Why a "funny match?"
Posted by Stolzi on June 13, 1998 at 10:09:06:
In response to Jo and Laurie, written by Tamee on June 10, 1998 at 14:26:59
...ends up working out splendidly, and that Prof. Bhaer far from being a funny match ends up being the perfect one.
I think you put it perfectly. Except that I believe LMA meant, by a "funny match," that Prof. Bhaer was rather comical in some of his actions and "ordinary" in appearance, not the "dashing" hero that readers of novels would expect. But you see, she knows that he is good all through, under his plain exterior, and in LW goodness counts for a great deal.
I was very irritated by the recent movie (Winona Ryder et al) which turned him into a fairly dashing hero. Yes, I too was disappointed in early years when Laurie didn't get Jo, but became reconciled in progressive readings -- I can still get teary over Jo's poem which Prof. Bhaer finds and reads, expressing her loneliness, and over the final courtship scene "under the old umbrella."
Posting followups to old messages is disabled; instead go to the main index and post a new message which mentions this one.
