Jo's Boys
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| Jo's Boys | |
| Author | Louisa May Alcott |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 1886 |
| Preceded by | Little Men |
Jo's Boys is the third book in the Little Women trilogy by Louisa May Alcott, published in 1886. In it, Jo's "children", now grown, are caught up in real world troubles. All three books - although fiction - are highly autobiographical and describe characters that were really in Alcott's life. This book contains romance as the childhood playmates become flirtatious young men and women. The characters are growing up, going out into the world and deciding their futures.
[edit] Plot Details
The book mostly follows the lives of Plumfield boys who were introduced in Little Men, particularly Tommy, Demi, Nat, Dan, and Emil, although Franz, Nan, Daisy, Dolly, and Stuffy make frequent appearances as well. The book takes place ten years after Little Men. The babies from the previous books, Teddy, Bess, Josie, and Rob, are all in their early teens and begin to have adventures of their own. These adventures include Josie's encounter with an actress she idolizes, Teddy and Rob's lesson in courage featuring a possibly rabid dog, and Bess's development as an artist and positive influence.
Careers play a large role in the action of Jo's Boys, as Mrs. Bhaer (Jo) deals with her fame as a writer and her children and former students find careers of their own. The tomboyish Nan has grown into an attractive young woman who is studying to be a doctor. Demi begins as a journalist, but finds more satisfaction working for a publisher. Nat decides to play the violin professionally, Emil is a sailor, and Dan is a wandering adventurer. Tommy begins as a medical student to try to impress Nan, but joins his family business after "accidentally" falling in love with and proposing to a a girl named Dora. Dolly and George are still students dealing with the temptations of snobbery, arrogance, self-indulgence and vanity.
Sections of Jo's Boys follow the travels of former students who have deep emotional ties to Plumfield and the Bhaers. Emil is now a sailor, and takes off on his first voyage as second mate and shows his true strength when he is shipwrecked and the captain badly injured. Dan seeks his fortune in the West and ends up in jail. He also falls in love with a person far beyond his reach, Jo's niece Bess. Nat begins a musical career in Europe that takes him away from Daisy, only to fall in with a frivolous crowd and unintentionally lead a young woman on.
Romance also plays a role in Jo's Boys, as Franz and Emil both become married and Tommy, Demi, Nat and Daisy are engaged by the end of the book. There are also frequent references to the love between the Bhaers and the Laurences. Nan remains single, dedicated to her medical career.
Dan ends up committing the one sin he and Jo always feared he would, though it was in defence of both self and a younger boy, Blair...he kills a man who cheats Blair in gambling.Dan is sentenced for a year with hard labour and only just gets through.He saves mine workers from drowning and is brought back home a hero, when he confides in Mother Bhaer about his sin and the punishment that followed.She also discovers his fancy for Bess,though not entirely surprised. Dan tells her of this fancy and that Bess seemed like the bright northern star which guided him.However, knowing that Amy wouldn't approve, Jo makes sure that the Laurences are away when Dan leaves again.........Sadly,Dan dies protecting the Indians but lies in peace as if Aslauga's Knight had done his duty.
The novel ends by bringing a close to the March family saga and telling the reader the futures of the characters featured in the book.
