Jo's Natural Craving For Affection

I was simply stirred at the end of “Little Women,” especially after having read “All Alone.” Prior to this chapter the characters go through many difficulties such as Beth struggling for her health, a lonely and lack of lust marriage in Meg’s case, and Jo’s constant struggle of becoming really independent. It is in this chapter that I felt most compassionate toward Jo, because she in a way becomes unveiled. It is clear from the beginning of “Little Women” that Jo is different from her sisters, she aspires to create, and more importantly to be an independent and strong person. She has often rejected her feminine mannerisms and couldn’t relate to her sisters.
Although one can argue that she is the most fleshed out, well-developed character in the novel, it is within this particular chapter that her character becomes more dynamic. I would say that this might be the case (for me at least) because it was one of the rare times where the reader sees Jo in a different manner. She is opening up to her audience, making her self completely vulnerable. It is her ponderings of feeling lonely and actually admitting that she is sad from being alone that made her character experience a “break through” moment.
As I mentioned earlier, it felt as if at this moment she unveiled and showed the audience and herself another dimension of her personality, one that was sincere, filled with melancholy, and extremely realistic. Especially when she openly mourns for the recent death of her closest family member and friend, Beth. (As well as realizing that she was in love with Laurie, and mourning the loss of him to a certain degree) At that moment on I was able to view Jo a bit different, she became more human in my eyes and I was able to appreciate her more than the moments before leading up to the “All Alone” chapter. There was one passage in particular that stayed with me until the end of the book, found on page 410 (last page from the chapter)“A restless spirit possessed her, and the old feeling came again, not bitter as it once was, but sorrowfully patient wonder why one sister should have all she asked, the other noting…the natural craving for affection was strong…” because it truly echoed how Jo was feeling, even though she wanted to be content for her sister, she still felt lonely. Something that she would rarely admit to herself, let alone anyone else.