How old is mr bhaer

Bhaer and Jo open a boarding school for boys, where they put together Jo's domestic and literary talents with Mr. Bhaer's knowledge of education. Bhaer is a controversial character among readers who are looking for romance.

On the one hand, he's old, unattractive, and a bit silly. On the other hand, his sexy accent, classical education, and love for Jo make him a bit more lovable. We'd just like to point out that Alcott herself described Mr. It was, at the very least, a true surprise. But I had no idea how deep the division ran until I put the question to the world—which is to say, a small portion of Twitter.

There was the expected anti-Bhaer faction, of course. And very cross. Any third option feels wrong! After learning that Jo writes sensationalist fiction in order to earn money, he scolds her for wasting time on such morally bankrupt drivel.

This has always made him seem judgmental, condescending, and almost like her father — not what one would wish for as a lover for the spirited heroine. In the PBS adaptation, however, Thomas has Jo defend her actions because the money she earns supports her family, but also has Bhaer Mark Stanley say he was sorry for his harsh condemnation. So, I made him apologize, which was a bit modern of me. If we allowed him to be so authoritarian, we would not believe that this Jo, and modern girls would not believe that Jo would marry and fall in love with him.

That means the age gap between him and Jo is smaller, only about 10 or so years, versus the plus-year gap in previous versions.

This is what you need to know: Winona Ryder was 23 when she made the film adaptation of Little Women. Age gaps like that used to be shockingly common in Hollywood. Richard Gere was 40 when he made Pretty Woman. Julia Roberts was It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh. Even I, a diehard romantic who swoons at the mere suggestion of an emotional bit of a dialogue, struggled to accept their Jo and Bhaer as lovers by the end of the film.

Which is why it is an incredibly admirable flex that in the new Little Women adaptation, in cinemas today, Bhaer is played by French actor Louis Garrel. In the rain. Under an umbrella. What he can offer her, though, is a life.