Skip to main content

Do you see connections in writing styles or themes between Louisa May Alcott and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow?

Louisa May Alcott and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow both write about moral heroines who are notable for their sacrifices to others. In Alcott's Little Women, Jo sells her beautiful hair to pay for her mother to visit her father during the Civil War, and her sister, Beth, dies after contracting scarlet fever while tending to a poor family's baby. Longfellow's heroine Evangeline in the poem "Evangeline" follows her beloved, Gabriel, after the British force the...

Louisa May Alcott and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow both write about moral heroines who are notable for their sacrifices to others. In Alcott's Little Women, Jo sells her beautiful hair to pay for her mother to visit her father during the Civil War, and her sister, Beth, dies after contracting scarlet fever while tending to a poor family's baby. Longfellow's heroine Evangeline in the poem "Evangeline" follows her beloved, Gabriel, after the British force the Acadians to leave Acadie. She then nurses the poor until she is reunited with her dying lover. The heroines in both writers' works are self-sacrificing people who are committed to altruistic values such as helping the poor, helping their loved ones and family, and disdaining beauty and wealth. These were important values in the time before and after the Civil War, as "Evangeline" was published in 1847, and Little Women was published in 1868. In addition, their heroines are strong and independent in a way that could be considered feminist by today's standards; for example, Jo in Little Women does not marry her neighbor, Laurie, but insists on working as a writer. 


The works of Longfellow and Alcott also helped contribute to and define the American culture. For example, Longfellow's "Paul Revere's Ride," published in 1860, retold the historic journey of Paul Revere to warn townspeople in Massachusetts that the British troops were coming on the eve of the American Revolution. Little Women celebrated the sacrifice necessary for the Union to win the Civil War. Both authors defined the culture as one of patriotism, sacrifice, and commitment to a larger good. 


In addition, both authors celebrate the beauty of nature in lyrical ways--Alcott in poems such as "I Write about the Butterfly" and "The Frost-Song," and Longfellow in poems such as "Nature." "Nature" and "The Frost-Song" connect nature with the ability to soothe people's ways towards death. In their works, nature is a divine force. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more