Character of the Month: Beth March

Beth March 

There are many Beth's in the world, shy, quiet, sitting in the corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully, that no one see's their sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presents vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.

-Louisa May Alcott 

Normally I'd write about a character that I relate to.  Beth and I have little to nothing in common.

  For you who do not know Beth, she is the second youngest and the hero of the story, Little Women.  Like how Aslan is the hero in Narnia, or Sam the hero in the Lord of the Rings. 
She's terrified of people.  One of her best friends is her piano.  Her legless doll.  Her kittens.  And of course, her best friend, Jo.
I thought Beth was too perfect and unrealistic a character at first.  I was wrong.  Beth became one of the most real characters in this story.  Her constant fear that she isn't doing enough to help.  She can't stop beating herself up.  Fear is her number one enemy.

She did not rebuke Jo with saintly speeches, only loved her better for her passionate affection, and clung more closely to the dear human love, from which our Father never means us to be weaned, but through which he draws us closer to himself.
-Louisa May Alcott

Jo and Beth are inseparable.  They tell each other everything.  Maybe that's why I chose Beth as my Character of the month.  Because her and Jo are a packaged deal, you can't quite understand one without the other.

Jo:  "Beth is my conscience."  

Jo doesn't try and be Beth, she's content as long as she is by her side, keeping Jo from loosing her mind.  Beth is stronger when Jo is near, so Jo never leaves her side.  Jo's greatest fear is seeing her people leave.  Even when she discovers that her older sister Meg wants to marry John Brook, she puts up a fight, not just because she knows nothing about romance (here-here!), but because she doesn't want Meg to leave her.  Her attachment to people, especially to Beth, is overwhelming. 

Ever feel like you've lost half your personality?  Then you're around someone, and all of the sudden it's like you've regained you're soul?  And when that person is gone, you go back to feeling like half a human?

"Oh you'll get there.  I will have to do a great deal of traveling before I come in sight of your celestial city.  If I arrive late, you'll say a good word for me, wont you Beth?"
-Jo, in a conversation with Beth about Heaven.

She could not say 'I'm glad to go' for life was very sweet to her.  She could only sob out, "I'll try to be willing," While she held fast to Jo.  

-Louisa May Alcott

"I'm not a afraid, but it seems as if I should be homesick for you, even in heaven."
-Beth 

Yes.  I did go to Ecuador.  Yes, I will write about it, whether you are interested or not.  There are things I can only describe through writing, and even that isn't doing me much service.
And yes.  This character is for the month of MARCH!!!!! 
(No pun intended...But I'll pretend like I intended it so that I can feel quick witted like my Little-Bro-Man).
Happy April Fools. 

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