Laurie and Amy just worked in a way that Laurie and Jo really wouldn't have. Laurie, in my mind, was too much of a boy for Jo. In fact, Jo referred to him as her "boy" many times. Jo needed more of a man and Laurie couldn't be that to her. On the other hand, with Amy, Laurie learned and worked to mature and was able to improve himself and not just to appease Jo, but to please Amy. There is a difference.I don't want this to be misunderstood so I'll do my best to tread lightly but there is a time where a man and woman should work to please the other. Not in a servitude way that Laurie seemed to suggest with Jo when he said he would agree with her on every issue. That's not it at all. And I'm not talking about being controlled and under the other's thumb either. But there should be a healthy intention to please simply because you want to please the one you love. I think that is the kind of affection that Amy inspired in Laurie. It wasn't worship. It was appreciation. Laurie wanted approval from Jo, not her happiness. With Amy, we wanted to make her happy simply so she'd be happy.
One last point here, Jo was still a mystery to Laurie. He didn't and really couldn't understand her. That wasn't from lack of trying, it was only Jo barely knew Jo, how could we expect Laurie to understand her? Amy, on the other hand, knew Laurie and he knew her in return. They understood each other and that is a small but important key in a relationship.
Yours truly,
Cordy
I liked all that you said about the difference between seeking approval and making the one you love happy. That's a great point! I always did feel like Laurie & Amy were just kind of thrown together to wrap it all up, but I like seeing a different side of it. Definitely agree with you on the point that Laurie could never truly understand Jo. (I never have been one who shipped them -- they just were not right together as anything other than friends.)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this, Cordy! Looking forward to more. :)
Thanks, I was hoping that little bit made sense.
DeleteLaurie and Jo are great friends but they never would have worked as lovers.
:D
I agree wholeheartedly with this, Cordy!
ReplyDeleteI noticed that especially in the movie - they were just too close in personality, and I think Jo needed someone like Professor Bhaer to straighten her out.
Catherine
catherinesrebellingmuse.blogspot.com
*fistpump* Yes! Another member of the Laurie and Amy team. :)
DeleteThe Professor was defiantly a better balance for Jo.
I must say I agree with you. I didn't always, no, certainly not, but upon re-reading Little Women this last time I do agree with you. You're really quite right. Laurie and Amy suited each other so well, and while Jo and Laurie were great pals, they wouldn't have been able to be the happy, loving couple that Laurie and Amy were. So yes, this is spot on. :D
ReplyDeleteDo you really?! I'm shocked! :D The last time we talked about the subject you were decidedly in favor of Jo and Laurie. Well thanks, Rae. <3 I think more people would like Amy and Laurie if they were more familiar with the book. I think the movies underwhelm you with this story-line.
DeleteYes! I see so few people saying this and I can't agree more. I really like Jo and Professor Bhaer together so that might be part of the reason I'm so swayed. Jo needed someone older and wiser and Laurie would not have been that man.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Lois. :D Laurie didn't work with Jo. I feel like everyone takes the "Jo and Laurie side" because they love Laurie. The thing is, they totally forget Jo's needs.
DeleteTally ho, old sport! I heartily agree. I've never had a problem with Laurie and Amy -- I rather like them, honestly. Now, that might be partly because I didn't tend to question authors' decisions about which people ended up together when I was younger, but I still think that Jo and Laurie wouldn't have been quite the thing. So, as you know, I'm glad you did a post defending Laurie and Amy. :)
ReplyDeleteHowdy neighbor, (expect not really a neighbor, but I feel like you're a blogging neighbor so that has to count for something, right?)
DeleteI love all these people agreeing on this subject! It's wonderful! :D It's like we have a small army on our side to defend against the Jo and Laurie shippers. Hahaha.
I'm with you. I still rarely question an author's pairing of their characters.
Thanks, Olivia. :D
Yes, yes, yes, YES!!!! Thank you so much for writing this! Someone needs to stand up for these two. Because really, they're darling people, and they DO go well together (at least in my opinion). I think Louisa May Alcott definitely knew what she was doing when she had Jo end up with Professor Bhaer and Amy with Laurie. It just works.
ReplyDelete"With Amy, he wanted to make her happy simply so she'd be happy." Awww. That is such a good point! Well put. :D
You know what? I feel like Amy always gets a bad rap for being spoiled and selfish when really she's anything but that--at least when she's grown up. She's very sweet and thoughtful and considerate of others and I wish when people went to make movies they would capture that side of her a bit better. 'Cause I feel like the movies always capitalize on her spoiled tendencies as a child and carry that over into her adult years. Have you ever noticed that? (Anyway, that was a bit random. Sorry about that.)
This was an excellent post, Cordy!
~Miss March
Well, I'm of your opinion so I think together it must mean we're right! ;D
DeleteAww, thanks.
I AM WITH YOU!! The movies have never done Amy any favors. She's really very sweet, even with her childhood craziness. She is the youngest of the sisters after all. Being young can be sooo annoying. Haha. (I can still think of many things I did that I can torture myself with at any given moment...though I really should forgive myself already. Sheesh.) And as you said, when Amy grows up, her kindness simply grows. So, not random at all, I think what you said was on point! :D
Thanks, Miss March!!
EXACTLY. Not only do I love Jo and Professor Bhaer together, but Jo and Laurie would have made each other miserable. Their natures just weren't suited to lasting happiness together, and I'm so glad they were wise enough to realize this.
ReplyDeleteThey really would have driven each other crazy. Hahaha. Oooh "Their natures just weren't suited to lasting happiness together", very good point. :D
DeleteI did always like Amy and Laurie, but I didn't like Jo and Professor Bhaer... at first. With Jo and Laurie, they were always just friends to me. But now, I do like all the couples. And I guess I didn't really think about Amy and Laurie to much other than, "Oh, they're a couple now. Nice." I really like your explaination! :D
ReplyDelete(Sorry I am soooooo behind on reading posts...)
Well thanks, MovieCritic. :D
DeleteOh, seriously, don't worry about it! It's good to see you around again. :)