Two of my favorite fiery female characters. First, both characters maintain their protective and caring natures. Jo’s protectiveness is immediately seen in the opening of the novel when it is discovered that her father is at war; therefore, her sisters and their mother are forced to support one another. Jo steps up and takes the responsibility to care for her family and says, “‘I’m the man of the family now papa is away’” (Alcott 7). Jo is automatic in her effort to provide for her family. When Jo earns money for her writing for the first time, instead of spending the money on herself, Jo decides she wants to “‘send Beth and Mother to the sea-side for a month or two’” (Alcott 422). Jo’s impulse to put her family first is seen in her simple acts of kindness, as well as her self-sacrificing actions. One of Jo’s most admirable moments is when she decides to cut and sell her hair in exchange for money to support her family. When her family asks in amazement why she cut her hair Jo admits, “‘Well, I was wild to do something for father…I hate to borrow’” (Alcott 255). Her resolution to provide for her family is seen by her sacrifice of cutting her hair.
Jo’s determination to maintain her family’s safety and health is especially seen with her relationship with her youngest sister, Beth. When Beth becomes ill, Jo takes care of her in any way she can and “never stirred from Beth’s side” (Alcott 288). Jo’s devotion to her sister is even more prominent when Beth’s death is near. Not only does Jo spend all her time comforting Beth, but she also makes a promise to her sister that forces her to sacrifice her passion for writing. When Beth asks Jo to take care of their parents and give up writing Jo says, “‘I’ll try, Beth’; and then and there Jo renounced her old ambition, pledged herself to a new and better one, acknowledging the poverty of other desires, and feeling the blessed solace of a belief in the immortality of love” (Alcott 662). Jo’s protectiveness over Beth allows her to attempt to be a better version of herself and to halt her wants in order to satisfy her family member’s wishes. Despite Jo’s prominent outspoken nature, her caring nature shines through just as much, if not more.
Similarly, Katniss also has a protective nature, especially with her family. Just like Jo, Katniss takes it upon herself to be the “man” of the house when her father passes away, taking care of her mother and her sister, Primrose. Katniss says, “At eleven years old, with Prim just seven, I took over as head of the family. There was no choice. I bought our food at the market and cooked it as best I could and tried to keep Prim and myself looking presentable” (Collins 27). Katniss also supports her family by assuming “a role most often reserved for men: that of protector and provider” by hunting illegally in the woods, putting herself in danger “in order to keep her mother, her younger sister, Prim, and herself alive” (Day, et. al. 38). Also, similar to Jo, Katniss’s protectiveness is most apparent when taking care of her younger sister. Katniss’s most admirable moment is when she volunteers as tribute in the Hunger Games on reaping day taking her sister’s place. Katniss knows her willingness to protect her sister is not something every family would do when she admits, “Family devotion only goes so far for most people on reaping day. What I did was the radical thing” (Collins 26). Katniss takes cares of her family, but she is also willing to sacrifice her life for her family. Then even after she volunteers for his sister, throughout competing in the Hunger Games, it is the thought of Prim that keeps Katniss motivated: “As usual, it’s the thought of Prim’s anxious face as she watches me on the screens back home that breaks me from my lethargy” (Collins 240). Katniss’s sole focus throughout the novel is keeping Prim safe and trying to shield her from the horrors of their world.
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She also protects Rue, another competitor in the Hunger Games, because she reminds Katniss of her sister (Collins 201). Katniss attempts to save Rue while competing, but even in Rue’s last moments, Katniss’s kindheartedness is clear when Rue asks her to sing to her. Katniss expresses, “Sing. My throat is tight with tears, hoarse from smoke and fatigue. But if this is Prim’s, I mean, Rue’s last request, I have to at least try” (Collins 234). Rue’s resemblance to Prim is what allows Katniss to set aside her pain and fulfill Rue’s final request. Katniss’s caring nature is what motivates her to persevere through her life struggles. Jeannine Atkins emphasizes the effect on Jo and Katniss when someone they love dies as “Jo takes the death of her sister Beth as inspiration to be a better person. For Katniss, the death of Rue renews her resolve to survive” (28). Both Jo and Katniss are genuine in their care for their family and close friends and as Jo says, “Only it’s easier for me to risk my life for a person than to be pleasant to them when I don’t feel like it” (Alcott 466). Katniss already proves her willingness to risk her life for those she cares about, but just like Jo she shows her genuineness by noting that she deeply cares for certain people and doesn’t fake kindness to others. Katniss confesses, “Okay, maybe I don't go around loving everybody I meet, maybe my smiles are hard to come by, but I do care for some people” (Collins 122). Jo’s and Katniss’s protectiveness saves and inspires those around them, but their empathy towards those they love, in turn, saves them as well, giving them purpose in their lives.
Another trait that remains consistent in Jo and Katniss is their determination to be independent. Throughout both of the novels Jo and Katniss attempt to be financially independent, having an aversion to favors or debts. Jo’s sister, Amy, acknowledges Jo’s clear desire for independence when she says, “You can go through the world with your elbows out and your nose in the air, and call it independence, if you like” (Alcott 408). Although this phrase can be perceived as describing Jo as snobbish, Jo merely cares about her pride and being responsible for herself. When having an argument with her Aunt, Jo says, “I don’t like favors; they oppress and make me feel like a slave; I’d rather do everything for myself, and be perfectly independent” (Alcott 469). Jo’s actions reflects what she says, utilizing her writing and teaching skills in order to make her own living.
Similarly, Katniss also has a strong will to maintain her independence. Katniss’s desire for independence is seen in her interactions with Peeta, a boy in her district. When Katniss’s family was starving, Peeta threw a burnt piece of bread to her, knowing he would get in trouble by his mother. Katniss admits, “I feel like I owe him something, and I hate owing people” (Collins 32). Katniss would rather solve and deal with her own problems than have others help her or take pity on her. Even though Katniss’s only interaction with Peeta, when he throws her the bread, was years ago, she still feels a debt to him that she wants to repay. Katniss’s frustration with owing Peeta is apparent when she says to him, “‘It’s like the bread. How I never seem to get over owing you for that’” (Collins 293). Peeta is incredulous at Katniss’s confession, as she had just saved Peeta’s life. Katniss’s determination to maintain her independence is also seen when she thinks of the possibility of winning the Hunger Games, which would result in living a life free of financial burdens. Katniss reveals, “For the first time, I allow myself to truly think about the possibility that I might make it home. To fame. To wealth. To my own house in the Victor’s Village. My mother and Prim would live there with me. No more hunger. A new kind of freedom. But then…what? What would my life be like on a daily basis?” (Collins 310-311). As someone who grew up in poverty, living life in ease should comfort Katniss. Instead, her independence feels threatened and she becomes apprehensive about what her life would become if she is not the one supporting and feeding her family.
These two traits of being protective and independent remain consistent for both Katniss and Jo. Despite these two traits, these characters have a lot of development within the novels. The two characters go from being bold and rebellious against social constraints to being forced to be more subdued and aligning with societal norms. They also gain more confidence by the end of the novel, starting as awkward and uncomfortable to being self-assured. One of the biggest changes is their view on romance and love, which starts off as nonexistent to playing a major role in their lives.
Jo begins the novel extremely outspoken and daring. She has an aversion to any type of girl stereotype. Her disliking to anything considered feminine is made apparent within the first few pages of the novel when Jo says, “‘It’s bad enough to be a girl, any-way, when I like boys’ games, and work, and manners. I can’t get over my disappointment in not being a boy, and it’s worse than ever now, for I’m dying to go fight with papa, and I can only stay at home and knit like a poky old woman’” (Alcott 4-5). Jo’s character is quickly developed into someone who is tomboyish, breaking the typical stereotypes for women. Jo constantly rebels against social constraints, noting that she doesn’t care what other people say about her (Alcott 37). She questions the norms of society, especially in regards to social conventions. When traveling to different social gatherings with Amy, Jo is rebuked for being rude to a wealthier man. Jo, who believes in authenticity, disagrees with this societal constraint and states, “‘So we are to countenance things and people which we detest, merely because we are not belles and millionaires, are we? That’s a nice sort of morality” (Alcott 467). Jo’s bold personality is made clear by her being outspoken about her beliefs, which are the opposite of the social norms.
Jo also proves she is daring through her numerous actions. Her boldness is shown multiple times with her friend, Laurie. Jo initiates the friendship to her neighbor, Laurie, and even tell Laurie’s grandfather that she believes Laurie seems lonely (Alcott 72). Jo is the first to decide to go over to Laurie’s house, because “the idea amused Jo, who liked to do daring things” (Alcott 72). Boldly admitting to Laurie’s grandfather that she thinks Laurie is lonely is not the only time Jo speaks her mind to him. When Laurie and his grandfather get into a disagreement, Jo says, “‘I’m not afraid of either of them,” and talks freely to both of them settling the fight between them (Alcott 331). At the start of the novel, Jo is not afraid to speak her mind and rebel against the stereotypes of her gender. Jo also proves her boldness by her determination to be a writer. When submitting her writing to a press Jo demonstrates her brave actions: “She reposed a while after her first attempt, which resulted in a tumble…But the ‘up again and take another’ spirit was as strong in Jo as in Jack [an allusion to Jack and the Beanstalk]; so she scrambled up on the shady side” (Alcott 548). Even though Jo is uneducated and a woman she demonstrates how daring she is with her determination to get her writing published, even after
a failure.
Katniss also proves that she has a disdain for her society’s constraints and that she has the same daring attitude as Jo. Jo’s and Katniss’s isolation in society is similar as “Katniss Everdeen is as smart, sharp-tongued, strong-legged, and gray-eyed as Jo March. Like Jo, Katniss feels at odds with society” (Atkins 28). Katniss being “at odds with society” is demonstrated when her mentor, Haymitch, is attempting to train her for the interview that she must take part in before she enters the Games. Katniss’s fury at her society’s system is made apparent when she says, “All I can think is how unjust the whole thing is, the Hunger Games. Why am I hopping around like some trained dog trying to please people I hate?” (Collins 117). Like Jo, Katniss questions her society and values authenticity rather than attempting to force people to like her.
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Katniss’s questioning of society is also shown when she tries to rebel against the constraints of the Hunger Games. When Katniss’s first ally in the Games, Rue, dies Katniss decides she wants to show her anger at her government, the Capitol, who created the Hunger Games. Katniss’s rebellion is shown when she says, “I want to do something, right here, right now, to shame them, to make them accountable, to show the Capitol that whatever they do or force us to do there is a part of every tribute they can’t own. That Rue was more than a piece in their Games. And so am I” (Collins 236-237). Katniss then cleans Rue’s body and decorates her with flowers, which is her “first conscious act of rebellion” and “is significant because it demonstrates her growing sense of subjectivity, as she covers Rue with flowers both to memorialize Rue and to assert her own sense of self” (Day et al. 39). Her powerful determination to break her society’s conventions is a part of the reason Katniss, like Jo, is so admired. She stays true to her beliefs and after Rue’s death, she decides to act on them.
Katniss is also daring like Jo and her bold moments are also usually connected to her rebellion against the Capitol. Before Katniss enters the game she must demonstrate her abilities to the judges, known as the Gamemakers, so they could score her. When it is her chance to perform her skills to the Gamemakers, they hardly pay attention to Katniss, distracted by a feast, prompting her daring action: “Suddenly I am furious, that with my life on the line, they [gamemakers] don't even have the decency to pay attention to me…My heart starts to pound, I can feel my face burning. Without thinking, I pull an arrow from my quiver and send it straight to the Gamemakers’ table” (Collins 101-102). Although Katniss was aiming for the food and not at the Gamemakers, her bold actions of reproaching the Gamemakers for not taking her seriously demonstrate her bravery. Katniss’s rebellious actions continue until the end of the Hunger Games and are what ultimately allow Katniss and Peeta to win the Games.
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After the Gamemakers revoke the new rule that two tributes from the same district can win the Games, when it is only Peeta and Katniss left, Katniss shows her courageous attitude once again. She declares, “Yes, they [the capitol] have to have a victor. Without a victor, the whole thing would blow up in the Gamemakers' faces. They’d have failed the Capitol” (Collins 344). After this thought, Katniss and Peeta pretend to eat poisonous berries, faking suicide, so the Gamemakers would announce them both as winners of the Games since “they have to have a victor”. Katniss makes a deliberate decision to save her and Peeta and take action against the Capitol, because “the moment Katniss understands that a victor is essential to the Game’s purpose, that without a victor the Games no longer have the ability to control the tributes and Panem’s citizens, she believes she may be able to protect Peeta and herself by committing suicide” (Day et al. 40). It is clear her rebellious actions are noted by the Capitol when Haymitch tells her, “‘You’re in trouble. Word is the Capitol’s furious about you showing them up in the arena. The one thing they can’t stand is being laughed at and they’re the joke of Panem” (Collins 356-357). Katniss proves again and again how brave she is by rebelling against her society’s conventions, even if this bravery is risking her own safety.
Another way in which Katniss and Jo change is their view on romantic relationships. At the start of their novels, both female characters resent marriage and have an aversion to romantic love. Jo confesses, “‘I don’t believe I shall ever marry; I’m happy as I am, and love my liberty too well to be in any hurry to give it up for any mortal man’” (Alcott 578-579). Jo emphasizes her “liberty” in this, denying any possibility of giving up her liberty for a man. Jo also admits that she knows nothing about love and has no experience with it besides with family and close friends when she says, “I don’t know anything about love and such nonsense” (Alcott 317). Katniss also has a similar denial of marriage and cluelessness when it comes to love. Katniss says, “I know I’ll never marry” (Collins 311). Just like Jo, Katniss is confident that she will not marry, because “she is not…‘boy crazy’ nor is she interested in marriage or motherhood” (Day et al. 37). Katniss also demonstrates her inexperience with love, when she is forced to pretend to be in love with Peeta for his survival in the Games. Katniss’s uncertainty at her ability to convey love is shown when she notes, “Never having been in love, this is going to be a real trick” (Collins 261). Both characters initially demonstrate that they have no association with romantic love.
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Despite Katniss’s and Jo’s aversion to romantic love, they both have a strong relationship with a male in their lives. Jo has Laurie in her life and Katniss has Gale. Both sets of characters grow up together, but Jo and Katniss do not acknowledge a romance. Talking about Laurie, Jo says, “‘I love the dear boy as I always have, and am immensely proud of him; but as for anything more, it’s out of the question’” (Alcott 521). Jo eventually rejects Laurie, but is able to keep their friendship. Likewise, Katniss acknowledges the lack of romance between her and Gale and proclaims, “There’s never been anything romantic between Gale and me” (Collins 10). Unlike Jo, Katniss eventually does have mixed feelings with Gale, uncertain of whether she loves Peeta or Gale. When Katniss is pretending to show affection for Peeta to gain favor from the audience, she wonders how Gale feels about her: “I wonder what Gale made of the incident for a moment and then I push the whole thing out of my mind because for some reason Gale and Peeta do not coexist well together in my thoughts” (Collins 197). In the end, however, Katniss chooses Peeta over Gale. The first men in Katniss’s and Jo’s lives are able to spark their questioning about love, as they recognize the difference between friendship and romantic love.
Although both characters constantly deny and avert romantic love, Katniss and Jo both get married. At first, Jo doubts her love for Fredrick Bhaer, a professor she meets. She then attempts to deny her feelings when she notes, “Mr. Bhaer was going away; he only cared for her as a friend, it was all a mistake, and the sooner it was over the better” (Alcott 748). Jo initially thought she was wrong that the professor loves her, but ultimately both of their romantic feelings are uncovered and they get married. Upon confessing their feelings for each other, Jo’s love of Mr. Bhaer is clearly seen when she “trudged beside him, feeling as if her place had always been there, and wondering how she ever could have chose any other lot” (Alcott 751). Jo falls completely in love, even after expressing that she would never marry. Jo herself admits that “she was mortally afraid of being laughed at for surrendering, after her many and vehement declarations of independence” (Alcott 739). Although Jo has an initial disregard for love and doubts her first true feelings of love, she ends the novel with a loving husband and family.
Similarly, Katniss also initially doubts Peeta’s love for her and is uncertain about her own feelings about him. When Peeta is telling her about the moment he knew he was in love with her Katniss debates whether to believe him: “For a moment, I’m almost foolishly happy and then confusion sweeps over me. Because we’re supposed to be making up this stuff, playing at being in love, not actually being in love. But Peeta’s story had a ring of truth to it…So, if those details are true…could it all be true?” (Collins 301). Katniss is extremely wary of Peeta’s affection and finds it difficult to believe that someone could be in love with her. Not only does Katniss question Peeta’s feelings, but she also questions her own. During the Hunger Games, Peeta forces Katniss to “consider the true nature of romantic love for the first time” (Dunn and Michaud 134). Before Katniss is about to return home to District 12 she expresses her confusion about her feelings for Peeta. She says, “I haven’t begun to separate out my feelings about Peeta. It’s too complicated” (Collins 358). Katniss doesn’t know whether her actions with Peeta were about surviving the Games or if she truly loves him.
At the end of the first novel, she doesn’t know whether she loves Gale or Peeta. At the end of the series, however, Katniss realizes that Peeta’s love for her is genuine and like Jo and Laurie, Katniss understands that she and Gale are better off as friends. Katniss confesses, “What I need to survive is not Gale’s fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that” (Collins, “Mockingjay”, 388). Katniss recognizes that Gale is too similar to herself, while Peeta provides her with the support and comfort that she is used to providing for everyone else. Just as Jo notes about Laurie, “‘You and I are not suited to each other, because our quick tempers and strong wills would probably make us very miserable” (Alcott 577). Whereas Mr. Bhaer supports Jo and follows her dream of educating poor boys, where “three times a day, Jo smiled at her Fritz” (Alcott 768). Both Jo and Katniss initially deny romantic love in their lives, but both stories end with a happy supportive relationship, where they do not lose their independence after the female protagonists discover the romantic partners they need.
Works Cited
Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women. Puffin Books, 2014.
Atkins, Jeannine. “Saving Sisters: Little Women, The Hunger Games, and Frozen.” Horn
Book Magazine, vol. 92, no. 6, Nov. 2016, pp. 27–31. EBSCOhost,
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Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic Inc., 2009.
Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. Scholastic Press, 2010.
Day, Sara K. , Miranda A. Green-Barteet and Amy L. Montz, editors. “Introduction.”
Female Rebellion in Young Adult Dystopian Fiction. Routledge, Taylor & Francis
Group, 2016, pp. 1-14.
“Gallery:The Hunger Games (Film).” The Hunger Games Wiki,
https://thehungergames.fandom.com/wiki/Gallery:The_Hunger_Games_(film).
“‘Little Women’ (2019) Photo Gallery.” SCW1842,
https://scw1842.livejournal.com/616974.html.