by Louisa May Alcott
Even
though written to communicate moral lessons to girls of the late 19th
century, Little
Women remains beloved today.
Its portrayal of women as
equal partners with minds and talents, its emphasis on the value of
character rather than image, keep it relevant. Main character Jo, who
is outspoken, unladylike, and determined to make her own way in the
world, continues to win over readers.
Most people know the outlines of the plot. Little Women
opens with the four March sisters — Meg, 16; Jo, 15; Beth, 13,
and Amy, 12 — and their beloved mother, Marmee,
living in genteel poverty in small-town New England. The formerly
well-to-do family has fallen on hard times. Mr. March is away as a
Civil War chaplain. The sisters keep up their spirits through chats with the wise Marmee, interests
like writing
and drawing, and group activities like homemade plays and literary
societies, in which they're joined by “poor little rich boy”
Laurie, a neighbor they befriend. They have experiences through which
Alcott meant to teach lessons about overcoming character traits such as
Meg's vanity, Jo's temper, Beth's shyness, and Amy's selfishness. Their
father returns; the girls grow up; there are marriages, births, and a
death; and the little women are launched on their adult paths.
Alcott grew up in Concord, Massachusetts, with three sisters, and Little
Women
is loosely based on her experiences. She wrote two
sequels featuring the March sisters, Little
Men
(1871) and
Jo's Boys (1886).
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