What Makes Jo March Tick

Little Women Podcast, Book 9

By: Little Women Podcast, Niina Niskanen, Emily Lau

Narrated by: Niina Niskanen, Emily Lau

Emily and I combined our powers once again to discuss Jo's and Friedrich's relationships and Louisa May Alcott's attraction toward intelligence. When Friedrich gives feedback to Jo, Jo appreciates it, because she wants to develop as a writer. Friedrich Bhaer is based on philosopher Henry David Thoreau. Louisa was in love with him and he appears in literal disguise in all of her novels. He is also based on Alcott's favourite writer, the German poet Goethe.

Unlike Greta Gerwig that lies to millions of people, Jo and Friedrich never argue in the book, and Friedrich is the one who helps her to become a writer. He literally gives the same advice to Jo, as Goethe inspired LMA to improve as a writer. Laurie is partially based on Alcott's ex, Laddie Wisniewski, and her friend Alf Whitman. She had a maternal relationship with both of these men who were younger than she. One of the goals of the Little Women podcast is to examine these relationships, and how (several) Little Women adaptations ignore their significance.

©2023 Niina Niskanen (P)2023 Niina Niskanen