Depiction of Fatherhood in Little Women by Alcott and Treasure Island by Stevenson - Essay Example

? Depiction of Fatherhood in Little Women by Alcott and Treasure Island by Stevenson By of Institute Introduction: Little Women By Alcott and Treasure Island By Stevenson Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island are children narratives that one may use to analyze the role of fatherhood in different ways. One may notice that the narrations capture how the society perceived gender identity back in the 19th century. For instance, Little Women offers a progressive development on what it means to grow up in a family where the mother figure is the one taking charge. In fact, a further analysis also reveals on the role played by religious values in guiding families. Parenthood is depicted as a responsibility where both even the society comes in to assist as one may observe when Mr. Laurence steps in in the absence of Mr. March. Therefore, Little Women gives a detailed narrative of what it means to be a parent, not just a father. It also analyses the role of ethics and values in bringing up of children (Montgomery and Watson, 2009, p. 84). On the other hand, the fact that Jim’s father dies quite early in the book Treasure Island enables one to assess fatherhood from a different light. He loses his farther quite early and then ventures into piracy. Although he interacts with men of weird characters, the outstanding qualities of Dr. Livesey and Long John Silver (Stevenson, 2011, p. 45). One may observe that Silver combines the two attributes of what fathers usually are. There is the soft side of him and the strict side of him that makes him both approachable and repellant at the same time. Even when Jim later overhears a plot by Silver and other pirates, he only keeps his safe distance for fear of any possible consequence. Even so, his admiration for him remains. The two books, therefore, depict fatherhood in various ways. Even so, the authors narrate them in a fascinating manner for the targeted gender and age-group (Montgomery and Watson, 2009, p. 98). Depiction of Fatherhood in Little Women Alcott’s depiction of fatherhood in the novel Little Women can be observed to transcend generations. While she presents the model 19th century perceptions, she also captures contemporary trends. From the fact that Mr. March is significantly missing at home, Alcott depicts fatherhood as a role as a caretaker role that is becoming non-gender specific. He is supposed to be at home with the family as a loving and caring father. However, it is Mrs. March that actually assumes the primary roles of caretaker because her husband is not usually at home. She spends more time with the girls than the father does. Alcott portrays fatherhood as a role whose construction has changed with changing needs of the society. Mrs. March has to play a father’s role as well as her roles. By playing the roles that traditionally would have been her husband’s, the author depicts fatherhood as a role that is slowly moving away from being gender specific (Alcott, 2011, p. 104). In contrast to Mr. March, Alcott depicts fatherhood, through the person of Mr. James Laurence, as protective and caring. He analyzed how the fatherly nature in Mr. Laurence inspires him to protect Mr. March’s girls, even though he has a grandson. His protective and caring nature is also seen when he hands over to Beth his late daughters piano. From the fact that he is no quite in good books with his grandson whose character is questionable, one may also observe that Alcott depicts fatherhood as a role that cherishes and tries to ensure discipline in children. That is why Mr. Laurence comes to like Meg, who is so nicely behaved (Alcott, 2011, p. 29). Interestingly, Alcott uses male characters in the story to portray fatherhood as one that is seen to be about reinforcing and affirming stereotypes, traditional values, and beliefs about women. When Mr. March does return, his admiration and remarks about the work Meg does depicts fatherhood as a role that is used by males to perpetuate gender perceptions about women. He praises his daughter Meg for keeping the house impeccably clean and organised. He insinuates that she does the work so well because women are by default concerned with home care and have a way of maintaining homes much better compared to men (Alcott, 2011, p. 221). One may also see that Alcott intends to depict fatherhood as a role that is not solely responsible for the success of running a family with children. She portrays that determining family direction is a role that have slowly moved from being male-constructed to being an all-gender role. Fatherhood, therefore, is seen as expanded to include females in terms of providing family direction and inspiration. That is to say, that a family may still move on even in the absence of the father provided there is a responsible mother. Alcott portrays Mrs. March as capable of managing all the roles in the family single-handedly in the absence of Mr. March. The mother has to motivate the girls to work hard and respond to their concerns and needs amongst other things (Alcott, 2011, p. 28). Alcott also depicts fatherhood as a role that one embraces with kindness. Before the onset of the wanting situation in the family, Mr. March is indirectly presented as having bailed out a friend who eventually failed to pay him back. As a result, he plunged the family into a wanting financial position out of his kindness. He was less cautious and rushed to the aid of his friend with little calculation. This is unlike his wife who, when left to care for the home, takes calculated steps to ensure that Meg, Joe, Beth and Amy have all they need (Alcott, 2011, p. 84). Fatherhood is also depicted as patronizing. Laurie’s grandfather did not like his mother because Laurie’s dad had proceeded to marry her against his will. Alcott, therefore, depicts fatherhood as patronizing over their children. Depiction of Fatherhood in Treasure Island Depiction of fatherhood in the Treasure Island takes quite a complex turn. This is occasioned by the fact that one has to infer fatherhood from the characters whose interactions with their families the author fails to present directly, save for Jim and his father. Even so, Jim’s close interaction with Dr Livesey and Silver enables inferred analysis of depiction of fatherhood. At the beginning of the story, Stevenson depicts Jim’s father as a responsible father. He has managed to start a family business, the inn, to enable him provide for his family’s needs (Stevenson, 2011, p. 23). Stevenson’s Treasure Island depicts fatherhood as caring and loving. Jim’s father loved his family so much that he prepared them for future management of the inn when he would be gone. The fact that his wife and his son are able to run the affairs of the inn also point out that he must have trained and prepared them in anticipation for an eventual takeover. Therefore, one may notice that Treasure Island depicts fatherhood as caring, loving and future-minded (Stevenson, 2011, p. 23). Through the person of Dr Livesey, one may also observe that fatherhood is depicted in Treasure Island as compassionate and full of compromise. Under normal circumstances, one would not expect that Dr Livesey would actually agree to treat pirates whom he regards as his enemies. He attended to Billy Bones at the pirates’ ship and treated wounded pirates (Stevenson, 2011, p. 158). Fatherhood is also depicted as sociable and fascinating figures. Before Jim overheard Long John Silver and other pirates conspiring against one of their own, he had admired Long John Silver. He even managed to go for a walk with him along the beach as father as son would do. He loved him as a fascinating and strict man. One, therefore, can observe that Stevenson depicted fatherhood as a role that one should play sociably (Stevenson, 2011, p. 36). Comparing and Contrasting Treasure Island and Little Women Analysis of the two books indicates that they are examples of gendering of children’s fiction. Little Women focuses majorly on experiences of little girls growing up close to their mother, but in the absence of their father. Treasure Island focuses on adventures of a boy child in what appears to be a search for a father (Montgomery and Watson, 2009, p. 108). While Little Women appears to have significant elements of feminism, Treasure Island focuses its narration around male characters. Little Women portrays fatherhood as a responsibility that needs to be heavily complemented with a hardworking woman figure unlike in Stevenson’s work. In Treasure Island, Stevenson does not present fathers as weak figures that require the intervention of their wives. He presents fatherhood as strong and daring role through the lives of the pirates and Dr Livesey. Little Women also portrays fatherhood in an all-gender perspective. Alcott presents that duty and responsibility, rather than gender, defines fatherhood. One may see this when Mrs. March takes over all her husband’s roles such as providing for the family. She also acts as the head of the family in the absence of her husband. This is lacking in Treasure Island where Jim’s mother is not given any such roles. Both the novel Little Women and Treasure Island depict that fatherhood is a role that can be shared by responsible members of the community. The author presents the character Laurence in Little Women as a father to the girls. He provides them with protection in the absence of their father and ensures that the girls are safe. Stevenson also uses the Dr Livesey and Long John Silver as possible adults who take up fatherly roles in Jim’s life. They spend time with him and talk as father and son would do. Besides, the two novels also succeed in portraying that fatherhood is about providing care, love and security to the family. Prior to his death, Stevenson portrays Jim’s father as always with the family. Jim’s father cared for and loved his family. That is why he ventured in the business to provide for the family. Similarly, fatherhood in Little Women is portrayed as a role that comes with care and love. Although Mr. March is not at home more often, he is fond of his children when he comes back. Alcott presents him and Meg as having a pleasant time as he observes her do house chores. Most importantly, children are depicted in the two novels as caring for their parents. In Treasure Island, Jim stays with his sick father and tends to him while Jo’s love for her father is seen when she offers to sell her beautiful hair for $25 to help her sick father. Bibliography Alcott, L.M., 2011. Little Women. Oxford: Oxford World’s Classics. Stevenson, R.L., 2011. Treasure Island. Oxford: Oxford World’s Classics. Montgomery, H., and Watson, N., 2009. Children's Literature: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Read More