Throwing Caution to the Wind: Louisa May Alcott’s Short Story ‘How They Ran Away’

Trouble comes calling when two boys throw caution to the wind, in Louisa May Alcott's story, "How They Ran Away." "Snap the Whip," 1872, by Winslow Homer. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Public Domain

Adventure can be very hard to resist. However, when we boldly rush into adventure without any consideration for what happens, we can fall prey to the deepest dangers.

In her short story “How They Ran Away“ (1908), Louisa May Alcott follows two young boys, “cautious Billy” and “bold Tommy,” as they head out on a hunting trip in the mountains. Through this story, Alcott shows that, without prudence, bravery and boldness can lead to disaster.

Headlong Into Adventure

On a wonderful August day, Tommy and Billy grab their bows, arrows, and treasures and hurry away to be hunters. Tommy leads them off the road into the woods, saying that they “must get lost, and find [their] way.”