Little Women Podcast: Social Life In Victorian Times (and why Jo lost the trip to Europe)

In the chapter “Calls,” Amy and Jo decide to make some social calls, a common custom among well-bred young ladies of their time. Amy, who enjoys proper manners and society, convinces Jo to accompany her, even though Jo finds such formalities dull and pretentious. Throughout the afternoon, Amy’s social grace and tact contrast sharply with Jo’s blunt honesty and impatience with convention. Amy enjoys the ritual of polite society, while Jo realizes that she prefers sincerity and simplicity to artificial manners. Join Emily and Niina when they dissect chapter Calls, and talk about various things, such as Amy's fondness towards the aristocracy, Jo's difficulties in taking compliments and also the last part of the chapter, where we get the explanation why Jo did not get to go to Europe with Aunt March.