# Laurie Laurence — Little Women character guide > Laurie Laurence in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Theodore Laurence, Mr. Laurence, Teddy, young Laurence **First appearance:** 0004-part-i-iii-the-laurence-boy ## Who they are The wealthy, mischief-loving boy next door who wheedles, bribes, and teases Jo for her secrets, then bursts into the March parlor with news of a Christmas surprise. ## Relationships ### [Jo March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/jo_march) _friendship_ Jo and Laurie share a deep, playful friendship that almost turns romantic but ultimately settles into a close, platonic bond. ### [Amy March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/amy_march) _romantic_ Amy and Laurie develop a romantic relationship after Laurie's initial infatuation with Jo, leading to their marriage. ### [Meg March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/meg_march) _friendship_ Laurie and Meg are friendly acquaintances, with Laurie treating Meg with polite affection as a sister figure. ### [Marmee March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/marmee_march) _family_ Laurie regards Marmee as a second mother, and she treats him with warm maternal care. ### [Beth March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/beth_march) _friendship_ Beth and Laurie share a quiet, gentle friendship, with Laurie showing her kindness and protection. ### [Ned Moffat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/ned_moffat) _social_ Laurie and Ned Moffat are casual social acquaintances, moving in the same wealthy circles. ### [Jo March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/jo_march) _friendship_ Jo and Laurie share a deep, playful friendship that almost turns romantic but ultimately settles into a close, platonic bond. ### [Jo March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/jo_march) _friendship_ Jo and Laurie share a deep, playful friendship that almost turns romantic but ultimately settles into a close, platonic bond. ### [Amy March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/amy_march) _romantic_ Amy and Laurie develop a romantic relationship after Laurie's initial infatuation with Jo, leading to their marriage. ### [Amy March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/amy_march) _romantic_ Amy and Laurie develop a romantic relationship after Laurie's initial infatuation with Jo, leading to their marriage. ### [Meg March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/meg_march) _friendship_ Laurie and Meg are friendly acquaintances, with Laurie treating Meg with polite affection as a sister figure. ### [Meg March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/meg_march) _friendship_ Laurie and Meg are friendly acquaintances, with Laurie treating Meg with polite affection as a sister figure. ## In the story ### [The Laurence Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-iii-the-laurence-boy) Laurie meets Jo at the party, dances with her, offers his grandfather's carriage to take the March sisters home, and shows himself to be polite and kind. ### [Being Neighborly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-v-being-neighborly) Recovering from a cold and feeling lonely; he eagerly welcomes Jo's company and shows her his grandfather's library. ### [Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-vi-beth-finds-the-palace-beautiful) Helps Beth deliver the slippers to Mr. Laurence and enjoys the lively company of the March sisters. ### [Amy's Valley of Humiliation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-vii-amy-s-valley-of-humiliation) Laurie plays chess with Jo, praises Beth's hidden musical gift, and sings cheerfully for the family, showing his lively and kind nature. ### [Jo Meets Apollyon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-viii-jo-meets-apollyon) Accompanies Jo and Meg to the theater; later goes skating with Jo, unaware of the full extent of the quarrel. ### [Meg Goes to Vanity Fair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-ix-meg-goes-to-vanity-fair) Mentioned as sending flowers to the March girls; becomes a subject of teasing by the Moffat sisters. ### [The P.C. and P.O.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-x-the-p-c-and-p-o) Admitted as Sam Weller, Laurie adds spirit to the club, contributes excellent pieces, and sets up a post-office in the garden hedge. ### [XI: Experiments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xi-experiments) Laurie is invited to Jo's disastrous dinner party and helps by bringing ice cream. ### [Camp Laurence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xii-camp-laurence) Hosts the picnic at Camp Laurence; sends Jo a funny hat; organizes the boats and games. ### [Castles in the Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-castles-in-the-air) Restless and indolent, Laurie joins the March sisters' picnic and shares his 'castle in the air'—to travel the world as a musician. He confides his frustration with his grandfather's expectations. ### [XIV: Secrets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-secrets) Shares secrets with Jo, chases her in the garden, and encourages her writing. ### [XV: A Telegram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xv-a-telegram) Offers to drive the girls, fetches water, sends the telegram, and rides off swiftly to help. ### [Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-letters) Sends a mock-military report as 'Colonel Teddy,' noting the troops are in fine condition. ### [Little Faithful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-little-faithful) Laurie offers cheerful support, runs errands for the family, and persuades Amy to go to Aunt March's. He shows his affection for Beth and his role as a helpful neighbor. ### [Dark Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xviii-dark-days) Haunts the house, comforts Jo in her distress, and goes to meet Mrs. March at the station. ### [XIX: Amy’s Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xix-amy-s-will) Visits Amy daily, wheedles Aunt March to let her go out, and helps her with her will. He also informs Amy of Beth's illness and comforts her. ### [Confidential](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xx-confidential) Laurie helps by posting off to comfort Amy and delivering good news to the March family; he falls asleep from exhaustion at Aunt March's house. ### [Laurie Makes Mischief, and Jo Makes Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xxi-laurie-makes-mischief-and-jo-makes-peace) Plays a mischievous prank by forging a love letter, then quarrels with his grandfather and considers running away. ### [Pleasant Meadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xxii-pleasant-meadows) Collaborates with Jo on the snow-maiden surprise and announces another Christmas present for the family. ### [Aunt March Settles the Question](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii-aunt-march-settles-the-question) Makes a melodramatic gesture outside the window, teasing Meg about John. ### [Gossip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv-gossip) Now in college, he is a universal favorite, prone to pranks but saved by frankness and the love of the March family. He visits weekly and christened the Dovecote. ### [The First Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxv-the-first-wedding) Laurie serves the bride, teases Jo, and promises Mr. Laurence he will marry one of the March girls someday. ### [Artistic Attempts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi-artistic-attempts) Laurie is mentioned as the source of the borrowed 'cherry-bounce' (charabanc) and his elegant college friend appears in the chapter. ### [Calls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxix-calls) Not directly present in the chapter, but referenced as part of the social circle. ### [Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx-consequences) Comforts Amy as she departs, promising to take care of her family; unaware of the future weight of his promise. ### [Our Foreign Correspondent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxi-our-foreign-correspondent) Mentioned as the connection to the Vaughn family and as a friend from Camp Laurence. ### [XXXII: Tender Troubles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxii-tender-troubles) Kind and gentle to Beth; Jo interprets his behavior as tender. ### [Jo's Journal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiii-jo-s-journal) Mentioned in Jo's phrase 'Teddy-ism' referring to a saying of his. ### [Heartache](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxv-heartache) Graduates with honor, proposes to Jo, and is heartbroken by her refusal. ### [New Impressions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxvii-new-impressions) Laurie accompanies Amy to the ball, initially indifferent but gradually impressed by her charm and maturity. ### [Lazy Laurence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxix-lazy-laurence) Lazy and drifting, still nursing his heartbreak over Jo; Amy's frankness begins to shake him from his apathy. ### [Learning to Forget](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xli-learning-to-forget) Attempts to channel his sorrow into music, but finds himself distracted and eventually turns his affections toward Amy. ### [Surprises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xliii-surprises) Returns from Europe married to Amy, showing new maturity and pride in his marriage. ### [My Lord and Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xliv-my-lord-and-lady) Laurie is happily married and determined to work diligently, proving to his grandfather that he is not spoiled. He discusses philanthropic plans with Amy and supports Jo's potential marriage to Professor Bhaer. ### [Under the Umbrella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xlvi-under-the-umbrella) Mentioned as behaving with propriety regarding Jo's romance, privately exulting and planning a humorous gift for Jo. ### [Harvest Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/chapters/part-ii-xlvii-harvest-time) Married to Amy, he supports Jo's plan and later suggests naming the school 'Bhaer-garten'. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters/laurie_laurence - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_women_se/characters