Love Defies Logic

            The idea of love is a topic that has been contemplated by humans for generations, due to its ability to seemingly defy all logic and sense of reasoning.  In a world where critical thinking and logic seem to dictate the majority of our decisions, the concept of love truly remains an inexplicably anomaly.  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott reinforces the idea that love is a mystery which clouds a person’s reasonable intuition. The most prominent example of this ideology in the novel surfaces through Jo’s romantic experiences.  For much of the novel, Jo disregards the idea of love and marriage, instead resorting to reading and writing, a hobby that constitutes the majority of her free time.  Nonetheless, Laurie develops a romantic interest for her and begins to pursue her hand in marriage as the novel progresses.  Despite the obvious symmetry between the two characters, due to their likeminded nature of creativity and resistance to societal norms, Jo refuses to marry Laurie.  In fact, Jo even proclaims, in regard to her romantic feelings for Laurie, “‘No, I can’t. I’ve tried and failed, and I won’t risk our happiness by such a serious experiment’” (364).   Despite all logic, Jo cannot seem to bring herself to fully love Laurie, reinforcing the idea that a suitable romantic partner cannot be determined by reason, but rather by inexplicable desires.  Regardless, for centuries, readers of Alcott’s Little Women have scoffed at Jo’s decision to reject Laurie, given their similarities and obvious overlap in personality.  Nonetheless, Alcott’s decision to separate Laurie and Jo is a thematic representation of the mysterious nature of romance.

            Later in the novel, Jo once again finds herself in a possibly romantic situation, this time with a seemingly incongruous partner, Frederick Bhaer. When the two had first met at the boarding house, Jo felt no romantic attraction to Mr. Bhaer, although she did enjoy his company and applauded his literary prowess and knowledge. For example, during her earlier conversation with Laurie, she declared, “‘I want to be kind, but I know I shall get angry if you abuse my Professor. I haven’t the least idea of loving him or anybody else’” (363).  Despite these claims, Jo eventually begins to find herself longing for the company of Frederick.  Her reasoning and calculating mind attempts to disregard these feelings of intimacy, as they contradict her ambition to die a content maid. Alcott describes Jo’s predicament with the statement, “She was mortally afraid of being laughed at for surrendering, after her many and vehement declarations of independence” (467). Despite Jo’s best attempts to abolish her attraction to Mr. Bhaer, she eventually accepts his proposal, a decision that brings her remarkable joy and contentedness.  Although Jo was unable to explain her newfound love for Mr. Bhaer through any sort of rationale, the decision ultimately illustrates the enigmatic nature of love, one which defies all logical reasoning, yet results in a compulsory sense of desire for another person.