SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERCEPTIONS OF JO MARCH'S CHARACTER: AN ANALYSIS THROUGH THE LENS OF MEN AND WOMEN IN PAKISTANI SOCIETY

Abstract

This article analyzes the character of "Jo March" from the novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for a research study, set in the 19th century during the American Civil War. The story revolves around four March sisters, brought up by their mother alone as their father was away as an army captain. The sisters grew up facing poverty, loss, love, and sacrificing their ambitions. The protagonist, Jo March, is portrayed as an independent and rebellious woman compared to women of the 19th century. Unlike her sisters, Jo rejected the norms of patriarchal society by following her dreams. Instead of getting married and sacrificing her ambition, she chose independence by choosing her career over marriage. The study aims to know the different social and psychological perceptions of men and women in Pakistani society. The article is based on a mixed research approach, where data were collected from participants through a questionnaire. The theoretical framework draws on feminist literary criticism and Marxist theory. By using feminist literary criticism, the study examines gender roles. While using Marxist theory, the class-related influence on female identity is examined. The character is analyzed within the cultural framework of Pakistani society from the perspectives of both men and women, for the perceptions of the people of Pakistan about women like Jo. The analysis shows that women openly support the character of Jo compared to men in Pakistan, which emphasizes how women like Jo are seen in Pakistani society. Both genders have different perceptions about the character, according to which this study highlights cultural tensions related to women's roles in Pakistan.