Mr. John Brooke

John Brooke was tutor to Laurie before Laurie went to college, and eventually he also became suitor and husband to Meg March. One of the main things that comes to my mind when I think of Mr. Brooke is his tenderness of spirit. He was a gentle man, caring and patient. These qualities mirror Meg’s own, complimenting her beautifully without being overwhelmingly contrary to her nature. While opposites may suit some couples, I think that Meg’s virtues would’ve been lost and overrun had she married someone that was loud and brash and generally opposite of her. John always took time to be careful and gentle with her, in conversation and in how he treated her. We also see rather clearly that he cherishes the small things in life; for instance, when he ‘stole’ Meg’s white glove as a memento. This kind of slow, sweet love is exactly what Meg needed, whether or not she knew it.

One of the other fantastic qualities to Mr. Brooke is his intentionality. He was aware that if he wanted Meg, he was signing up for her whole family, and he wasn’t afraid of this in the least. In fact, he cherished it. When Marmee received a telegram that Mr. March was injured in the war and made the decision to go and care for him in Washington D.C., John was quick to offer to accompany Marmee and ensure that she arrived safely. He said that he had a job in D.C., and it would be senseless to not go with Marmee seeing as that was the case, but the March women saw the gesture for what it was: incredibly thoughtful and selfless. I think that this was the moment that Meg realized that it really was feasible to marry this man someday. She saw how sincerely he cared not only for her, but for her whole family. That was something that Meg valued incredibly, and it was a big piece in winning her heart.

The last time we looked at Meg, however, she had quite a different set of ideals in her head as far as a suitor went. She was flitting and floating at her friend’s coming out party, happy to be primped and pampered. John Brooke came from nothing and had nothing; the only guarantee his status gave her was that it would be a very similar life to the one she had under her father’s roof. However, I think that between Laurie calling her out at the party, Meg realizing that at her heart of hearts she was not a vain girl and was very content in the life she lived if she wanted to be, and John’s tenderness, intentionality, and gentleness with her, she was able to see past the monetary view of the situation and love John Brooke for who he was.

John is one of the kindest characters featured in Little Women. However, he does have to take a hard second to one of the March sisters themselves; everyone knows that Beth takes the cake in this department. The next time we look at this story, we will be switching our focus from Meg to Beth. Join us as we look at Beth’s subdued, yet powerful story line!

Envy

Google defines envy as a noun as follows: “a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck.” This description is true to life and true to what Meg March went through on the road to becoming a woman. While Meg was kind and understanding and strove to be the best daughter she could be, she also was painfully aware, at times, of the financial situation the March family was in compared to the families around them.

One such instance was when one of Meg’s high-society ‘friends’ was having a coming out ball to celebrate her coming of age. Meg was invited, but when she went to this friend’s house to get ready with the other young women, they begin making snide remarks about her clothing and how she looks, eventually culminating in the hostess taking Meg and making Meg her ‘pet’. They dress her up in their fine gowns and corsets and makeup and do her hair beautifully – and Meg rather enjoys it.

The next time we see her is at the ball itself, where she is being flirtatious and reveling in the attention of four or five well-off suitors. This is where we see Laurie at the ball for the first time. It only takes seconds for him to notice Meg’s situation. Laurie demonstrates his knowledge and caring for the March sisters here for the first time. He can see right through Meg’s games and knows that the woman he sees is not the Meg he knows. Laurie also proves his own character by confronting Meg about it. He’s not afraid to point out her inconsistencies and remind her of the woman that her Marmee raised her to be. Meg breaks down at the reminder, and we even see her trying viciously to wipe off her lipstick with a cloth while hiding in a room off the main ballroom. Laurie doesn’t abandon her to her shame, however. He comes alongside her and comforts her, and promises to let her tell her family on her own terms. This speaks volumes about both Laurie and Meg: Laurie cares for Meg like a sister and wants to see her in healthy situations and being the best that she can, and while Meg may have been pulled away from what she knew was right, when she is reminded of the things she ought to do she quickly realizes her faults and owns up to her mistakes. All these things are admirable qualities in both of these characters.

Meg does return home and tell Marmee and Jo about how foolish she’d been. She confesses to her family that she liked being pampered, expecting to be admonished for it. But Marmee, as always, has unexpected words to impart wisdom to her girls. She tells them that everyone likes the attention and pampering, but that it’s when a person becomes obsessed with it that it can lead to them believing that their looks and outward beauty is where their worth lies. Marmee reminds her daughters that this the last thing she wants for them, and Meg is happy to agree, having tasted the other side of the coin.

When Meg experienced the lavish life that she might have if she marries ‘well’, she began to think that it was what she wanted in a husband. On Friday we’re going to look at the man that Meg ended up marrying, and we will see how he compared to this vision and why Meg married him at all. Come back then for a look at Mr. John Brooke!