Louisa May Alcott furnishes a probing look at the hero through recognition of how the imaginary hero of romantic fiction is not always the ideal while bringing the reader to see the heroic in the everyday lives of four young women with the primary emphasis falling on Jo. In the chapter, "Castles in the Air," as each of the characters envisions the distant future (ten years hence anyway), Jo remarks, "I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle-- something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all some day" (Alcott 133).
As the book progresses, many references are made to show the shallowness that has begun to be associated with the heroic. ". . . Laurie heroically shut his eyes . . ." (Alcott 264). "Fred is not my model hero" (Alcott 294). Finally, Jo focuses the conflict in recognizing the heroic when she reaches the point of realizing that she "preferred imaginary heroes to real ones, because when tired of them, the former could be shut up in the tin kitchen till called for, and the latter were less manageable" (Alcott 298).
With Jo March, Alcott presents a modern young woman in a day when women were very much relegated to a specific role within the home. From the opening pages of the book, Jo exhibits a unique strength of character that refuses to be molded to the traditional form. She longs to be a boy, primarily because of the opportunities available to the male in society. However, taking her unusual family upbringing and applying it to Jo's determination to be different creates an individual who is heroic in her strength and courage to stand out in society and her ability to share that quality with othe...
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...he wife and mother. Rather, she insists that she will carry her share and help in the earning of the home as a condition of marriage (Alcott 438).
Jo's journey to the heroic ultimately leads her to a role where her life is spent in giving herself to others, shaping them to be themselves while still maintaining proper place in the grand scheme of things. Through her characterization, a hero is fully developed as one with the strength of character that allows one to be uniquely different while seeking always to help others in the journey of life by placing them ahead of oneself. Jo's heroic act that will not be forgotten after she's dead, only a dream as a young lady, is realized through the lives she touches and the future generations she ultimately affects.
Works Cited
Alcott, Louisa. Little Women. Intro. Ann Douglas. NY: Signet Classic, 1983.
...heir journeys or overcome their limitations had it not been for the gods. Of all of the requirements of heroism, being influenced by the gods is the most important. Only through the aid of the gods can a character defeat his shortcomings and truly understand what a hero is. The character must become overconfident and prideful, then, and only then, can the gods step in and break their faults. Finally, the hero either comes to realize how wrong he was or he dies in ignorance.
The human need to be relatable is unquenchable. We love to be able to see parts of ourselves in others, and to be able to feel like our idols are not untouchable. The Hero’s Journey format is one that can be found in almost any story, even in real life. Overall, it is the perfect recipe for keeping readers engrossed. Another place the journey has shown up is in Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Odyssey by Homer. These two stories—one a biography, the other, an epic poem—are so effective in their storytelling, it is easy to see how authors today continue to use the same method to make stories that grab the readers’ attention. What makes them most alike, however, is the emotions and thoughts they have the power to provoke.
Bury, J. B.; Russell Meiggs (2000). A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great
What is a hero? Many people think instantly about, police officers, fire fighters, or perhaps a person that saves the day such as “Batman” or “superman”, but in reality a hero are not just people that save the day or other from harm. A hero can also be your parent, or parents that are there for you through your good and bad or even right and wrong days; or your brother or sister that perhaps worry about you and is determine to teach you well, this way you do not commit the same mistake they once did or saw growing up. The novel “In the time of the butterflies” the three sisters are known to be hero’s for standing up and sticking to their beliefs. But a hero is not only those that die for their country or others, it takes a
were set by some of the great goalies in the past. Also, the rule changes that the NHL
...and hockey to people that didn’t live in cold climates. So Inline hockey was invented for those people. Inline hockey was introduced in the 1940’s by the NHL to help promote hockey across the country that didn’t have the privilege to play on ice. Inline hockey has all the same rules as hockey except there is one less person on each to on the rink at a time. The culture allows kids from different areas to enjoy some form of hockey and to be able to spark an interest in a sport.
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, was published in 1868 and follows the lives, loves, and troubles of the four March sisters growing up during the American Civil War.1 The novel is loosely based on childhood experiences Alcott shared with her own sisters, Anna, May, and Elizabeth, who provided the hearts of the novel’s main characters.2 The March sisters illustrate the difficulties of girls growing up in a world that holds certain expectations of the female sex; the story details the journeys the girls make as they grow to be women in that world. Figures 1 and 2 in the Appendix are of Orchard House, the basis for the March family home, where the Alcotts lived.
The last bolt is screwed on as a relieved automotive worker marvels at his wondrous creation: a car. With the roar of an engine, the car slowly disappears into the distance. The worker gradually turns around, picks up his tools, and continues to work on a new car. As a consumer, we rarely wonder how things are made; we simply take everything we own for granted. For once, have you wondered how many hours of hard labor many automotive workers must go through? The automotive industry has been around for many years, but it has not always been as efficient as it currently is. As the industry continues to evolve, many new innovative ideas are still being developed. In the past, automotive workers have had to work in harsh conditions without much security or job benefits. Nevertheless, through the continuous development of organized collective bargaining, workers are being treated as they should be. Being the largest automobile manufacturer in the world, General Motors Corporation has been greatly affected by the needs of their workers. Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors, is currently in charge of “running the show” at GM. Being the most successful automotive company since 1931, it is obvious that he not only has to satisfy customers, but also the workers within the company. From the smallest things such as a work raise to bigger things such as the working condition, the management of General Motors has been pressured to make both positive and negative changes to the way the company is run as a whole in order to satisfy the workers who are part of the UAW Union. Therefore, the formation and development of unions encompasses both pros and cons.
The march towards developing a democratic society is often obstructed with societal unrest due to the influence of the status quo on the instruments of power. Before the rule of Solon, Athens underwent this same rule, as there was much discontent among the social classes in Athens. The society suffered financial disparity that often was the trigger for the war among the rich and poor in the society. This was a major factor that forced Solon into power to institute policies that would see a reformed Athens. By so doing, the society was looking for an avenue that would guarantee democracy and a society that is fair for everyone. The city-state of Athens was the epicenter of the revolution for the Athenian democracy during the fifth century BC. In the Athenian democracy, the electorate voted for the legislation of bills instead of a direct democracy where the electorates are tasked with electing representatives who later developed the bill. Among the first people who made significant contributions to the development of the Athenian democracy were Solon (594 BC), Cleisthenes (508/7 BC), Pericles (495 – 429 BC) and Ephialtes (462 BC). Pericles was the longest serving democratic leader who contributed much development in democracy in the city. This paper will give an account of the age of the Pericles.
At the time of the writing of the novel, society and women’s rights were slowly increasing. Through the four March sisters, Alcott depicts ways that women dealt with the norms of the time. Meg, marries young and creates a family; Beth is dutiful to her sisters and parents; Amy focuses on herself and her own beliefs and likes, which Amy does at first, but later settles into life as a lady; and Jo’s struggle to find a professional life, but also live a dutiful family life. While Meg and Beth conform to the 1800’s women expectations, Jo and Amy attempt to break away, and be individuals. Eventually, they both settle into a customary way of life. Alcott doesn’t suggest that one woman is stronger or weaker, nor does she suggest that in the end you must always rebel or conform, but she does recognize that one is more realistic than the other.
Wadsworth, S. (2009) ‘Louisa May Alcott and the Rise of the Gender-Specific Series Books’ in Montgomery H and Watson N (eds), Children’s Literature Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan in association with Open University, pp.39-48
Alcott’s own childhood experiences are intertwined in certain aspects of her novel. Similar to her main character’s situation, Alcott grew up with three sisters in a family with an unsteady income. She was also an active feminist and participated in events such as the women’s suffrage movement. During the time of Civil War, she worked as a nurse in New York City for the Union soldiers. Armstrong’s knowledge about the background of the author also was adapted into his screenplay. This can recall for a few exaggerated issues in his film that are not directly found in Alcott’s text. For example “One does not recall the Marches’ being quite so taken up with the cause of ‘blacks’, as they anachronistically referred to here, or with women’s suffrage” (TV Guide). Alcott’s personal life provides explanations behind her literature and...
One well-known example of “The Hero’s Journey” from popular culture is the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling. In the novel, Harry Potter, the main character, is the chosen one and “The Hero’s Journey” applies to his life from the moment he is attacked by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as a baby. Joseph Campbell calls the initial phase of a hero’s development the “Call to Adventure.” The call is the in... ...
... Ironically, this has occurred because of the folly of the men, almost making up for the double standards exercised in the beginning…But not quite. Hero should not have had to depend on the men to regain her honor. Works Cited
There is another type of hero that almost no one is aware of. In the poorest areas of the country, live mostly minorities and other ethic background. All their lives they’ve been expected to work harder and expected not succeed in life. Some individuals living in poverty with a determination to succeed work hard all of their lives to become what everybody doubted they could. Escaping the crime, drugs, and prostitution is enough to escape hell, even if they don’t go to college. Despite of their financial problems, drug and crime surroundings, or difficulties in the language skills, their desire to triumph fuels their persistence. Those who make it to success are the few living examples of the purest form of hero anyone can be. They are not only their own heroes but also the heroes of the poor children who dream of becoming like them someday.