Background Information/Vocabulary
- "marplot" (p. 382)--someone who interferes with (or "mars") a plan (or "plot")
- "autocrat" (p. 383)--a ruler who has complete control (or, in this case, anyone who demands complete control, as Demi is usually able to do with Meg)
- "kids" (p. 388)--this refers to Laurie's kid gloves (gloves made from the skin of a young goat, or "kid")
My Noticings:
- Marmee's advice to Meg, to involve John in taking care of the babies, is actually pretty progressive even today! (Think I'm exaggerating? Just ten years ago, Eddie Murphy starred in Daddy Day Care, a broad comedy that took as its premise the idea that men having to look after their children would lead to absurd results!)
- Sallie Moffatt seems to exist solely to notice what a nice life Meg is having, which is really turning her into a heartbreaking character!
Once again, we hear about Meg and Amy, but no Beth. (Well, her chapter is coming up, so look out. It's rough.) In the meantime, though, Amy and Laurie are a study in contrasts. While I've never found chapter 39 to be one of the more exciting chapters in the novel, I can see how important it is to both of these characters (particularly Laurie.)
Question for readers:
What do you think the "solitary scarlet flower that grew just beyond [Laurie's] reach" and the lower-down, thornless "tiny cream-colored ones" that Amy puts in Laurie's buttonhole symbolize?
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