Discussion Topic
The father's role and occupation in "Little Women."
Summary:
In "Little Women," the father, Mr. March, serves as a chaplain in the Union Army during the Civil War. His role is significant as his absence places the responsibility of managing the household on his wife, Marmee, and shapes the experiences and growth of the March sisters.
What was the father's role during the war in Little Women?
In Little Women, Mr. March—the patriarch of the March family consisting of wife Margaret and daughters Margaret, Jo, Beth, and Amy—is absent through most of the story. During the first half of the book, he is not home because he is serving as a chaplain for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Calm and philosophical, Mr. March is well-suited for his role.
Despite having to leave his family and live far away and in possible danger, Mr. March willingly fulfills his role as a clergyman. Although the daughters lament his absence at the opening of the book, they are proud of him. The oldest daughter Meg says,
I think it was so splendid in Father to go as chaplain when he was too old to be drafted, and not strong enough for a soldier.
Even though they miss him terribly, they understand that he is devoted to...
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his work. Mrs. March reminds them that he will not be able to return
for many months, dear, unless he is sick. He will stay and do his work faithfully as long as he can, and we won't ask for him back a minute sooner than he can be spared.
In his infrequent correspondence with the family, he shields them from the negative aspects of life serving on the warfront. He shares few details about the hardships, dangers, and feelings of homesickness. Instead, he remains hopeful and upbeat, describing lively details about “camp life, marches, and military news.” The only time he betrays his true feelings to Mrs. March and his daughters is at the end of his letter:
Give them all of my dear love and a kiss. Tell them I think of them by day, pray for them by night, and find my best comfort in their affection at all times. A year seems very long to wait before I see them, but remind them that while we wait we may all work, so that these hard days need not be wasted.
Although noble, his position as a chaplain is not one of high social stature; this clergyman role is covered up during Meg March’s debut at Sally Moffat’s ball. Mrs. Moffit introduces Meg as
Daisy March—father a colonel in the army—one of our first families, but reverses of fortune, you know; intimate friends of the Laurences; sweet creature, I assure you.
Meg pretends she does not hear Mrs. Moffat's fib that demonstrates the underlying snobbery of people toward her poor family.
In December 1862, Mr. March is injured. Mrs. March must leave the girls in order to tend to him at a hospital in Washington, D.C. Luckily, he eventually recovers and returns home.