Discussion Topic
The relationship and differences between Meg and Jo in Little Women
Summary:
Meg and Jo in Little Women have a close relationship but differ significantly in personality and aspirations. Meg is traditional, nurturing, and dreams of domestic life, while Jo is independent, rebellious, and aspires to be a writer. Despite their differences, they support each other and share a strong sisterly bond.
What is Meg's attitude towards Jo in Little Women?
Meg and Jo March are the two oldest sisters in Louisa May Alcott's classic tale Little Women. Meg's attitude toward Jo incorporates both faithful sisterly love and exasperation. Meg is a proper young lady who does her duty to the best of her ability and who tries to behave correctly at all times as befitting a young lady from a good family. Meg also is often caught up in dreams of wealth and luxury. She enjoys pretty things, nice clothes, and high society.
Jo, however, is quite different. She is a rambunctious tomboy who gets into all kinds of scrapes. She whistles, uses slang words, messes up her clothing, and generally hates sitting still unless she is reading. Jo often would like nothing better than to be a boy, and she feels highly constrained by the standards of behavior she is expected to follow as a girl and...
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then as a young woman. Sometimes her temper gets the best of her also.
It is easy to see, then, why Meg becomes annoyed with Jo, who is her opposite. She wants her sister to behave herself properly and not get into so much mischief. She wishes Jo could share her own tastes and values and settle down. Yet she also loves Jo dearly, and the sisters, as the two oldest in the family, share a special bond as they struggle to keep their household intact and running while their father is away at war. They work together, play together, help their younger sisters together, and support their mother together, and this forms a strong, loving relationship between them. Indeed, even when Meg is exasperated with Jo and her antics, she loves her sister dearly.