Little Women Chapter 33 Summary

Summary

Jo March settles into her new situation as a governess in New York at Mrs. Kirke's large boarding house and writes a series of journal-letters to Marmee, Beth, and the family. She describes her cheerful first impressions of Mrs. Kirke's hospitality, the nursery where she teaches two little girls, and the cozy attic “sky-parlor” she calls her den. Early scenes show Jo observing small acts of kindness—most notably a gentleman who helps a servant carry coal—which leads Mrs. Kirke to identify him as Professor Friedrich Bhaer, a poor but learned German who tutors children and supports two orphan nephews.

Jo recounts seeing Bhaer at work: his patched clothes and rusty exterior contrasted with a kindly face, a noble head, and a hearty voice; his gentle, playful relation with the children; and the teasing he endures from the other young men in the house. Jo is amused and moved by his simplicity and goodness, and she slowly becomes involved in the household life—eating at the long table, meeting Miss Norton (a cultivated maiden lady who befriends her), and watching the lively Saturday frolics when Bhaer tells fairy stories to the children. An accidental encounter leads Jo to begin mending Bhaer’s socks and then to accept his offer to teach her German; their lessons proceed from stiff grammar to enjoyable fairy tales and Hans Andersen, which suit Jo's temperament. She delights in small domestic exchanges—Bhaer’s darning, his gift of a treasured Shakespeare to her for Christmas, and the masquerade New Year’s festivities where both perform in costume. Throughout these letters Jo balances humor and sentiment: she feels homesick and grateful for family gifts, gains a sense of progress in study and character, and grows fond of Professor Bhaer, whom she calls a new friend while keeping the tone lively and affectionate.

Key events

1. Jo arrives at Mrs. Kirke's boarding house and describes her rooms and charge.
2. She observes a gentleman (Professor Bhaer) helping a servant and learns about him.
3. Jo spies on Bhaer's lessons and household interactions with the children.
4. She begins mending Bhaer's clothes secretly and then is discovered.
5. Bhaer offers to teach Jo German using fairy tales instead of grammar.
6. Bhaer gives Jo a copy of Shakespeare for New Year's; Jo attends a masquerade.

Analysis

This journal-format chapter functions as a concentrated character study and a tonal shift: its first-person epistolary voice lets Jo narrate everyday domestic details with comic energy and candid emotion. The chapter develops the novel's major concerns—family, moral cultivation, and the value of small kindnesses—by focusing on ordinary scenes (mending socks, teaching children, sharing simple meals) that reveal inner worth more than social polish. Professor Bhaer emerges as a foil to the boarding-house frivolities: his patched clothes and scholarly books symbolize humility and intellectual depth, while his playful affection for children and patient pedagogy highlight a humane, educative ideal that resonates with Jo's literary ambitions. The narrative technique—private letters mixing breezy anecdotes with heartfelt confessions—keeps the reader close to Jo's perceptions and promotes themes of growth and belonging. Symbols and motifs appear subtly: the patched socks and borrowed books stand for reciprocity and the exchange of favors; the kindergarten-like games and fairy tales suggest a pedagogical, imaginative mode of learning that contrasts with dry grammar. The masquerade episode shows Jo's capacity for performance and self-reinvention, while Bhaer's Shakespeare gift foreshadows his role as a moral and intellectual influence on Jo without breaking the chapter's non-spoiler constraint. Overall, the chapter deepens character relationships and moral texture through affectionate, concrete detail rather than dramatic incident.

Important quotes

“'It goes better so. The little back is too young to haf such heaviness.'”

Professor BhaerJo watches a gentleman help a servant carry coal and notes this small kindness as evidence of character; Mrs. Kirke later identifies him as Professor Bhaer.

“'You haf a fine day to make your walk. Bon voyage, mademoiselle.'”

Professor BhaerAfter Jo accidentally knocks against his door and sees him with a darning-needle and sock, Bhaer waves her off cheerfully, blending his blunt domesticity with warmth.

“'You say often you wish a library: here I gif you one; for between these lids (he meant covers) is many books in one.'”

Professor BhaerBhaer gives Jo his valuable Shakespeare as a New Year's present and explains the gift's significance, marking a turning point in their friendship.

Characters in Chapter 33

• Laurie
• Hannah
• Jo March
• Beth March
• Amy March
• Friedrich Bhaer
• Marmee
• Meg March