Patriotism, Military Service, and Gender in Little Women

Although it is not one of the primary themes of this novel, the idea of patriotism appears in the background, and it is portrayed in a positivism manner in this novel. Moreover, its depiction connects to the gender roles espoused by this novel, as men are depicted as fighting for their country and doing right by doing so while women provide domestic support to the war effort; furthermore, Jo’s desire to do her patriotic duty by fighting is an expression of her desire to transcend her gender role.

            In the novel, men are positively depicted as doing their duty to their nation and specifically fulfilling masculine gender roles when they go off to fight.  One example of this is the Father.  Although he is “too old to be drafted, and not strong enough for a soldier,” he goes to the front to serve as a chaplain anyways(Alcott 8). As the Father is depicted as a morally ideal man and he volunteers, it is clear that fighting for one’s country is a positive good in the moral universe of this novel, and indeed Meg states that “it was so splendid” that he did so(Alcott 8).  Moreover, the moral imperative involved in serving one’s country at the front is directly tied to masculinity by John Brooke’s case.  He, another fairly morally virtuous man, goes off to fight as his country needs him and, upon his turn, the novel’s narrator states that “John Brooke did his duty manfully for a year [and] got wounded”(Alcott 237). Thus, this type of service is connected to directly to a man’s role in society.

            In a similar manner, women are positively depicted as serving their country in a different manner in accordance with their gender roles, the succor of the men involved in fighting. This is exemplified by Mrs. March’s, the ideal and most moral woman, behavior. During the war, she gives “her skill and energy to Soldiers' Aid Societies” in order to aid those at the front(Alcott 38).  Similarly, later in the novel it is implied that she frequently visits “the hospitals and homes still full of wounded 'boys'” and presumably helps nurse there(Alcott 237).  Finally, she travels to Washington in order to nurse her ill, soldier, husband. Thus, she serves her country by doing her feminine duty to provide care to men.

            Finally, Jo’s desire to fight for her country is a manifestation of her status as a tomboy. The fact that she has such a desire is clear.  When she and her sisters are at Camp Lawrence, they play a game of croquet which pits Americans against English. The Americans contest “every inch of ground as strong as the spirit of ’76 inspired them,” and the person most involved in this active conflict in service of her nation is Jo(Alcott 124).  Additionally, earlier in the novel Jo wishes that she “could go as a drummer” to the front(Alcott 8).  The fact that this desire to serve at the front results from her transgression of gender norms is clear because the novel juxtapositions it with the distaste the womanlier Amy has of the idea.