summary on chp1 being neighbourly
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It’s a snowy day, and Jo decides to go out and dig paths in the snow. The Marches’ house – a small, brown, shabby dwelling bare of its summer greenery – is separated by a low hedge from Mr. Laurence’s large stone mansion.. She spies Laurie sitting near one of the windows on the second floor. “Poor boy! All alone and sick on this dismal day,” Jo thinks. She throws a snowball at the window, grabbing Laurie’s attention. Laurie admits that he’s been sick with a cold, and he invites Jo to come over.
The March family’s poverty is embodied in their house, and is juxtaposed with Mr. Laurence’s comparatively grand and stately mansion (an embodiment of his wealth and stability). The giant house, however, acts as a kind of luxurious prison for the sickly Laurie, who is trapped in a world where he cannot experience familial love.
Themes
Work and Social Class Theme Icon Love Theme Icon
Jo arrives soon after with an armful of offerings for Laurie: a plate of blanc mange (a kind of custard) from Meg and kittens from Beth. Jo straightens up Laurie’s quarters, and offers to read out loud to Laurie. Laurie begs her to talk to him, and Jo tells him about her family. Laurie reveals that he sometimes spies on the March family, but Jo sees that he only does this because he is orphaned (his parents died when he was young, which is why he now lives with his grandfather) and feels lonesome.
Jo’s generosity is both Christian and womanly. It turns out that Laurie’s quarters need “a woman’s touch,” given that she feels it necessary to tidy things up a bit. Laurie reveals that he longs for the familial love present in the March household.
Themes
The Role of Women Theme Icon Christianity, Morality, and Goodness Theme Icon Love Theme Icon
Laurie steps out momentarily to see his doctor, and while he’s gone Mr. Laurence slips in and surprises Jo. Jo pluckily tells him that she feels Laurie needs to spend more time around kids his own age. Mr. Laurence invites Jo to tea. As he watches Jo and Laurie chatter, Mr. Laurence realizes that there may be some truth to what Jo has told him