Little Women, Chapter 13 summary

What happens

1. After an idle, troublesome day, Laurie follows the sisters uphill and joins their gathering by agreeing to work.
2. Jo explains their pilgrim game, and the sunset prompts a conversation about reaching heaven.
3. The five friends describe their ambitions and agree to compare their progress in ten years.
4. Laurie resents his grandfather’s business plans; Jo encourages escape, but Meg urges patience and duty.
5. Meg praises Mr. Brooke’s generosity, and she and Laurie reconcile after her comments briefly annoy him.
6. That night, Beth’s music and his grandfather’s grief move Laurie to give up escape and stay with him.

In this chapter

What to notice

Laurie’s private decision reverses his earlier urge to escape. He chooses his grandfather’s need for companionship over his own imagined freedom.

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