Jo March has many traits, and luckily, all of those are introduced in the two volumes of the novel.

Following three main points of the argument, i.e., the characterization of Jo, these traits will be enumerated one by one. The first point in the characterization is Jos relationship with her family. This relationship reveals a lot about Jo as a sister, as a daughter and as a person in general. The family March is represented as a poor but a happy and understanding family in which each member has a special role. The upbringing of children seems to be quite idealised because all of the four girls, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy are brought up by a "perfect" mother. Mrs March represents a perfect figure of mother and woman. She is wise, experienced, performs her duties successfully and shares her love equally with her daughters. She is even a true citizen of the USA and respects the need to let her husband fight in the war. No matter what happens, she is always there for her family: "We cant give up our girls for a dozen fortunes. Rich or poor, we will keep together and be happy in one another." (Alcott, 36) Mrs March is always ready to help her daughters while they are struggling with life situations and the best way to do so is providing useful pieces of advice: "One thing remember, my girls: Mother is always ready to be your confidante, Father to be your friend; and both of us trust and hope that our daughters, whether married or single, will be the pride and comfort of our lives." (Alcott, 92-93) Jo is the second of the four sisters in the family. She is definitely the most restless of all four and her words and behaviour are not in the accordance with the ones of her sisters. The following long quotation gives a description of the physical appearance of Jo: "Fifteen-year-old Jo was very tall, thin, and brown, and reminded one of a colt, for she never seemed to know what to do with her long limbs, which were very much in her way. She
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had a decided mouth, a comical nose, and sharp gray eyes, which appeared to see everything, and were by turns fierce, funny, or thoughtful. Her long, thick hair was her one beauty, but it was usually bundled into a net, to be out of her way. Round shoulders had Jo, big hands and feet, a flyaway look to her clothes, and the uncomfortable appearance of a girl who was rapidly shooting up into a woman and didnt like it." (Alcott, 5-6) Jo shows great love and respect for her parents and her sisters as well. However, her wild temper differentiates her from her sisters, especially Beth who is a very shy person. The family component in Jos life seems to have a great value. It is obvious throughout the story that Jo puts her family first and all of her other relations are affected by the relationship she has with her sisters and parents, especially her mother. The scene representing the reading of letters from their father at the beginning of the novel helps to get a clearer picture of the March sisters. Jo is particularly determined and she states: "Ill try and be what he loves to call me, 'a little woman', and not be rough and wild, but do my duty here instead of wanting to be somewhere else, said Jo, thinking that keeping her temper at home was a much harder task than facing a rebel or two down South." Another proof of Jos goodness, kindness and dedication to the family is her preoccupation for her sister Beth. Being really weak, Beth got sick. Her illness lasted a while and she died in the end. The type and the name of the illness are unknown to the readers. This fact, among others, such as simple language and cheerful tone, could be a reason why this novel is considered a childrens story. Jo is a caring and unselfish sister and she does her best to help Beth get through her pain. Jo was closely related to Beth, much more than to her other sisters, Meg and Amy. Jos relationship with the other two sisters included love and care but also tension and conflict. After Beth had died, Jo inherited Beths role in the house and started thinking more about her own femininity.
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"Why, you know I dont mind hard jobs much, and there must always be one scrub in a family." (Alcott, 565) "Ill settle Beths troubles, and Ill tell you mine. They are not very wearing, so theyll keep. " (Alcott, 566) These quotes show the strength and resoluteness of Jos character, as well as her unselfish and helping nature. Another event which reflects the same traits is the one in which Jo cuts her beautiful hair and sells it for twenty five dollars in order to help her mother to travel to Washington and visit Mr March, Jos father, in the hospital. "As she spoke, Jo took off her bonnet, and a general outcry arose, for all her abundant hair was cut short." (Alcott, 150) The second point of Jos characterization is certainly her femininity or rather, the refusal of it. Jo as a woman does not act like one at first. A nineteenth century woman was supposed to conform to social norms and pay attention to attending parties and "showing off". Meg and Amy hate being poor and yearn for having pretty things and enjoying the company of high society member. Jo, on the other hand, openly criticizes and ridicules the parties organized by the rich, their dresses, bonnets and carriages. She does not even feel comfortable wearing a nice dress or gloves and she considers it excessive and completely irrelevant. This is her opinion: "I dont believe fine young ladies enjoy themselves a bit more than we do, in spite of our burned hair, old gowns, one glove apiece, and tight slippers that sprain our ankles when we are silly enough to wear them." (Alcott, 32)

Starting from her name, Jo, it is possible to detect her boyish nature and behaviour. Her name is Josephine but she is called by a more masculine-sounding name Jo. Jo loves freedom more than anything else and it is hard for her to reconcile herself to the social norm of the time which expected women to stay at home, knitting, singing or similar. "Jos ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea as yet, but left it for the time to tell her; and, meanwhile, found her greatest affliction in the fact that she couldnt read, run, and ride as much as she liked. A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs, which were both comic and pathetic." (Alcott, 36-37) "I like adventures, and Im going to find some." (Alcott, 44) While her sisters long for high social position, silk dresses, recognition of the society and marriage to a well-off man, Jo, ambitious and intelligent as she is, longs for independence. Obviously, regarding independence, this novel acquires a whole new meaning, naturally, if it is possible to assume that ambitious, courageous, honest, passionate and tempered Jo March stands for the fight for women rights. "Many women writers, rising to prominence through abolitionist or urban reform efforts, also wrote about the right to vote for women and the need for greater legal equality between men and women. The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, the first national suffrage meeting of its kind, is one example of the expanded role of women in national politics, but the massive popularity of womens temperance and anti-slavery literature (especially Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin) speaks to the power of womens involvement in these social issues" (WWNorton.com). The quotation states the changes of womens position before and after the American Civil War. Many intellectuals, Elizabeth Young among them, consider Louisa May Alcott a female writer who openly discussed social issues from a womans point of view. In Little Women, Jo March symbolises
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independence and the open mind of women in the nineteenth century. Jo is mainly driven by her passion and talent for literature and writing. However, being aware of the social situation of her family, she tries to use her writing skills and her talent to earn money and support her family, as well. This is another indicative of her good and unselfish nature but also one of the first signs of her independence as a woman. She decides to do what she wants to do and keeps being involved in it very passionately. "She did not think herself a genius by any means, but when the writing fit came on, she gave herself up to it with entire abandon, and led a blissful life, unconscious of want, care, or bad weather, while she sat safe and happy in an imaginary world, full of friends almost as real and dear as any in the flesh." (Alcott, 466) In spite of the pleasure and freedom that Jo feels when she writes, she becomes faced with problems very soon. Earning money will make her start writing sensational stories and "set her apart" from the moralised fiction she has been writing so far. The idea of supporting her family in this particular way is kept a secret at first. Jo confesses only to Laurie that she sent her stories to the newspapers: " 'Well, Ive left two stories with a newspaperman, and hes to give his answer next week', whispered Jo, in her confidants ear." (Alcott, 140) Her story is published in the newspaper and her family is surprised and pleased with the news: "Dear me, how delighted they all were, to be sure! How Meg wouldnt believe it till she saw the words, 'Miss Josephine March', actually printed in paper; how graciously Amy criticized the artistic parts of the story, and offered hints for a sequel, which unfortunately couldnt be carried out, as the hero and heroine were dead; how Beth got excited, and skipped and sang with joy..." (Alcott, 144)
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Jos feelings are revealed a few moments after: "Jos breath gave her out here, and wrapping her head in the paper, she bedewed her little story with a few natural tears; for to be independent and earn the praise of those she loved were the dearest wishes of her heart, and this seemed to be the first step toward that happy end." (Alcott, 145) While Jo is staying in New York, she starts publishing sensational stories: "She took to writing sensation stories, for in those dark ages, even all-perfect America read rubbish. She told no one, but concocted a 'thrilling tale', and boldly carried it herself to Mr. Dashwood, editor of Weekly Volcano." (Alcott, 606) Mr Dashwood, the editor, agrees to publish Jos work with "a few alterations". These alterations include cutting off all moral reflections because they obviously will not entertain the readers. Jo accepts the changes and conforms to the needs of the society of the period which is untypical for her. Yet again, she sacrifices even the thing she likes best, her independence in this case, in order to bring comfort and happiness to her family. Jo becomes aware that she is too honest and innocent in a brutal and tragic world full of injustice and discrimination. "Jo soon found out that her innocent experience had given her but few glimpses of the tragic world which underlies society, so regarding it in a business light, she set about supplying her deficiencies with characteristic energy." (Alcott, 612) The third point of the argument is the love life of Jo March. As a restless, stubborn girl and later an independent woman, Jo does not speak openly about her feelings; she does not cry or desire love and marriage. Quite on the contrary, she knows nothing about love and does

not long for it or for recognition from men in general. She starts thinking about relationships between men and women when her sister Meg and John Brooke fall in love. " 'Mercy me! I dont know anything about love and such nonsense!' cried Jo, with a funny mixture of interest and contempt. 'In novels, the girls show it by starting and blushing, fainting away, growing thin and acting like fools.' "(Alcott, 187) Jo develops an interesting relationship with "the boy next door", Theodore Laurence, called Laurie. Being a sociable and good-hearted person, Jo starts the friendship with their neighbour herself. " 'There he is', thought Jo, 'poor boy! All alone and sick this dismal day. Its a shame! Ill toss up a snow ball and make him look out, and then say a kind word to him.' "(Alcott, 45) Step by step, Laurie becomes a best friend to Jo and very close to the whole March family. Wherever the girls are, there is Laurie right by their side. He was even the president of a women book club that the girls had organised. Jo and Laurie develop a close and strong connection. If we do not mind the gender questions (Jo behaves more manly than Laurie does), they seem an ideal combination. Laurie seems to respect Jo very much. "Im not good for much, I know, but Ill stand by you, Jo, all days of my life. Upon my word I will!" And Laurie meant what he said. (Alcott, 216) This relationship clearly means a lot to both of them but a lot of time will pass before Laurie does something about it. Meanwhile, Jos 'anti-marriage' behaviour becomes explicit after Meg and John Brooke decide to get married. She does not share the opinion of her sisters about marriage. It seems that she is afraid of marriage because it will set her family apart and separate her from her sisters. Family comes first and Jo cannot see it any other way.

In addition, a woman loses her independence and acts submissively in respect to a man. She accepts her sisters engagement in the end, though very reluctantly. " 'I dont approve of the match, but Ive made up my mind to bear it, and shall not say a word against it', said Jo solemnly."(Alcott, 216) When her sick sister Beth confesses to Jo her love for Laurie, Jo admits to herself that she loves Laurie. However, she decides not to take it to the next level with Laurie. The reasons might be several: her mother concluded that they would not make a good couple because they are both hard tempered, Beth confesses her love for Laurie and Jo wants to stay faithful to her principles. Jo may have not wanted to hurt Beths feelings and rejected Lauries proposal. It seems the most obvious reason. The change in Jos character starts to be prominent in this part of her life. Earlier she despised marriage and fought for freedom of choice and now she is contradictory to her own principles because she starts thinking about love, marriage and dedicating her life to someone. Jo is obviously not the sort of person who marries for social position or money. This is quite obvious in the end of the novel, with Jos decision to settle down with poor professor Bhaer. Rejecting Laurie, Jo thinks she will remain a spinster her entire life. A sudden change in her head represents the disappointment about it. At the end of the story, however, Jo opens a school for boys and gives birth to two children. All of the things she longed for, independence, freedom, adventure are substituted with those common ones. She starts living a typical life of a nineteenth century woman. Jo may have understood what it feels to be a grown up, or she concluded that the only way of coping with the tragic world is to "blend in". Whether or not this was made on purpose by the author, it will remain unknown. One way or another, Jo seems to be much happier at the end of the novel. Providing the main characteristics of Jo Marchs appearance and personality through her relationships with other characters in the novel, it is possible to create a picture of a
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nineteenth century family and men and women in general. To be more specific, it is possible to create the picture of the situation in the American society during and after the Civil war. This is possible if one reads the novel beneath the surface because the superficial reading makes this novel simply a childrens book. Certainly, not all of the families were as understanding and well-functioned as the March family. Moreover, the character of Jo has many autobiographical elements, especially related to writing and family relations. Louisa Alcott, however, changed the adult and mature Jo, adding new elements and giving her a happy married life and two children. Jo March could serve as a model for all the girls and young women in the world. She relied greatly on her mothers advice and deeply respected her sisters and helped them with their troubles. Furthermore, Jo stood up for herself on many occasions, did not care about the social position and the material things, loved the adventure and independence sending a strong and important message to all of the women out there who lost themselves cleaning their houses and minding their speech and manners excessively. Last but not least, Jo represents a woman in love. No matter what the love may be directed to (family, friends, writing, art, travelling, marriage or other) it has to be a part of everyones life. Works cited: Alcott, Louisa May, Little Women (Part 1), Penguin Books, New York, 1994, Alcott, Louisa May, Little Women (Part 2), eBook by Planet PDF, Planetpdf.com, September 23 2002, May 19 2012, 415- 861 <http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/pdfs/free_ebooks/Little_Women_NT.pdf> Baym, Nina (Ed.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature (1820-1865), Sixth Edition, Volume B, W.W. Norton & Company, New York/London, 2574-2575

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Baym, Nina (Ed.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature, wwnorton.com, 2007, May 24 2012 <http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/naal7/contents/B/welcome.asp>

Helminski, Joseph, FindArticles.com, Disarming the Nation: Womens writing and the American Civil War.-book review, summer 2002, May 24 2012 < http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2220/is_3_44/ai_98978439/>

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