绿叶——评析《小妇人》中的男性配角——以布鲁克先生为例Liu Y u di Liu Cong cong（Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010070）［Abstract］This paper focuses on the supporting male characters in Alcott’s Little Woman, trying to analyse their characteristics by analysing a typical one of them, Mr.Brooke. First, it summarizes the writing feature that chapters about male characters are much less than that about female characters, and explores the reason. Then, it discusses one of the supporting male characters, Mr.Brooke, and gives some comments to him. The paper shows the male characters’valuable merits that is also precious in modern world. While from their weaknesses, the female characters’good features can be seen more obviously.［Key words］Little Women,supporting male characters,Mr. Brooke［中图分类号］I106.4［文献标识码］A［文章编号］1672|8610(2014)05|0036|03I. IntroductionLittle Women is Alcott’s most successful work, a masterpiece that is famous worldwide. It was published in 1868 and won high praise. Till now, millions of copies have sold all over the world. This book is full of tender feelings, which warms and moves so many women from 19th century to 21th century; This book is also full of profound truth of how to be a good girl or a woman, which enlightens thousands girls from all over the world.The plot of it is very simple. Four March girls, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, have different characteristics and stories. During the year when their father was in the army, guided by their mother, Mr.March, they overcame their own shortcomings and the hard time, with improving and growing. In this book, we can see many their interesting activities, making up their colorful life. As a very important part, it inevitably tells love and marriage of these little women.Much research has been done on Little Women. Most researchers put their eyes on the transcendentalism and female consciousness reflected in it. There are also various papers that focus on its theme, especially analyse it in a view of feminism. In spite of this, some researchers explore its educational function in pedagogy perspective, while others concentrate on the culture in it, such as Puritanism. In addition, a few researchers compare it with other books, or study its Chinese translations. As for theanalysis of characters and writing features is also very common, among which the principal character —Jo is discussed a lot, while her other sisters are referred sometimes. However, few papers analyse the male characters. One of typical papers is Writing Features of the Absence of Male Characters in Little Women written by Li Qiaoling in 2006. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the male characters in detail. It is hoped that this paper will provide further study into the male characters, and help readers to pay more attention to them.Ⅱ. The Lack of Male Characters in Little WomenFrom the title and the plot, we can easily see that the female characters must take a very large part of the whole book.Overview the entire book, it is easy to find the description about male characters is quite less than female characters, especially the psychological description. The description appears mainly by the form of language and action. Laurie and Professor Bhaer are the main male characters, and the description of them are more than others. As for the other three, Mr. March, the father of four sisters, was away in the army, seldom to be found in the plot. urence and Mr.Brooke onlycan be seen in several chapters. This paper will mainly discuss Mr.Brooke, one of the typical character of them, in detail.Though the absence of the male characters in this book is obvious, it doesn’t mean the male characters are unimportant or can be omitted easily. What these male characters to the entire book are what green leaves to flowers. Although flowers attract people’s eyes most, without humble green leaves, they are impossible to show their beauty. In the same way, without these male characters, the book won’t be completed.There are some reasons for the writer to set these male characters. In my opinion, first, the male characters make the roles of the book more colorful. Let’s imagine, if all roles are female, the book will be dull. If we can adapt the book to a TV series, the scene must be to tedium to be seen, full of girlish clothes, language and activities. Second, the author sets these male characters to compare with women. Then the nice features of these little women can show completely and be felt by readers more easily. Third, these male characters enrich the plot a lot, without them, the love and marriage of four sisters will disappear, then the plot will lose a very significant part. In Writing Features of the Absence of Male Characters in Little Women written by Li Qiaoling in 2006, the author thinks the male characters always need women’s support and comfort, while in Diao Weiyang’s paperChallenge or Obedience —A Marxist-Feminist Interpretation of Little Women, she says women need the male characters’help. I think their opinions are not contradicted. Men and women help each other, as well as get support from each others. They live in harmony, and depend on each others.Ⅲ. Mr.Brooke: A Responsible ManAt the mention of Mr. Brooke, the most apt word to describe him is responsible. He was Laurie’s tutor, then married Meg and lives a happy life with her. This description is Meg’s first impression on him. “Mr.Brooke was a grave, silent young man, with handsome brown eyes and a pleasant voice. Meg liked his quiet manners and considered him a walking encyclopedia of useful knowledge.” (Little Women, 2008, 115) In spite of this, as Laurie said: “When he makes up his mind to accomplish anything, it’s done though the sky falls.” (Little Women, 211) With this kind of spirit. He continues his road to taking responsibility successfully.As a son, he ta kes his responsibility to his mother perfectly. “He took good care of his own mother till she died, and wouldn’t go abroad as a tutor to some nice person because he wouldn’t leave her. And how he provides now for an old woman who nursed his mother, and never tells anyone, but is just as generous and patient and good as he can be.”(Little Women, 124)As a man, the soul of his family, he does his best to his Meg and children. He loves Meg deeply, but he didn’t express his love immediately. Meg forgot a glove in Laurie’s home, then he kept this glove carefully and secretly. He knew he must wait until he could make enough money to give Meg a contented life. Nonetheless, he isn’t a coward, later, he told his love to Meg to Meg’s parents. Mrs. March’s words shows their praise of him: “He was perfectly open and honorable about Meg, for he told us he loved her, but would earn a comfortable home before he asked her to marry him. He only wanted our leave to love her and work for her, and the right to make her love him if he could. He is a truly excellent young man.” (Little Women, 184) Someone loves only for himself without considering his lover’s happiness; others don’t dare to love because they don’t believe themselves have the ability to provide a happy life without trying. However, the right way is loving one and trying best to overcome any difficulties to make her happy, just like Mr.Brooke does. Then he works as a bookkeeper by his honest labor, refusing Mr. Laurence’shelp, to earn a home for Meg. Luckily, he married Meg happily.After he got married, “John took steadily to business, feeling the cares of the head of a family upon his shoulders.” (Little Women, 245) Mr. Brooke took his obligation of being a model husband perfectly. He is arranged by Alcott to describe married life of March girls. The description of him is very life-like. Regardless of the fact that the couple isn’t always going well, the conjugal love between he and Meg is vivid and warm. Under Alcott’s pen, their married life is full of delight of life, sweet and happy. based on Mrs. March’s fully understand of him, she said to Meg, “He is very decided, but never will be obstinate, he is very accurate, and particular about the truth. He will give you the confidence you deserve. The support you need. He has a temper, the white, still anger that is seldom stirred, but once kindled is hard to quench.” (Little Women, 250) It’s very natural of him to anger with Meg sometimes. Every time he has some unpleasant affairs with Meg, he never apologizes first, owing to his temper. However, when Meg apologizes to him, he will forgive her immediately. Their contradiction won’t last long, and never interfere with their blissful life. With the love is always existing. Though their conflicts, both he and Meg grow mature, gaining the lessons to come along with the other more. Despite the fact that sometimes Meg annoyed him, he still does his best to Meg. once Meg hurt his heart by accident for her hate of poor life, he didn’t scold Meg, only bearing the sorrow in the heart. “He had denied himself many of his pleasures for Meg’s sake”, which was not enough. To make Meg happy and give her a better life, “He stayed in town later, and worked at night.” Then “he had countermanded the order for his new greatcoat.” (Little Wo men, 253) As we can imagine, Meg made up for her fault and they live in harmony again. The collisions make them love each other more. After the matter, “Meg learned to love her husband better for his poverty, because it seemed to have made a man of him, given him the strength and courage to fight his own way, and taught him a tender patience with which to bear and comfort the natural longings and failures of those he loved.” (Little Women, 255) He takes his responsibility to Meg well, leading his family overcomes poverty to live happily.Later he had a son and a daughter at the same time. Especially to his son, he is absolutely necessary. To his little son, “Papa was not so easily subjugated, and occasionally afflicted his tender spouse by an attempt at pat ernal discipline with his obstreperous son.” (Little Women, 350) He “brought order and obedience into babydom.” (Little Women, 355) As a father, he never forgets his duty to teach his children. He “believed that it never was too soon to learn obedience.” (Little Women, 351) Meg spoils her son a bit, so he is strict with his son. once his son refused to go to bed on time, Meg didn’t know how to deal with him. He said to Meg, taking father’s duty: “He’s my child, and I won’t have his temper spoiled by indulgence. Go down, my dear, and I leave the boy to me.” (Little Women, 352) He dragged his son numerous times by strong measures. Finally, the little boy gave in. only being authoritarian is not a good father. He must give his child’s affection too. After doing this, his tender towards his son overwhelmed his strict. “Poor little man, he’s worn out with sleep and crying. I’ll cover him up, and then go and set meg’s heart at rest.” Thought John, “creeping to the bedside, hoping to find his rebellious heir asleep. So held, John had waited with a womanly patience till the little hand relaxed its hold, and while waiting had fallen asleep.” (Little Women, 354) What a kind father he is!In spite of this, he is loyal to his master Mr. Laurence and his student Laurie. He helped Mrs. March take over Mr.March who got injured in Washington during the war. Being praiseworthy, he took his duty to his country well. Before he got married, he served in the army. “John Brooke didhis duty manfully for a year, got wounded, was sent home, and not allowed to return. He received no stars or bars, but he deserved them, for he cheerfully risked all he had” (Little Women, 214) After married, he is also interested in politics, concerning his country.By shaping this personality, Alcott s hows her attitude to feminism. At that time, “The feminist movement blazed forth with a host of notable women battling for their rights and for social reform.” (Little Women, 54) Mr. Brooke always treats Meg equally and respects her well. In their courtship, he respects Meg’s will, regarding her as an individual woman. Not only to Meg, he expressed his opinion of American women once: “Y oung ladies in America love independence as much as their ancestors did, and are admired and respected for supporting them selves.” (Little Women, 123) In his mind, he doesn’t consider women to affiliate to men as old conservatives. In his family life, he loves and cares Meg a lot, instead of treating the wife coldly or even being violent to wife, which is common in that time. He shares housework and the responsibility of parenting children with Meg, thinking which should not be women’s burden. The most touching detail is that once he thought about Meg: “She is trying to like politics for my sake, so I’ll try to like millinery for hers, that’s only fair.” (Little Women, 354) It’s very funny of a man likes these women things. He does it only to repay Meg and respect her interest. Another thing is that he always makes himself agreeable for table, no matter how tired he is, out of respect for Meg. I think he set a good example even to men in contemporary society.In addition, his attitude to responsibility is not only needed in that harsh time, but also in need in modern society, and in each family. In this book, Mr.Brooke is not rich, but he works very hard to support his family, overcoming a lot of difficulties. The devotion and responsibility for the family will help countless difficulties overcome the harsh time. Leading by the sense of obligation, you will dare to face difficulties, not be afraid of it. His behavior gives some lazy husbands and fathers who are lack of sense of responsibility, and people who believe in spirit of enjoy-in-time and individualism and escape the burden of life a precious enlightenment.All in all. Mr. Brooke plays an important role in the book, giving us a good example of a responsible man.Ⅳ. ConclusionIn Little Women, not only four sisters and their mother have their personal charisma, but also these male characters have their charm. They shouldn’t be ignored. only take Mr. Brooke as an representative, we praise his sense of responsibility; we discover feminism out of him; we can also see a special spirit buds from him.They are necessary for female characters. Thanks to them, the activities of women become more colorful, and their characteristics show better. The male and female characters help each other and depend on each other. Their good merits raise the ideological level of this novel, and spirits reflected from them are also precious in modern society.In conclusion, male characters act as green leaves, without them, the flower —novel won’t beautifully blossom. Research of these male characters is still demanding to see, which is so helpful to us readers appreciate the beauty of this novel.【References 】［1］刁巍杨.文挑战还是服从——《小妇人》的马克思主义女权主义解读［D］.东北师范大学，2006.［2］杜海燕.《小妇人》中清教主义教义在小说人物中的体现［D］.天津师范大学，2012. ［3］李巧玲.《小妇人》中缺少男性人物的写作特点评析［J］.沈阳大学学报，2006，18(1).［4］刘春英.路易莎·梅·奥尔科特和《小妇人》［J］.暨南学报（哲学社会科学），2001，23(1). ［5］Louisa May Alcott．Little Women［M］.外文出版社，2008.［6］孙章萍.浅析路易莎·梅·奥尔科特的《小妇人》［J］.江苏教育学院学报（社会科学版），2009，25(6).［7］温钊莲.《小妇人》的女性意识解读［J］.南宁师范高等专科学校学报，2008，25(4). ［8］吴伟仁.美国文学史及选读（第一册）［M］.外语与教学研究出版社，1990.［9］肖玲.女性世界的男性逗留者——《小妇人》与《红楼梦》内容之比较［J］.考试周刊，2011(34).［10］杨晓强.外国文学《小妇人》中的写作特征分析［J］.文学界(理论版)，2011(8).。
