Area Summary
Three years following the incidents of Nothing Females, Meg and John get married and you can can live along with her. If they have twins, Meg is actually a dedicated mommy however, John starts to be overlooked and you can left out. Meg seeks pointers out of Marmee, exactly who support her get a hold of equilibrium in her own married life through additional time having wifely commitments and encouraging John to become so much more associated with boy rearing.
Laurie graduates off college, having make the efforts doing really in his past seasons that have Jo’s compelling. Amy is selected more Jo to go on an excellent Western european trip along with her brother. Beth’s wellness was weak on account of difficulty of scarlet fever and you will their morale was off. To start with she believes it’s which have Beth, but in the near future senses it’s which have herself. Jo confides inside Marmee, telling this lady one she loves Laurie particularly a cousin and therefore she could not love him from inside the an intimate method.
Jo find she desires a little bit of adventure and set range between herself and you may Laurie, in hopes he will ignore his thoughts. She spends six months having a pal of this lady mom just who works an excellent boarding home into the New york, offering just like the governess on her behalf a couple youngsters. Jo requires German classes having other boarder, Professor Bhaer. They have arrive at America out of Berlin to care for the latest orphaned sons out-of his sibling. For extra currency, Jo produces salacious love reports anonymously to have sensational press. Professor Bhaer suspects the girl secret and you will states including creating is actually unprincipled and you may feet. Jo try persuaded to give up that kind of composing as this lady time in Nyc ends. Whenever she efficiency so you can Massachusetts, Laurie indicates matrimony and you will she refuses.
Laurie travel so you can Europe with his parent to leave his heartbreak. At home, Beth’s wellness has actually positively deteriorated. Jo devotes the woman time for you to the proper care of the woman perishing cousin. Laurie activities Amy within the European countries, in which he slower falls in love with her when he begins observe their inside a different light. She is unimpressed because of the aimless, lazy, and you can forlorn feelings he’s got then followed once the being denied of the Jo, and inspires your to get his goal and take action convenient with his lifetime. Toward development regarding Beth’s dying, they fulfill getting consolation and their love increases. Amy’s brother does not ensure it is Amy to go back unchaperoned which have Laurie and his awesome grandfather, so they really marry ahead of coming back family off Europe.
Professor Bhaer is actually Massachusetts on the company and you may check outs the fresh Marches’ day-after-day for a fortnight. With the his last time, the guy offers to Jo and the a couple be engaged. Since the Teacher are terrible, the marriage must waiting while he set an effective earnings by the meeting west to educate. Annually goes on without much success; afterwards Sister February becomes deceased and you can simply leaves her highest house Plumfield so you can Jo. Jo and you will Bhaer marry and turn our home to the a school to have people. He has a few sons of one’s own, and you can Amy and you may Laurie have a child. From the apple-picking date, Marmee remembers the woman 60th birthday celebration during the Plumfield, together spouse, their about three surviving daughters, the husbands, along with her five grandkids.
Effect
A Spouses predecessor, Absolutely nothing Lady received an overwhelmingly positive lobby. After its publication, of several females blogged so you can Alcott inquiring the woman « whom the tiny ladies get married ». With extra salesmanship out of the lady author, Alcott decided to published a sequel. However, based on literary critic Anne E. Boyd, she « such as battled the typical relationship plot ». Alcott did not have Jo take on Laurie’s hand in relationships; instead, when she setup to have Jo so you’re able to marry, she depicted an unusual son because this lady spouse. Literary critic Sicherman says one Alcott put Friedrich Bhaer so you’re able to « subvert teenage personal beliefs », when he is actually far elderly and you will seemingly unsuited for Jo. In spite of the uncommon options into the Jo’s husband, A Wives hit similar victory to Little Women.