Why Jo March is my comfort character

   Out of all the movies we've watched in our lives, we all have that one movie that made us go "I think my brain chemistry just changed". To me, it's the movie 'Little Women', 2019 version by Greta Gerwig. It's adapted from a classic English story by the author Louisa May Alcott that most of us grew up reading. It follows the story of four March sisters Meg, Jo, Amy & Beth who navigate the challenges of growing up during the Civil War in America. It's a story about the complexities of sisterhood, adulthood, love & ambition that left a lasting impression on me.

  As a girl, all the characters of the four sisters feel really relatable but Jo March's character hits a little too close to home for me. She's the tom-boyish second sister who's the heart & soul of the story. Her ambition & passion to be a writer, her fierce persona & the will to live her life the way she wants have empowered so many young women including myself. The 2019 adaption portrays Jo's character in a more feminist & modern way compared to older versions which has become the reason why I love her so much. Her passion for writing is both her strength & struggle as she tries to find her way up in the male-dominated field & a man-viewed world. 

  I loved the scene where she's trying to negotiate about the book she wrote with the publisher, where she wants to keep her female protagonist as an unmarried woman. But the publisher disagrees because, "girls want to see women getting married, not consistent......the right ending is the ending that sells!" to which Jo replies, "I suppose marriage has always been an economic proposition even in fiction...." and then it cuts to the scene of Jo chasing Professor Friedrich to confess her love. This entire scene was inspired by Alcott's personal experience with publishing Little Women, trying to keep Jo unmarried. Still, the publishing company disagrees with that, and that's why Jo ends up marrying Friedrich in the end. That parallel scene gives so much insight into the message that the movie is trying to convey.

  

  Jo constantly challenges the traditional gender roles that society has forced upon us. When Laurie, her best friend proposed to her she declined it, saying that she didn't see him as a romantic partner. She emphasizes she wants to chase her dreams & how much she values her liberty because, in that period, a woman getting married meant that she had to give up her whole identity. Plus, she knew she was not going to fit into Laurie's expectations of marriage. Even though Jo does get married to Friedrich in the end, she still pursues her goal of being a writer & opening a school for both girls and boys. 

  The most highlighted scene of Jo in this movie is the infamous monolog she delivered after Beth's funeral. Her writing career wasn't going well at that time and having to face her dearest sister's illness & death made her miserable & lonely. Feeling like she has no one to lean on, she starts regretting turning down Laurie even though she knows she doesn't love him. The moment where she desperately says "I'm so sick of people saying that love's just all a woman is fit for and I'm so sick of it.... but I'm so lonely" has touched many fans' hearts, and I think it's because the sentiment & the truth behind that statement applies even to this day as well.  

Saoirse Ronan, the actress did a great job capturing Jo's fiery determination, humor, and vulnerability, making her a relatable and inspiring figure for modern audiences. To me, Jo March remains a timeless figure, a character who inspires anyone striving to carve out their own path in the world, especially in the face of societal expectations.