Little Women: Part 1, Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

For the first week after their mother leaves, the March girls are exceedingly virtuous and industrious. After that, however, they become more lax in their efforts. Jo catches a cold and thereby gets a holiday from Aunt March, Amy drops her housework in order to play with clay, and Meg forgets her sewing in lieu of writing letters to Marmee. Beth, however, continues to be industrious (although she does grieve).

Beth goes to Meg and asks her to see the Hummels, as their baby is sick. Meg feigns fatigue and continues sewing. Beth then asks Jo if she’ll go, but Jo uses her cold as an excuse not to go (even though she’d been well enough to see Laurie earlier). Beth implores them to go – she would do it herself, but her head aches and she feels tired. Jo and Meg suggest that Beth send Amy to do it. Amy is away, and Beth waits an hour for her with no luck. Beth decides to take it upon herself to go to the Hummels.

Beth arrives quite late, and no one notices her hide away in her mother’s room after she comes home. When Jo finds her, it’s apparent that Beth is ill. Beth informs Jo that the Hummels’ baby has died of scarlet fever, and Beth fears that she’s caught it. Jo chastises herself for letting Beth go to the Hummels’ every day that week. Hannah is alerted to Beth’s illness, Jo resolves to be Beth’s primary nurse, and Amy (after some coaxing from Laurie, who promises to visit her every day) is made to stay with Aunt March in order to avoid getting sick.

Laurie and Meg wonder if Mrs. March should be told of Beth’s illness. Hannah (who has experience with scarlet fever) has told the children that she thinks Beth won’t be too sick, and that it would be more harm than good to tell Mrs. March about Beth’s sickness. They decide to wait and ask Mr. Laurence for his opinion. Jo and Laurie take a reluctant Amy to Aunt March’s house.