Summary
Jo's Secret Writing Success
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Jo secretly submits two stories to a newspaper, nervously visiting the editor's office while Laurie worries about her from across the street. When they meet afterward, both are keeping secrets—Jo about her writing, Laurie about knowing where Meg's lost glove is (hint: it's in someone's pocket, suggesting romance). Their conversation reveals deeper concerns: Jo worries about Laurie's character as he grows up wealthy, while he reassures her he won't become like other spoiled rich boys. When Jo finally reveals her secret, Laurie celebrates her achievement, but his secret about Meg disturbs Jo—she's not ready for her sister to fall in love and potentially leave the family. Later, Jo's published story 'The Rival Painters' appears in the Spread Eagle newspaper. She reads it aloud to her sisters without revealing she wrote it, then dramatically announces her authorship. The family erupts in celebration, proud of Jo's first step toward literary independence. This moment represents Jo's emergence as a serious writer and her first taste of the financial independence she craves. However, the chapter also foreshadows changes ahead—Laurie's secret about Meg suggests romantic developments that will challenge the March sisters' tight-knit bond. Jo's success comes with the bittersweet realization that growing up means both achieving dreams and potentially losing the security of childhood relationships.
Coming Up in Chapter 15
A telegram arrives that will shake the March household to its core, bringing news that changes everything for the family and tests their strength in ways they never imagined.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
HAPTER FOURTEEN SECRETS Jo was very busy in the garret, for the October days began to grow chilly, and the afternoons were short. For two or three hours the sun lay warmly in the high window, showing Jo seated on the old sofa, writing busily, with her papers spread out upon a trunk before her, while Scrabble, the pet rat, promenaded the beams overhead, accompanied by his oldest son, a fine young fellow, who was evidently very proud of his whiskers. Quite absorbed in her work, Jo scribbled away till the last page was filled, when she signed her name with a flourish and threw down her pen, exclaiming... “There, I’ve done my best! If this won’t suit I shall have to wait till I can do better.” Lying back on the sofa, she read the manuscript carefully through, making dashes here and there, and putting in many exclamation points, which looked like little balloons. Then she tied it up with a smart red ribbon, and sat a minute looking at it with a sober, wistful expression, which plainly showed how earnest her work had been. Jo’s desk up here was an old tin kitchen which hung against the wall. In it she kept her papers, and a few books, safely shut away from Scrabble, who, being likewise of a literary turn, was fond of making a circulating library of such books as were left in his way by eating the leaves. From this tin receptacle Jo produced another manuscript, and putting both in her pocket, crept quietly downstairs, leaving her friends to nibble on her pens and taste her ink. She put on her hat and jacket as noiselessly as possible, and going to the back entry window, got out upon the roof of a low porch, swung herself down to the grassy bank, and took a roundabout way to the road. Once there, she composed herself, hailed a passing omnibus, and rolled away to town, looking very merry and mysterious. If anyone had been watching her, he would have thought her movements decidedly peculiar, for on alighting, she went off at a great pace till she reached a certain number in a certain busy street. Having found the place with some difficulty, she went into the doorway, looked up the dirty stairs, and after standing stock still a minute, suddenly dived into the street and walked away as rapidly as she came. This maneuver she repeated several times, to the great amusement of a black-eyed young gentleman lounging in the window of a building opposite. On returning for the third time, Jo gave herself a shake, pulled her hat over her eyes, and walked up the stairs, looking as if she were going to have all her teeth out. There was a dentist’s sign, among others, which adorned the entrance, and after staring a moment at the pair of artificial jaws which slowly opened and shut to draw attention to a fine set of teeth, the young gentleman...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Secret Success - When Achievement Requires Hidden Preparation
Protecting vulnerable goals through private development before public revelation increases chances of achievement.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to protect fragile goals from premature judgment while building competence in private.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you feel pressure to announce new goals immediately—instead, ask yourself what you need to prove to yourself first before seeking external validation.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Garret
A small room or space at the top of a house, usually under the roof. Often cold and cramped, garrets were traditionally where poor artists and writers worked because the rent was cheap.
Modern Usage:
Today we might call this 'the spare bedroom office' or 'writing in your car during lunch break' - finding whatever quiet space you can to pursue your creative work.
Manuscript
A handwritten or typed document before it's published. In Jo's time, writers had to copy everything by hand with pen and ink, making each submission a major investment of time and effort.
Modern Usage:
Like sending your resume or college application - you put everything into it, then wait nervously to see if someone thinks it's good enough.
Circulating library
A subscription library where people paid fees to borrow books, since most couldn't afford to buy them. This was how middle-class families accessed reading material before public libraries were common.
Modern Usage:
Similar to Netflix or Spotify subscriptions today - paying for access to content you can't afford to own outright.
Literary independence
The ability to support yourself through writing, giving you freedom from depending on family or marriage for financial security. For women in the 1800s, this was revolutionary.
Modern Usage:
Like any side hustle that might become your main income - freelancing, selling crafts online, or building a social media following that pays the bills.
Pseudonym
A fake name writers use to publish their work. Women often used male names to be taken seriously, or to hide their identity from disapproving family members.
Modern Usage:
Like having a professional email address or LinkedIn profile that's more formal than your personal social media - presenting yourself differently for different audiences.
Submission anxiety
The nervous fear writers feel when sending their work to editors or publishers, knowing they might face rejection. Jo experiences this when visiting the newspaper office.
Modern Usage:
The same feeling you get waiting to hear back after a job interview, or posting something personal online and wondering how people will react.
Characters in This Chapter
Jo March
Protagonist pursuing her dreams
She secretly submits stories to a newspaper and gets her first publication. This chapter shows her taking concrete steps toward her writing career while struggling with fears about her family changing.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who's always working on a creative project after her day job, dreaming of making it her career
Laurie
Supportive friend with secrets
He watches over Jo protectively when she visits the editor, celebrates her success, but also reveals he knows about Meg's romantic interest. He represents both loyalty and the changes coming to their group.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who's always got your back but sometimes knows things about your family that make you uncomfortable
Meg March
Absent but significant presence
Though not physically present, she's central to the chapter through Laurie's secret about her lost glove and budding romance. She represents the threat of family dissolution that Jo fears.
Modern Equivalent:
The family member whose love life becomes everyone's business and changes family dynamics
Scrabble
Comic relief and companion
Jo's pet rat who 'reads' by eating book pages. He provides humor and shows Jo's unconventional nature - most proper young ladies wouldn't have rats as pets.
Modern Equivalent:
The quirky pet that reflects your personality and gives you someone to talk to when you're working alone
Key Quotes & Analysis
"There, I've done my best! If this won't suit I shall have to wait till I can do better."
Context: After finishing her manuscript and preparing to submit it
This shows Jo's practical attitude toward rejection and improvement. She's not expecting instant success but is willing to keep working until she gets it right. It reveals her determination and realistic expectations.
In Today's Words:
Well, I gave it my best shot. If they don't want it, I'll just have to level up and try again.
"I do think you are the dearest, loveliest girl in the world, and I wish I could do something splendid to prove it."
Context: When celebrating Jo's success and expressing his admiration for her
This reveals Laurie's deep affection for Jo and his desire to support her dreams. It also hints at romantic feelings that will complicate their friendship later in the story.
In Today's Words:
You're absolutely amazing and I want to do something awesome to show you how much I believe in you.
"She did feel proud and happy, but there was a little pang mixed with her satisfaction."
Context: Describing Jo's feelings about her success mixed with concerns about family changes
This captures the bittersweet nature of growing up - achieving your dreams while realizing that success brings changes and potential losses. Jo wants independence but fears losing her family closeness.
In Today's Words:
She was excited about her win, but part of her was worried about what it might mean for everything else.
Thematic Threads
Independence
In This Chapter
Jo achieves financial independence through her writing, earning money from her own talent rather than depending on family
Development
Evolution from Jo's earlier rebellions—now she channels defiance into productive achievement
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you want to prove you can succeed on your own terms, not just follow expected paths
Secrets
In This Chapter
Both Jo and Laurie keep secrets—Jo about her writing success, Laurie about Meg's romantic situation
Development
Introduced here as characters develop private lives separate from family unity
In Your Life:
You might see this when you start having experiences or goals that feel too personal or fragile to share immediately
Change
In This Chapter
Jo's success marks growing up, while Laurie's hint about Meg signals romantic changes that threaten family stability
Development
Building on earlier themes of growing apart—now with concrete evidence of individual paths
In Your Life:
You might feel this tension when your achievements or relationships start pulling you away from familiar support systems
Recognition
In This Chapter
Jo craves acknowledgment for her talent and finally receives it through publication and family celebration
Development
Continuation of Jo's need to be seen for who she is, not who others expect her to be
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you need validation for parts of yourself that others don't usually notice or value
Class
In This Chapter
Jo worries about Laurie's character as he grows up wealthy, fearing privilege will corrupt him
Development
Deepening exploration of how economic differences affect relationships and character
In Your Life:
You might see this when you worry about how money or status changes people you care about
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Jo keep her writing submissions secret from her family, even though they've always supported her dreams?
analysis • surface - 2
What does Jo's reaction to Laurie's secret about Meg reveal about her fears regarding family changes?
analysis • medium - 3
When have you seen people in your life work on goals privately before announcing them publicly? What happened when they finally shared?
application • medium - 4
If you were starting something important but uncertain, how would you decide who to tell and when to tell them?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the relationship between independence and family loyalty? Can you have both?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Secret Development Zone
Think of something you're working toward or considering—a skill, goal, or change in your life. Create a simple timeline showing: (1) your private preparation phase, (2) your first small reveal to trusted people, and (3) your public announcement moment. Consider what you need to accomplish in each phase before moving to the next.
Consider:
- •Who are the people you trust with fragile dreams versus those who need proof first?
- •What would constitute enough progress to feel confident sharing publicly?
- •How might premature announcement help or hurt your motivation and progress?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you announced a goal too early or kept one secret too long. What did you learn about timing and who deserves to be in your inner circle during vulnerable growth periods?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 15: Crisis Brings Out True Character
A telegram arrives that will shake the March household to its core, bringing news that changes everything for the family and tests their strength in ways they never imagined.
