English 2033E Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Louisa May Alcott, Ladylike

• School: Western University
• Department: English
• Course: English 2033E
• Professor: Clarissa Suranyi

Document Summary

English 2033 unit 13: the (cid:498)sins(cid:499) that the march girls avoid are hardly considered sinful now, imperfect resignation: cheerful, uncomplaining resignation is a moral duty. Even severe grief and loss do not justify an attitude of anger or self-pity: wanting things: the girls are expected to be completely selfless and any selfish desires are repressed as sinful. In our society wanting things is not considered wrong, we are expected to want more than we have: the moral lessons this novel teaches are gender specific. Men are expected to fight in the army while women fight the besetting sins that prevent them from living up to the ideal of feminine virtue. readers identify with her struggle to find a workable compromise between ladylike behaviour. She is required to develop patience and resignation, as well as avoid whistling and using slang expressions. Meg is constantly reminding jo to refrain from winking and running.