Little Women: Part 2, Chapter 29 Summary & Analysis

Amy insists that Jo should go with her on a series of house calls one day. Jo is reluctant, but agrees to go along under the condition that Amy is in charge. “You shall be commander of the expedition, and I’ll obey blindly,” Jo says. Amy dresses Jo in a manner she sees fit (in clothes that Jo finds uncomfortable), and the two sweep out to make their visits.

Before they arrive at the Chesters’ house, Amy instructs Jo to be “calm, cool, quiet,” behaviors that are “safe and ladylike.” Jo agrees to do so, and remarks that she’ll rely on her acting experience in order to play the part.

At the Chesters’, Jo horrifies Amy by sitting in icy silence as their hosts try to make conversation with her. One of the Chesters remarks on how haughty Jo is as the sisters leave, and Amy is mortified.

Before they reach the Lambs’ house, Amy instructs Jo to be more sociable. “Gossip as other girls do,” she says. Jo agrees to do so, once again citing her acting abilities. When they reach the Lambs’ Amy is once again mortified by Jo’s behavior. Jo tells an outlandish story about how Amy learned how to ride a horse (a story that Amy fears will lead the Lambs to believe that Amy is a “fast” girl). Amy rushes Jo out of the Lambs’ house and chastises her for once again misunderstanding her instructions.

Amy gives up on Jo at the next house, bidding her to act however she likes. Jo is pleased, and when they arrive she begins chatting merrily with three boys. Amy remains in the house to chat with another guest, Mr. Tudor, who has aristocratic ties. After taking her leave, she exits the house to discover Jo sitting in the grass with the boys, her dress in ruins.

After they depart, Amy asks Jo why she paid no attention to Mr. Tudor, and yet was so kind to one of the boys, whose father owned a grocery store. Jo replies that she thinks Mr. Tudor “puts on airs, snubs his sisters, worries his father, and doesn’t speak respectfully to his mother.” The grocer’s son, on the other hand, “is a gentleman in spite of the brown paper parcels.”

For their final visit, the girls go to Aunt March’s house. Before they reach the house, the girls have a conversation about how poor women should behave toward men. Jo argues that she should be allowed to snub men like Mr. Tudor, given that her disdain might influence him to reform his behavior. Amy argues that poor women “should learn to be agreeable…for they have no other way of repaying the kindnesses they receive.”

It turns out the Aunt Carrol is visiting Aunt March. Aunt Carrol makes conversation with the girls about an upcoming fair to be held by the Chesters. Amy reveals that she’ll volunteer there, as a favor. Jo – riled up after her discussion with Amy, not to mention a day’s worth of house calls – is in a feisty mood, and declares to Aunt Carrol that she doesn’t like favors, given that they oppress her and make her feel like a slave. “I’d rather do everything myself, and be perfectly independent,” she adds. Aunt March exchanges a glance with Aunt Carrol, and it’s clear that they’ve made an important decision based on Jo’s saucy statements.