从女性主义视角下分析《小妇人》中的乔的人物形象

Contents1.Introduction 11.1IntroductiontoLouisaMayAlcottandLittleWomen 11.2Literaturereview 22.IntroductiontoFeminism 43.AnAnalysisofJo’sCharacterfromthePerspectiveofFeminism 53.1Courageousanddashing 53.2Independentandrational 73.3Strong-willedandenterprising 93.3.1Strong-willed 93.3.2Enterprising 103.4Sympatheticandkind-hearted 114.TheCausesofJo’sCharacterFormation 124.1Theinfluenceofsocialchanges 134.2ThesincereguidanceofMrs.March’s 144.3Jo’sownattitudetowardslife 155.Conclusion 16Bibliography 18

AnAnalysisofJo’sCharacterinLittleWomenfromtheProspectiveofFeminismAbstract:LittleWomenisastoryaboutlove,idealsandlifewrittenbyAmericanwriterLouisaMayAlcott.Basedontheauthorherself,thenoveldescribesthestoryofthefourMarchsistersgrowingupunderthebackgroundoftheCivilWar,andportraysagroupofwomenwithbothtraditionalvirtuesandnewageideas.Basedonthein-depthanalysisofthegrowthpathandemotionsoftheheroineJoinLittleWomen,thispaperfocusesontheanalysisandrevelationofherowncharacterimagefromtheperspectiveoffeminism.Womencandaretochallengeoldideas,butalsopursuedreams,independence,freedomandequality.Thepurposeistocallonwomentobeindependent,donotblindlypursuelove,andstriveforthesamestatusandroleasmen.Keywords:LittleWomen;Jo;character;feminism从女性主义视角下分析《小妇人》中的乔的人物形象摘要：《小妇人》是美国作家路易莎·梅·奥尔科特写的一个关于爱情、理想和生活的故事。小说以作者本人为原型，描写了马奇四姐妹在南北战争背景下成长的故事，塑造了一群既有传统美德又有新时代观念的女性形象。本文通过对《小妇人》中女主人公乔的成长道路和情感的深入分析，从女性主义视角下重点分析揭示她自身的人物形象，女性能够敢于挑战旧观念，还能够追求梦想，追求独立、自由和平等。目的是呼吁女性要独立自主，不要盲目追求爱情，同时要争取跟男性同等的地位和作用。关键词：小妇人；乔；人物形象；女性主义1.Introduction1.1IntroductiontoLouisaMayAlcottandLittleWomenLouisaMayAlcottwasacreativeAmericanwriter.Heraffluentlifeexperienceshaveledhertoproducemanyworkswithdifferentstylesandthemes.Anenthusiasticparticipantinamateurtheatricalssinceageten,shewroteherfirstmelodramaatagefifteenandbeganpublishingpoemsandsketchesattwenty-one.DuringtheCivilWar,sheworkedasanurseandresultedinHospitalSketches(1863),butsheearnedmorefromtheluridthrillersshebeganwritingin1861underthepseudonymofA.M.Barnard.Fameandsuccesscameunexpectedlyin1868.Whenapublishersuggestedshewritea“girl’sbook,”shedrewonhermemoriesofherchildhoodandwroteLittleWomen(1868),depictingherselfasJoMarch,whilehersistersAnna,AbbyMay,andElizabethbecameMeg,Amy,andBeth.Whenitwaspublished,LittleWomenstruckachordinAmerica’slargelyfemalereadingpublicandbecameahugesuccess.Tohersurprise,Louisawasprevailedupontocontinuethestory,whichshedidinLittleMen(1871)andJo’sBoys(1886).ShealsopublishedAStoryofExperience,whichisanautobiographyinfictionaldisguisein1873.LittleWomenisalsoaworkrelatedtofeminism.IttellsthestoryofthefourMarchwomengrowingupfromgirlstolittlewomen,andtellsthestoryoftheiruninhibitedloveexperienceandtheirpursuitofdifferentidealsanddestinies.ItisafamilyethicsnovelwithautobiographicalcolorandbasedonthebackgroundoftheAmericanCivilWarandthetriflesoflifebetweenfoursistersinanordinaryfamilyinNewEnglandinthe19thcentury.Itisalsoasemi-autobiographicalnovelwithfemalecharactersandemphasisonfeministconsciousness.LittleWomenhasbeenanAmericanmasterpieceformorethan100years.TheAmericanBookAssociationandtheAmericanEducationAssociationNPCandCPPCCrepresentativesselected100kindsofruralprimaryschoolmust-havebooks,amongwhichtheselected25,"LittleWomen"rankedthetop25.Therehavebeendozensofdifferentlanguagesintheworld,thebookalsoswepttheChinesemainlandinthe1930s,fourorfivedifferenttranslationshavebeenpublished.1.2LiteraturereviewSinceitspublicationin1868,LittleWomenhasbeentranslatedintomorethanadozenlanguages,winningtheheartsofcountlessreaders,especiallyteenagers.Inthepastdecade,asthisnovelwasfavoredbymoreandmorereadersduetoitsowncharm,people'sresearchperspectiveonitwasalsomoreandmorenovel,comparedwiththewesterncountriesgenerallybasedonthesimpleevaluationofthefilmversionofLittleWomen.Aftersearchingsomeforeignliterature,therearealsorelatedresearchesinthefieldoffeminism.Simons(2020)foundaninformationafteracarefulstudyofLittleWomen,andinherownworkTheAfterlivesofLouisaMayAlcott:GretaGerwig'sLittleWomensummeditupbysayingthatJoandAlcott'slifeexperiencesareroughlythesame,shefoundthatJomustalsostruggle,notjustforacceptanceinamale-dominatedprofession,butalsobetweenJo’sdesireforautonomyandequallypowerfulloveoffamily.Ironically,LittleWomenisjustareflectionofthetypicalperformanceofAmericangirlsatthattime.Fromthecharacterimage,theauthorthoughtthatJolovedwritingandpursueseconomicandspiritualindependence.Theseimagesareinsharpcontrastwiththesocialstatusatthattime,andhaveatypicalfeministthought.Matteson(2019)foundthatLittleWomendoesinsistthatwomenwithtalentandlifeexperienceshould,likeJoandAmy,paytheiradvantagesforwardthroughgoodworks,italsourgesmentoseekamoreenlightenedconceptofmasculinity.Healsothoughtthatgirlscopingwithadolescentawkwardnessandseekingassertiverolemodelstakecouragefromtheexampleoftopsy-turvyJoMarch.Therefore,wecanseethechallengingandindependentfeministcharacteristicsofJo.EiseleinandPhillips(2019)thoughtthatLittleWomenbrokenewground,slappedtogetherahouse,andcommencedwelcominghordesofvisitors.Fresh,lively,anddistinctlyAmerican,thenovelofferedsingulardepictionsofyoungwomenandmenplaying,talking,squabbling,dreaming,creating,learning,andcomingofageinwaysthatembodiedandresisteditseraandregionandimmediatelygeneratedpassionateresponses.Therefore,moreandmorepeoplebegantoreadthenovelandfoundmanycharacteristicsinJo,suchasboyish,strongandindependent.Inthefieldoffeminism,domesticscholarshavemadegoodachievementsintheresearchoffeminism.Fromtheperspectiveofcharacter,LittleWomenwasstudiedbyCuiYinghui,ZhangXiangandZhangMin(2010).intheirjointworkJo'spersonalityinLittleWomen,theywrotethatJo,oneoftheheroinesinthenovel,wasLouisaMayAlcottherself.Inthenovel,Jowasanenterprising,independent,freespirit,braveandresolutewomanwhowasalsothepillarofherfamily,whichwellreflectedthefeminismofthatera.Thus,Jo’scharacterinthenovelwasthecharacteroftheauthorinreality.Fromtheperspectiveoffamilyeducation,LuandLiao(2014)mentionedintheirjointworkTheEducationofLoveinLittleWomenthattheybelievedeverylittleheroineinthebookbecomesmoreindependent,humble,strongandkindbecause"littlewomen"growuphealthilyintheeducationoflove,suchasrationaleducationandwarmlovefromtheirmothers.Fromtheperspectiveofpsychology,LiandZhang(2017)mentionedintheirjointworkFemalePersonalityandFamilyPlasticCausesinLittleWomenthattheybelievedthatthefoursistersinthebookrespectivelyrepresentedakindofbeautifulpersonality,whiletheirfamiliessymbolizedthematrixofhealthyfemalepersonalityandtheidealcomprehensivecharacteristicsofhealthyfemalepersonality.Thepositivechangesof"littlewoman"areattributedtothepersonalitycharmofMarch'sparentsandtheinspiringandencouragingeducationofMrs.March.Tosumup,theresearchesofmanyscholarsontheimageofJoinLittleWomenmainlyfocusontheindependentspiritandpositiveinfluenceofwomen,whichplaysakeyroleinthecurrentresearchesonfeminism.Thereareobviousdeficienciesinthecurrentresearchonwomeninthefieldoffeminism,sothemainpurposeofthisstudyistomakeupforthedeficienciesinthepublic'scognitionofwomeninthefieldoffeminism.TheauthorofthepapergainednewinsightsintoherstudyandtriestofindoutsomedifferentideasonJo’scharacterfromtheperspectiveoffeminismbasedthepreviousstudies.Womenarenotjustobsessedwithlove,buthaveaclearunderstandingofwhattheyshouldpursueinlife.Thesestudiescanshedlightonthepublic'sunderstandingofwomen'sspirituality.Inaddition,thetopicismainlystudiedfromtheperspectiveoffeminism,hopingtochangethecurrentfeministfieldoffemalespiritresearchmethodslackofinnovation.Thesestudiesnotonlyhelpreadersfurtherunderstandthenovelbutalsoprovidevaluablereferenceforthestudyofthenovel.ThispaperwillmainlyfocusonanalyzingJo’scharacterinthenovel.2.IntroductiontoFeminismFeminismreferstowomen’sliberation,feministmovementandgenderequality.Itcriticizessocialrelations.Thetheoryoffeminismistoachieveequalitybetweenmenandwomeninallmankind.Inanoverallviewoffeministtheories,someareasfierceasfire,someareascalmaswater,someadvocatethefighttothedeath,andsomeacceptcompromise,butallfeministtheorieshaveabasicpremise,thatis,womenareanoppressedanddiscriminatedclassallovertheworld.Feminismhasmanytheoriesandconcepts,suchasliberalfeminism,whichwillbeusedinthispaper.Thebasicideasofliberalfeminismarerationality,justice,equalityofopportunityandfreedomofchoice.Firstofall,theearlyrepresentativethoughtofliberalfeminismistoadvocaterationalityandquestionthetraditionalauthority.ItsbackgroundistheFrenchRevolutionandtheEnlightenmentMovementinWesternEurope,anditstheoreticalbasisis“Enlightenmentrationality”.Ji(2021)describedthatthemaintheoreticalviewpointsoftheBritishthinkerMillare:heopposestherationalabilitytodistinguishbetweenmenandwomenbasedontheirphysiologicaldifferences,especiallytheviewthatwomenareinferiortomen;Itadvocatesthatwomenhavetherighttofreedomandbelievesthatonlybyexertingfreedomindependentlycantheychangetheirunfavorablestatusquo;Itmaintainsthatwomenhaveequalsocialrightswithmen,suchasmarriageautonomy,propertyfreedom,education,politicalparticipationandcareerchoice.Advocatesthatwomenpursuetheliberationofnature,equalrights,andgivefullplaytotheirtalentstopromotethedevelopmentofsociety.Liberalfeminismputsforwardtheideaofequalityofrationalabilityofbothsexesandchallengesthetraditionalauthorityconcept.Itcriticizesthebiasednotionintraditionalthoughtthatmen'sintellectualcapacityissuperiortowomen's.Inaddition,liberalfeminismmaintainsthatthesexesarebornequal,andthedifferenceintheirrationalabilitycomesfromthedifferenceineducationlevel,ratherthantheinnategenderdifference.Atthesametime,liberalfeminismfocusesonthecompetitiveequalitybetweenthesexesinthefieldofsociallife,andignoresthehumancharacteristicsofmutualcooperationandsupportofbothsexesasparticipantsinsociallife.Theprogressofhumancivilizationnotonlyneedsthefaircompetitionanddevelopmentofmenandwomeninthecommonfield,butalsoneedsthemutualcooperation,perfectionandperfectionofbothsexes.Therefore,theoveremphasisoncompetitiontendstoovershadowthesocialvalueofgenderequality.3.AnAnalysisofJo’sCharacterfromthePerspectiveofFeminismJowasbraveandstrong,withaboyishcharacter.However,Joalsohadasoftandvulnerableside.Fromthenovel,wecouldseethatsheisunyielding,independentandstrivestopursuefreedom,equalityandherdream.Inaddition,shecouldadjustherstateintheprocessofconstantchange,andfinallyachievedherself.TherewasnodoubtthatJowasamentallystrongwoman.ThispartmainlyhasthefollowingpointstoanalyzeJo’character.3.1CourageousanddashingJowasboyishandatoddswiththetraditionalcharacterofalady.Shehatedthethingsthatgirlsdo,likenotwantingtowearmakeuporskirts.Asagirl,shehatedgirly,whiny,sillygirls.WecouldseethatJowantedtobeaboy,tobeabletofightforhiscountrylikeherfather,andtobefreetoplayboyishgames.Whensheattendedaball,shedidn'tcareaboutwhatshewore,andherburned-outcoatwasasymbolofhercharacter'sstruggleagainsttraditionalfeminineconstraints.Inaddition,Jodidnotcompletelyoverturntheunderstandingoftraditionalwomen.Womenarenotthecenterofpower,theystilltakethefamilyasthemainpartoflife,assumefamilyresponsibilities,andharmoniouslycombineindependentlifewithfamilylife.Whenshewasagirl,shelovedtowriteplays.Asshegrewup,shewroteasameansofmakingaliving.However,Jo'swritingpathwasnotsmooth.XiaandChen(2022)describedthatduetothenegativeattitudetowardswomenintraditionalwesternculture,Joencounteredmanyprejudicesandobstaclesinherwritingcareer.Inspiteofallthedifficultiesandprejudicesshefacedinlife,butJowasnotsatisfiedwiththeheavyshacklessocietyimposedonwomen,andtriedtoteardownthelabelsthattheoutsideworldattachedtowomen.Contrarytotraditionalexpectationsofwomen,shelikedstrongwordsthatmeansomething,andshelikedtospeakouthermindboldlyandfreely,challengingstereotypeslikewomenarejusttheretogetmarriedandhavechildren.Sherejectedtheconstraintsbroughtbymarriage,hopedtocontrolherowndestiny,andusedherwritingtochangetheeconomicoutlookofherfamily.Atthebeginningofthenovel,Jomakesclearherdisappointmentwithherwomanhood.Later,herbehaviorisalsobasedonthepsychologicalbackgroundofnotacceptingheridentityasawoman.Jofeltconflicted,especiallyafterseeinghersistersgoontoseeminglycompleteliveswhileshewasstillfacingobstaclesinNewYork.Joabandonedthefakefemaleself,insistedontherealfemaleself,withherowneffortstomanagelove.Finally,shewasattractedbyMr.Barr'swisdomandliteraryflair.Thereismutualappreciationandspiritualcommunicationbetweenthem.Jolovedwritingandnevergaveupherdreamofbecomingawriter.Shebelievedinherabilitytodogoodthingsandhelpothers.Jocourageouslypursuedherdream,shehadherownuniqueviewsonloveandmarriage.Shepursuedindependent,mutuallyrespectfulandequalloverelationshipandmarriagelife,andhadphilosophicalthoughtsonidealsandlife.Jowasalsoeagertohaveagoodjob,andshewillbeabletoconcentrateonherwritingcareer.EventhoughlifebroughtmanydifficultiestoJo,shewasalwaysabletoturnsufferingintomotivationinthehardstruggleandalwaysmaintainedhersincerefaith.Inlife,Jowaseconomicallyindependentandhadmasteredmoreinitiativeandfreedomofchoiceinthemarriagerelationship,breakingtheabnormalroutinethatwomenrelymoreonmarriageinthepast.3.2IndependentandrationalMrs.Marchoftentaughtherdaughterstocareaboutthesocietyandcurrenteventsbybroadeningtheirhorizons,fosteringtheirabilitytoparticipate,andcultivatingtheirindependentoutlookonlife.Theyshouldnotbeprisonersinacage.Jowasbright,braveandboyish,andevenwantedtogotothefronttofightalongsideherfather.Unlikemostgirls,Johadherownuniqueideasandpursuitoflife.Shebelievedthatwomenwerealsoverypowerfulandtheycouldalsostrivefortheirownlifeandcareer.Jo’sambitionwastodosomethingverysplendid;whatitwasshehadnoideaasyet,butleftitfortimetotellher;and,meanwhile,foundhergreatestafflictioninthefactthatshecouldn’tread,run,andrideasmuchassheliked.Aquicktemper,sharptongue,andrestlessspiritwerealwaysgettingherintoscrapes,andherlifewasaseriesofupsanddowns,whichwerebothcomicandpathetic.ButthetrainingshereceivedatAuntMarch’swasjustwhatsheneeded,andthethoughtthatshewasdoingsomethingtosupportherselfmadeherhappyinspiteoftheperpetual“Josy-phine!”(LouisaMayAlcott,1989,p.40).Shelovedwriting,andhassuccessfullycontributedarticlestoearnfees.Shehadaclearunderstandingofthepursuitofideals.Shewaseagertorealizeherself-worth.Jo'squestforindependenceisevidentinthewaysheformsherviewsonmarriage.AfterresolutelyrefusingLaurie'sproposal,JoboldlybeggedMegtorunawaybeforehereldestsisterMeg'swedding.Atthistime,sheclearlyrealizedthatmarriageistheeliminationoffemaleindependence,andoncewomenacceptedmarriage,theywouldinevitablybedomesticatedbymalepower.Therefore,Joatthismomentwasdifferentfromthose"independentwomen"whofirstbecameindependentandthensubmissiveinordertopleasethesenseofmalesubjugation.Sheisa"newwoman"whowastrulystrivingforwomen'srights.Inaddition,Jolovedandkeptwriting.Ontheonehand,shewantedtomakemoneybywriting,sheoncedeclaredthatshewouldshoulderherresponsibilityandhelpedtomakemoneyforherfamily.Shi,HuangandZhao(2021)foundthatwhenanindividualcannotexpresshissubjectivityandindependenceonlythroughinternalactionsandthinkinginmanycases,hecanonlyrelyonexternalmaterialandwealth.Therefore,makingmoneywasthemostcrucialstepinpursuingindependence.Ontheotherhand,sheunderstoodthateconomicindependencemaynotbeabletohelphercompletelygetridofthealienationandcontrolofwomenbythepatriarchaldiscourse.Spiritualandemotionalindependencewasthekeytoconstructthediscourseoffemalepowerandexplorethefreedomandequalityofwomeninthenewera.Wordswerethebestweapontoshakeorevendestroythestereotypethatwomenwereweak.ItcouldbeseenthatJo'spursuitofwritingwasalsoherpursuitofeconomicandsocialindependence.Liberalfeminismputsforwardtheideathattherationalabilityofthesexesisequal.JiandYao(2021)thoughtthatliberalfeminismcriticizesthebiasednotionintraditionalthoughtthatmen'sintellectualcapacityissuperiortowomen's.Inthenovel,JoandLauriecamefromdifferentfamiliesandhavedifferentlevelsofeducation,sotheirviewsonthingswillbedifferent.Liberalfeminismalsomaintainsthatthesexesarebornequal,andthedifferenceintheirrationalabilitycomesfromthedifferenceineducationlevelratherthaninnategenderdifference.ThereisaconversationbetweenLaurieandJomentionedinthenovel:Marry—no,weshouldn’t!ifyoulovedme,Jo,Ishouldbeaperfectsaint,foryoucouldmakemeanythingyoulike.No,Ican’t.I’vetrieditandfailed,andIwon’triskourhappinessbysuchaseriousexperiment.Wedon’tagreeandwenevershall,sowe’llbegoodfriendsallourlives,butwewon’tgoanddoanythingrash.(LouisaMayAlcott,1989,p.393)LaurieandJoweretwodifferentpeopleofdifferentclasses.Lauriewasbroughtupbyrichfamilies,whileJo'sfamilywaspoor.Thetwopeoplehaddifferentideasandweredestinedtobeunabletogettogether.Inaddition,liberalfeminismpaysattentiontotheunequalcircumstancesfacedbywomeninthefieldofsocialpubliclifeandadvocatescorrectingtheseinjusticesthroughsocialreform.Forexample,Jowasdeeplydiscriminatedagainstandrejectedwhenshecontributedtoamagazinebecauseshewasawoman.Attheendofthestory,JomarriedMr.Barr,becauseJosawinBarrrespect,understandingandsupportforeachother,aswellaslove,soJoreconciledwithloveandfreedom.Therefore,theprogressofhumancivilizationrequiresnotonlythefaircompetitionanddevelopmentofmenandwomeninthecommonfield,butalsothemutualcooperation,perfectionandperfectionofbothsexes.Whethershewroteabooktosupportthefamilyortriedherbesttotakecareofhersister,sheshowedherloveandresponsibilityforherfamily.Jo'sattitudetowardsfamilyalsoreflectedthecharacteristicsoffeminism,suchasself-relianceandstrongsenseofresponsibility.3.3Strong-willedandenterprisingOwningpropertywasanimportantprincipleinthetraditionalconceptionofmarriagein19thcenturyAmerica.However,Tang(2020)thoughtthatmarriageshouldbebasedonloveratherthanproperty.Atthesametime,Mrs.Marchusedtoexpressherhopesandattitudestowardsmarriageandpropertytoherchildren.Therefore,theideaoftherelationshipbetweenloveandmoneyhasbeendeeplyimplantedinJo'smindandhashadaninfluenceonher.Jo'sapproachtoworkexpressedthehigheraspirationsofmodernlife.Shebelievedthatworkisameaningfulthing.Everyoneneedsajob.Jo'slifeshowsthatwomenneedtobebraveenoughtogetoutoftheirhousesinordertoparticipateinsocialwork.Hence,Johadalwaysbeenverycommittedtoherwritingcareer,andfirmlyputherworkintheplanoflife.3.3.1Strong-willedAsawomanorevenanewwoman,Jowantedtobeashappilymarriedasanyoneelse.Atfirst,shemetLaurieataparty.Aftertalking,shefoundthattheyhadalotincommonwitheachother.Theysharedaloveoffreedomandexpressingtheiropinionswithoutfear,andsoontheybecamebestfriends.Sometimes,even,JosuddenlyfeltthatshewasinlovewithLaurie.WhenMegdecidedtomarryMr.Brooke,Jocouldn'tunderstand.BecauseBrookedoesnothaveverygoodfinancialcondition,shebelievesthatmarriageshouldbebasedoncertainmaterialwealth.Jodidn'tunderstandatthetimethattruelovecouldbebasedonmutualrespect,loveandhappiness.Butsoon,JofoundthatshewasalwaysarguingwithLaurie.Shehatedhislaziness,sosheslowlyrealizedthattheywerenotsuitabletogether.Therefore,JorejectedLaurie'sproposalandabandonedherblindyearningformoneyinpursuitoffreedomandtruelove.Intheend,Jomarriedaprofessorbecauseshefinallyrealizedthathermostimportantdreamwastoearnalivingandwintheloveandrespectofpeople.Jodarestochooseherlifepartnerandseizeherdestiny,evenifheractionsgoagainstsocialconventions.Itisamarkofherpursuitoffreedomthatsheexaminesanddealswithmarriageproblemsinherownwayandtriesthepaththatsuitsher.Yes,IknowIcan,forweloveoneanother,andthatmakesalltheresteasytobear.Ihavemyduty,also,andmywork.Icouldn’tenjoymyselfifIneglectedthemevenforyou,sothere’snoneedofhurryorimpatience.YoucandoyourpartoutWest,Icandominehere,andbothbehappyhopingforthebest,andleavingthefuturetobeasGodwills.(LouisaMayAlcott,1989,p.518).Intheend,JowasdeeplyattractedtoProfessorBarr,graduallyunderstandingthetruemeaningoflove.Jo'sattitudetowardsloveshowedthatshewasalwaysstrivingfortherighttochooseherownlove.Shedidn’twanttobecontrolled.Shealsohopedtohaveequalstatusandchoicewithmen,tobestrongandindependentinthefaceoflife,inthefaceofmarriage.Therefore,JoacceptedMr.Barr,whohadalwayssupportedher,andrejectedLaurie.3.3.2EnterprisingJowaskeenonherwritingcareer.Shehopedtofulfillhersocialfunctionandestablishhercareerthroughwork,soastogainfreedomandindependenceinspiritandmaterial.Tang(2020)thoughtthatwomeninthebookwerenolongerhousewivessubordinatetotheirhusbands.Onthecontrary,theywereequaltotheirhusbandsinspiritandintelligence.Thefamilywasnolongeraplacewherewomenhidedthemselvesandburytheirtalentsandpersonalities,butaplacewherecouplesrespected,helpedandsupportedeachother.Cookingandbabycarewerenolongerwomen'sresponsibilities,ashusbandsalsoparticipateinthesehouseholdtasks.Theresponsibilityoftakingcareofallhouseholditemswasnotlimitedtowomen.Husbandsbegantoparticipate.Inthe1860s,sociallifeandpeople'sthoughtsandideasintheUnitedStatesweregreatlyinfluenced.Oneofthemwasthatmoreandmorewomenbegantoparticipateintheworkofsocietyandthusplayaroleinsocialandpoliticalaffairs.Butsocietycannotchangeovernight.Jotookpartinwritingwhilecaringforherauntandworkingasaschoolteacher.AfterJoandMr.Barrgotmarried,theyopenedaschooltogether.Jothoughtherjobbringshernotonlymoneybutalsogreatsatisfaction.Thiskindofthingmadeherlifemoremeaningfulthanothers.Fromtheperspectiveoffeminism,thesewomen'spursuitofequalitywasafurtherdisintegrationandsubversionofthepatriarchalsociety.Women'spursuitofequalsocialstatus,fightingforlegalrightsandinterests,andthepursuitofmutualrespectinfamilylifefurtherhighlightstheprocessthatheroinesgraduallyrealizedtheself-disciplineandpurificationoftheirsoulsinlife.Thepursuitofequality,respectandself-disciplinespiritactuallymakeswomen'ssoulspurifiedandsublimated.Generallyspeaking,Jofulfilledhersocialfunctionsandestablishedhercareerthroughwork,thusgainingherindependenceintermsofspiritandmaterial.Shedaredtochooseherlifepartnersandseizedherdestiny,evenifsheactedagainstsocialconventions.Inthefaceofthechallengesofcareerandloveinlife,Jostillunderstoodherpursuitofequality.Shegetsthesupportofherhusbandtopersistinherwritingcareer,hopingtoachievegreatachievementsinthisfield.ItcanbeseenthatJowasveryeagertoobtainequalfamilystatusandsocialstatus.3.4Sympatheticandkind-heartedInthenovel,whenJoreceivedatelegramthatherfatherwasseriouslyill,thewholefamilywasveryworried.Hermotherneededtotakecareofherfather,butthefamilywaspooranddidnothaveenoughmoney,soinordertoraisemoney,Jocutoffherlonghairbehindherfamily'sback.Whenthefamilyaskedherwhyshedidit.“Well,Iwaswildtodosomethingforfather”(LouisaMayAlcott,1989,p.173).Althoughshelovedherhair,shewashappytocontributetoherfamily.Besides,whenBethcontractedscarletfever,shetookcareofBethdayandnight,andtookcareofeverythinginthehouse.ButBethdiedofaseriousillnessatlast,Jofeltmorelonelythanever,andatthattimeshewantedtogiveupwritingandstarttoreallylookintoherheart.Johadaninnerresistancetotheupperclassandalackofsympathyandlovedforthepoorpeopleinthelowerclass.Butthen,influencedbypeopleandevents,shegraduallybecamemoregenerousandloving.Sheb