Gender Author and Louisa May Alcott scholar Gregory Eiselein argues that
Jack and Jill demonstrates “conformity and submission” rather than
feminist ideals. Maude Hines, a professor of English at
Portland State University, noticed the use of a
Victorian theme in which
tomboys develop into socially acceptable women of the time. She and author Ruth K. MacDonald view Jill’s injury as a punishment for seeking equality with the village boys, as Jack and his male friends have successfully gone down the hill in the past without injury. Jill’s eventual taming, which is a result of being injured, does not transform her into a Victorian feminist, but instead prepares her for the socially accepted role of females. Both Mrs. Pecq and Mrs. Minot desire this for her. Jack’s injury is feminizing, claims Hines, because he cannot participate in his athletics and decides to imitate his mother’s patience. Jack attempts to preserve his masculinity with the village boys by pretending he is not interested in a kitten, which Alcott described as “girlish”. Another boy teases him for writing a tender letter to Jill. Mrs. Minot teaches Jack about his and Jill’s socially accepted gender roles, explaining that Jack should submit less to Jill and she more to him. Alcott challenges these roles with Jack’s gentleness and Jill’s strong will. During Jack’s and Jill’s recoveries, the village children shift from having largely
homosocial friendships to experiencing
heterosexual attraction. Likewise, the accident “resets” Jack and Jill’s friendship, making it heterosexual when it was initially
heterosocial and
platonic in most of the story. Hines sees an inequality between the children because Jack is wealthy, male, and characterized as having more morality than Jill. Alcott describes Jill as a "
gypsy" because of her dark hair and rosy cheeks. Though Jill is the same race as the other characters in the novel, Hines says, she is racially set apart through this description. Jack, who is blonde, is representative of the Victorian ideal of a fair
complexion. In the months after the accident, Jill’s face alternates between rosiness and paleness; Hines points out that Jill is typically
ruddy when she exhibits masculine traits. Jill’s increased paleness is demonstrative of her transformation from masculinity to femininity.
Disability According to children's literature professor and author Kristina West, “[d]isability figures as education” for the novel’s characters. Jill’s injury gives her the opportunity to develop into a more tame, patient, and obedient girl. Jill does not personally know any disabled adults to guide her as she deals with her injury. Mrs. Minot tells Jill about an invalid, Lucinda Snow, to give her an example of how she should approach her injury. Mrs. Pecq’s suggestion that Jill, Merry, and Molly become missionaries in their homes furthers Jill’s transformation from masculinity to femininity. The girls, whose missions focus on domestic and self improvements, are characterized as both “savages” and “missionaries”. Through this project, Jill’s character is reformed, and not until this happens does she begin to recover. West views Jill’s eventual marriage to Jack as a reward for her transformation.
Education Jill is at the head of her class, but struggles with spelling and grammar; Jack dislikes school but has good spelling and grammar. Hines claims this is demonstrative of their differing social statuses. Jill’s adoption into the Minot family raises her social status, and she starts calling Mrs. Minot “Mamma” while her biological mother’s presence fades. Mrs. Minot wants her boys to learn at home because she wants their studies to focus on physical and intellectual balance. Through this, Alcott opines that education and physical activity should go together. Mrs. Minot emphasizes good health in her sons because Frank prefers studying to physical activity and Jack’s newly-recovered leg needs exercise. Eventually studying less helps Frank sleep better at night. As part of her educational system for the children, Mrs. Minot helps them with in-depth study and discourages memorization. Molly, Merry, and Jill have a difficult time memorizing historical facts, so Mrs. Minot tells them stories from history while they sew. During the lessons, they make personal connections with what they learn. English professor Cathlin Davis points out Mrs. Minot’s previous work as a schoolteacher many years prior, and claims that Mrs. Minot teaches the children what they need at the time. Mrs. Minot's educational methods are based on Alcott's ideas of education, which were influenced by
John Dewey, who advocated active learning. Her ideas were also influenced by her father
Bronson Alcott, whose
transcendental methods of teaching involved
homeschooling and physical education. == Adaptations ==