"The cultural level suggested by Friedrich’s profession and more specifically by his knowledge of Goethe also helps to validate the connection between him and Jo. Louisa had scribbled a quote from her copy of Margaret Fuller´s Woman in the Nineteenth Century regarding Wilhelm Meister’s female connections. As Meister grows in life & advances in wisdom, he becomes acquainted with women of more & more character, rising from Mariana to Natalia who expresses the Minerva side of things, Mignon, the electrical, inspired lyrical nature … It seems that this passage in Goethe´s work made a deeply profound effect on Louisa and it represents Jo´s transference of affection from Laurie to Friedrich through her own growth and advancement in terms of character. Laurie is the fascination of her youth who will always be regarded with affection, but Friedrich has more character. Laurie is always a “boy” to Jo, but Friedrich is a man. Laurie possesses charm and culture; Friedrich, as we see, is cultured but also steady and well-grounded. He speaks both to her down-to-earth practicality and to her imagination" Christine Doyle, Singing Mignon´s song, German literature and culture in Little Women
4 Comments
Becca
1/30/2020 03:46:55 am
Well researched! That Goethe quote that Louisa uses is poetic when it comes to Jo’s maturity. Laurie was always a ‘boy’ to Jo while being smitten with Fritz (well before she realized her own feelings) who is definitely a mature man that compliments her really well. I love learning more about Louisa and how complex Jo and Fritz are.
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1/30/2020 02:15:40 pm
Thanks Becca. It´s quite a beautiful quote and also represents the way Laurie moves on from Jo to Amy when maturing. Just that alone makes me pretty convinced Louisa was found of this "passage" and fascinated by it very early on. She had been reading Goethe from a very young age. Gorgeus gif is made by @titaniae
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Helena
2/9/2020 07:35:03 pm
Please write about the Friedrich in the new Greta Gerwig adaptation, please! I loved your article about tender masculanity revolving around Friedrich.
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2/9/2020 10:36:45 pm
Thank you! I have written my thoughts about Friedrich in Greta Gerwig´s film in my "Evolution of Friedrich Bhaer" essay http://www.fairychamber.com/blog/evolution-of-friedrich-bhaer
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NiinaPronounced as Nee-na.
Artist, illustrator, writer, watercolorist and a folklorist. Gryffinclaw. Comes from Finland. Likes cats, tea and period dramas. If it´s canon and it´s Little Women it´s good. Archives
January 2021
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