Hospital Sketches

Content Warning: The section of the guide includes discussion of racism, gender-discrimination, illness, and death.

In her Postscript, Alcott responds to critics who “objected to a tone of levity” (73) in parts of her Sketches by quoting British statesman Thomas More: She believes, “with good Sir Thomas More, that it is wise to ‘be merrie in God’” (73). Alcott thus explores the value of humor in stressful times by illustrating how humor helped her and her patients cope during her hospital service.

In the beginning, the challenge to Alcott’s commitment is her appointment to Hurly-burly House, her quest to secure free passage to Washington, and her long journey from Massachusetts to the hospital. Though these are lower-stakes challenges compared to caring for wounded soldiers, they do test her patience and resolve. Though her frustration is real, her descriptions are witty, such as when she describes herself fighting the bureaucracy as “an energetic fly in a very large cobweb” (5). Alcott’s use of humor as a coping mechanism suggests that good humor helps her maintain her focus and resolve during her journey. By learning to meet those challenges with humor, she also prepares herself emotionally for the larger challenge ahead.