I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle, something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead.
Louisa May Alcott Little Women, Part I, Chapter XIII (1868)
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When and why it was written
- When
- From Little Women, 1868.
- Why
- The March sisters and Laurie describe their castles in the air, their dreams for the future.
What it means
Jo's wish is the young writer's wish: to make something that lasts. Alcott lets her keep it, and lets it change shape.
Writing down what you want is the first step to finding out what you really want.
Our reading of the passage cited above, not a quotation from a commentary.
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Little Women, 1868
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