Little Women: Part 2, Chapter 30 Summary & Analysis

The day before the Chesters’ fair, as they set up the tables, Amy is snubbed by Mrs. Chester and her daughter May, because May is envious of Amy. Mrs. Chester has Amy change her station from the art table (for which Amy had prepared a number of beautiful handmade items) to the flower table (located near the back of the fair). Amy is hurt, and sweeps the artworks she had made for the fair off of the table. She resolves to be kind to the Chesters, regardless of her anger. “Because they are mean is no reason why I should be,” she tells Mrs. March. Her mother agrees that this is the right course of action.

The day of the fair, Amy spies an entry in an old book that she had been illuminating: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Amy realizes that she shouldn’t hold a grudge against the Chesters, and returns her artworks to the art table. Amy spends a long, disappointing day at the flower table – many of her flowers wilt, and she sells few things. After supper, however, the tide turns: Laurie sends in a new shipment of flowers from his conservatory, and brings a group of his college chums to the fair to buy Amy’s wares.

One week later, Amy is rewarded for her selfless, ladylike behavior. Aunt Carrol sends word that she wishes to take Amy with her on a trip to Europe. Jo is devastated – she was sure that Aunt Carrol would pick her. Mrs. March explains that Jo was passed over due to her “blunt manners and too independent spirit.”

Amy packs her things and leaves for Europe soon after. Before she leaves, Amy reminds Jo that this isn’t “a pleasure trip” for her, given that she hopes to seriously study art while in Rome. Laurie sees Amy off at the docks, and promises her that he will go to Europe and comfort her if anything bad should happen back home.