, but deadly.

2. Sweetness Before the Sting.

This vampire was waiting in the dark, revealing herself once the little girl cried as she felt alone, the creature was beautiful and seemed kind, even comforted the girl and lulled her back to sleep, just to bite her moments later with venomous needle-like teeth, waking her up due to the sting. The vampire who I assume is Carmilla, slipped under the bed mischievously, like a classic child's nightmare.

What a hypocrite... Or is it the nature of her species to seduce and attack afterwards? Even without tangible proof, I believe the narrator. I don't think it was a nightmare or her imagination since it's mentioned she was happily ignorant of ghost stories, which explains why she easily trusted that stranger in the dark to sooth her back to sleep. Maybe vampires in this universe are gentle to take more than just blood, they also take your trust, leaving no evidence as to make you question your sanity.

Clearly, this incident traumatized the protagonist; her father brought a priest to teach her how to pray away the evil, and a doctor every two days to medicate the (at the time) six year old girl. She's also had servants guarding her doors at night for almost ten years.

2. So Beautiful, So Alone.

There's no one nearby. The nearest inhabited village is miles away, and it's as abandoned as it can be, it has a roofless church and the graves of a family that no longer exists. The nearest castle is even further... That kind of isolation doesn’t feel peaceful, it feels like tragedy could strike and there’d be no one to hear you scream. And somehow, that just makes everything more romantic. It's the kind of place where you expect a ghost to appear in the hallway or someone to recite a love poem right before they collapse dramatically into death.

3. The Moon and Its Effects.

The castle is full of windows, but that doesn’t make it feel open. It just means there’s always moonlight shining in. This story seems to be full of symbolism, and I love overthinking these details. The full moon is mentioned in the first few pages, how it drives people mad; and we see it right after reading General Spieldorf’s letter, where we learn he has apparently gone mad with grief after his niece’s death. We also know the full moon is often linked to witchcraft, werewolf or other monsters transformations, and the appearance of spirits in both old and modern tales.

However, this residence isn’t creepy in a haunted house way, it’s eerier than that. It feels beautiful on purpose, like it’s trying to distract you. It wants you to look at the swans and lilies, not the shadows behind them.

4. To Love, is to Die a Little.

There’s this constant feeling that something’s coming. The kind of story where you already know someone’s going to die. Or fall in love. Or both. And honestly, isn’t that what gothic is all about? Romance and death, tenderness and poison, all tangled up in the mist.

Illustration by Takato Yamamoto

Author's Note: Schloss is the German word for Castle, it is used more than once in the book.

[yerutibattilana28]

Empowerment through choice: Timeless Feminism of Little Women (pages 580-777)

Fifth Entry

As I closed the final pages of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, my heart was going through a mix of emotions, warmth, inspiration, and a deep sense of "anemoia". The last part of the novel, left a lasting impact on me, and I couldn’t help but reflect on the timelessness of its themes and characters.

In these concluding chapters, we witness the lives of the March sisters unfolding in ways that are both deeply satisfying and beautifully bittersweet. Each sister’s journey towards womanhood is a testament to Alcott’s understanding of the complexities of life and the varied paths one can take. What struck me most was how the story reinforces the idea that true feminism is about choice, the freedom to craft our own destinies, whether that means being a "girlboss" or a devoted housewife.

Beth’s passing, though heart wrenching, serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the simple joys. Meg’s contentment in her role as a wife and mother, underscores the beauty of finding fulfillment in domestic life, a choice that is just as valid and admirable as any other. Amy’s journey, from a somewhat vain young girl to a thoughtful woman, illustrates the value of growth and the pursuit of personal ambitions without losing sight of one’s values.

And then there’s Jo, our beloved Jo, whose struggles with societal expectations and her own desires are perhaps the most relatable. Jo’s decision to marry Professor Bhaer instead of pursuing a more conventionally ‘feminist’ path might seem surprising to some, but it’s still a powerful statement. The author shows us that choosing love and companionship doesn’t diminish one’s strength or independence. In fact, it takes courage to pursue what genuinely makes one happy, even if it’s not what others expect.

This brings me to a fascinating aspect of Alcott’s original vision for Jo. There have been rumors and speculations that Alcott intended for Jo to remain unmarried or even to be depicted as a lesbian, a bold move for her time. Alcott herself was a woman who defied conventions, never marrying, and living a life that was distinctly her own. However, the social norms of the 19th century were incredibly restrictive, and even the idea of Jo staying single was already pushing boundaries. Whether these rumors hold any truth or not, they add another layer to Jo’s character, a reminder of how our stories often go untold or altered to fit societal molds.

As I reflect on Jo’s journey and the paths of her sisters, I feel a renewed sense of encouragement. It’s okay to want different things at different stages of life, and it’s okay to change your mind. The essence of empowerment lies in making those choices for yourself, knowing that no matter what path you take, it’s yours to walk with pride.

In the end, Little Women isn’t just a story about four sisters growing up; it’s a celebration of womanhood in all its forms. It’s a reminder that us women are all equally strong and how beautiful it is to be free and unique.

Author's note: Anemoia is a word used by the visual artist John Koenig to describe the sense of longing for a time in history that you have never personally lived through. It is a kind of imagined nostalgia for a past that exists only in one's mind rather than personal memory.

[yerutibattilana28]

Exploring Themes in "Little Women" Mourning (Pages 380-520)

As I dive deeper into "Little Women," the lives of the March sisters unfold with profound insights into love and loss.

Jo's Evolution in Love and Career

Jo March's journey takes a turn as she navigates her feelings for Professor Bhaer while pursuing her writing career in New York. Her growth reflects a feminist spirit, balancing personal aspirations with the challenges of love and independence. Jo's determination to stay true to herself amidst societal pressures continues to resonate as she confronts the realities of adulthood.

Meg's Maternal Challenges

Meg's role as a mother and wife brings new responsibilities and joys, yet also challenges her sense of self. Her story explores the sacrifices and rewards of motherhood. Meg's evolution reminds us of the complexities women faced in defining fulfillment within traditional roles.

Beth's Legacy of Kindness and Loss

Beth's death, a heart-wrenching moment in the novel, profoundly impacts her family and readers alike. Her quiet strength and selflessness throughout her illness exemplify themes of courage and acceptance. Beth's passing is a reminder of life's fragility and the enduring bonds of sisterhood that sustain the March family through grief.

Amy's Artistic Triumphs and Trials

Amy's artistic endeavors lead her abroad, her pursuit of artistic recognition challenges gender norms, showcasing her determination to forge her path despite obstacles. Amy's journey prompts reflection on the sacrifices and compromises women made in pursuing their dreams during that era.

Conclusion

From pages 380 to 520, Alcott's work continues to captivate with its rich themes. As I reflect on these chapters, I find myself empowered by its relatable characters, making it a literary journey that resonates deeply with my own experiences and aspirations as a modern woman navigating the complexities of life, love, pursuing a career, etc.

[yerutibattilana28]

Exploring Feminist Themes in "Little Women" (Pages 257-380)

In this part of "Little Women," Jo's determination to become a writer challenges traditional roles for women, showing her strength in pursuing her dreams despite obstacles.

Amy's journey as an artist challenges stereotypes about what women can achieve. She works hard to improve her skills, pushing back against limits society places on women's creativity.

Meg's marriage to John Brooke makes us think about how women balance personal dreams with what society expects of them. She chooses family life, but her story reminds us of the challenges women face in defining themselves.

However, Beth's illness brings the sisters together, showing the importance of sisterhood and empathy. The support they give Beth shows the power of women supporting each other through tough times. It's wholesome and reminds me of my sister and mother supporting me when I was dealing with health issues on the past, depending on them for mundane, daily tasks. (My health is weak to this day, though💀)

Overall, these pages of "Little Women" explore themes like resilience, ambition, and solidarity among women. The March sisters' stories inspire us to challenge norms and pursue our own paths.

[yerutibattilana28]

Challenging Norms and Class: A Feminist and Marxist Analysis of "Little Women"

Second Entry

One notable event in pages 120 to 257 is Meg’s visit to the Moffats' party. Meg is tempted by the luxurious lifestyle but feels uncomfortable and out of place. This scene highlights societal pressure on women to marry into wealth for security, a common expectation of the time. Meg’s struggle between personal values and societal expectations underscores the feminist theme of women challenging traditional roles.

Jo’s relationship with Laurie also evolves in these pages. When Laurie proposes to Jo and she rejects him, it’s a significant feminist act. Jo values her independence and aspirations over the conventional path of marriage, defying societal norms that prioritize a woman's role as a wife.

I also reckon this represents and depicts very accurately what many of us girls go through at some point of our lives, a male best friend who falls in love (or lust) with us and how uncomfortable and tough it is to reject him, letting him know how we always trusted him as a friend and never looked at him as a love interest. I personally love this illustration, you can see how hurt he is by getting rejected and how hurt one is as a girl who only wanted a friendship and thought that for once, we could befriend the opposite gender without romantic feelings getting involved.

Jo rejecting Laurie.

Class Struggles and Economic Realities

From a Marxist perspective, the economic struggles of the March family are evident. A key moment is when Amy has to rely on Aunt March for financial support to attend a prestigious art school. This reliance on a wealthy relative underscores the limited opportunities available to those without financial means, highlighting class disparities.

Another significant event is Jo selling her hair to raise money for Marmee’s trip to Washington to care for their ailing father. This sacrifice demonstrates the harsh economic realities the family faces, emphasizing the theme of labor and its value in a capitalist society.

Intersection of Feminism and Marxism

Combining these perspectives, we see the intersection of gender and class shaping the sisters' lives. Jo’s writing endeavors are both feminist and Marxist acts. By selling her stories, Jo seeks economic independence, challenging both gender norms and class oppression. Her success represents a triumph over societal constraints, demonstrating her resilience and determination.

Jo cutting her hair short.

A Critical Reflection

"Little Women" offers a nuanced exploration of the interplay between gender and class. Their struggles and triumphs resonate today, reflecting ongoing fights for equality and justice, and inspiring a society where all individuals can achieve their full potential.

[yerutibattilana28]

Exploring "Little Women": A Literary Journey Through Time 

First Entry

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott is a timeless classic that invites readers into the world of the March sisters during the Civil War era in Concord, Massachusetts. In the first 120 pages, Alcott introduces us to Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, four sisters who defy traditional gender roles in their own unique ways. 

Meg challenges societal expectations by dreaming of a life beyond domesticity, while Jo rebels against the limitations placed on women's aspirations, yearning for independence and literary success. Beth embodies quiet strength, defying stereotypes of femininity, while Amy asserts her artistic talents in a world that often dismisses women's creativity. 

These sisters navigate the complexities of growing up, facing crushes, and societal pressures, all while grappling with their family's precarious financial situation. The March family's economic struggles reflect the broader socioeconomic disparities of 19th-century America, Meg and Jo are the ones to confront more often the limitations imposed by their lack of financial resources. This mirrors the Marxist idea of economic determinism, where individuals' opportunities and choices are constrained by their socioeconomic status. 

Alcott's storytelling immerses readers in the lives of these sisters, evoking a range of emotions from laughter to tears. As we journey alongside them, we witness the power of sisterhood, the impact of poverty, and the universal struggles of becoming a woman.