Jo March Character Traits

The character we chose to discuss is Jo March. We were mostly drawn to this young woman, since she has a passionate, stubborn, impulsive, and vivid personality. Jo has little patience and likes to see things go her own way. An example for that we can see when Amy asked her older sisters to join them and Laurie to the theater. As appose to her older sister Meg, who tried to decline her request very nicely, Jo answered impatiently to her sister, "'don't be a baby and whine about it"' (Alcott, 2004, p. 76). When Meg compromised and agreed to take Amy with them, Jo determinately stated, "'If she goes, I shan't'" (77). As it appears in the book, Jo not only declined her sister's request to join them, she did it in a rude and unpleasant way; "Her
However, it is very clear that the aggressive and hasty part of her personality dominates her, "Jo had the least self-control, and had hard times trying to curb the fiery spirit which was continually getting her into trouble" (77-78). Jo is very aware to her actions and to the fact her behavior is sometimes wrong. She knows she should act better, but she just can't control her temper and impulsiveness, "Poor Jo tried desperately to be good, but her bosom enemy was always ready to flame up and defeat her, and it took years of patient effort to subdue it" (78). As a result to Jo's actions, Amy vindictively decided to burn Jo's book, which was her pride and joy. When Jo found out about the gruesome fate of her beloved book, she lost her temper and even responded physically, "Jo's hot temper mastered her, and she shook Amy till her teeth chattered in her head, crying in a passion of grief and anger" (79). In addition to the radical physical response, she also stated she will never forgive her sister as long as she lives, "'You wicked, wicked