Little Women is a beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott, first published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. Set in New England during the United States Civil War, it explores the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they transition from childhood into womanhood. The story closely mirrors the upbringing of Alcott and her three sisters, portraying the complexities of family life, personal growth, societal expectations, and the journey towards establishing your own identity.
When we first meet the March sisters and their mother, “Marmee,” they are striving to make ends meet and adjust to Mr. March’s absence due to his service as a chaplain in the Union Army. The story outlines the distinct personalities and aspirations of the four March sisters as they navigate through life's challenges and milestones. Meg, the eldest, is employed as a governess and cherishes traditional values, envisioning a future in domestic bliss. Jo, a passionate and fiery tomboy, aspires to be a writer while struggling with societal constraints. Beth, the peacemaker, is a gentle soul dedicated to keeping their home happy. Amy, the youngest, dreams of a life filled with art and luxury.
Throughout the novel, the March sisters form a close friendship with their wealthy neighbor Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, as they collectively face the realities of growing up and finding their place in the world. Each sister, through personal trials and experiences, including love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness, gradually discerns her path. Part Two of the novel, also known as Good Wives, continues three years later, revealing the outcomes of each sister’s coming-of-age journey and the evolving dynamics within their relationships as they enter adulthood.
Since its publication, Little Women has been acclaimed for its insightful portrayal of domestic life and the individual quests of women, making it a beloved classic across generations. It has been adapted numerous times for stage, film, and television, attesting to its enduring appeal and significant place in American literature. The novel not only offers a vivid account of 19th-century life but also champions the timeless idea that true love, work, and strong family bonds are interdependent in finding purpose and fulfillment.
Themes
Coming-of-age and personal growth
Domesticity and family life
Individual identity and independence
Societal expectations and constraints
True love and romantic relationships
Feminism and gender roles
Economic class and social status
Work, ambition, and creativity
Morality and virtue
Loss of innocence
Sisterhood and friendship
Setting
Little Women by American author Louisa May Alcott is set against the historical backdrop of the United States Civil War. This coming-of-age novel unfolds in Concord, Massachusetts, part of the New England region, reflecting Alcott's own upbringing and societal context.
The story is rooted in a tumultuous period,which directly impacts the characters’ domestic life. The family resides in genteel poverty yet is deeply affected by the war. The orchard adjacent to the Alcott family's residence, represented in the novel through the March family home, signifies not only the physical setting but also the emotional and developmental landscapes of the four sisters as they navigate their transition from childhood into womanhood. This period is also significant for its exploration of women's roles and the struggles between personal desires and societal expectations.
Specific locations within the greater Concord area, such as the grand mansion Plumfield and the impoverished neighborhoods the March family aids, highlight the stark class divisions and the prevailing attitudes towards charity and generosity of the time. The March family home itself, based on Alcott's own home in Concord, becomes a central hub for the development of the novel's themes, including familial loyalty, personal identity, and the quest for love and fulfillment within the restrictive confines of the era's societal norms.
Alcott intricately weaves the geographical and historical setting of Civil War-era New England into the fabric of the March family's story, allowing readers to explore the complex dynamics of family, society, and personal growth within a specific and defining period of American history.
Characters
Margaret "Meg" March: The eldest sister, beautiful, and responsible. She acts as a mother figure in her mother's absence.
Josephine "Jo" March: A tomboyish, passionate young woman and aspiring writer. She is the second eldest and known for her fiery temper and independence.
Elizabeth "Beth" March: The third sister, known for her kindness, gentleness, and musical talent. She is shy and prefers to stay at home.
Amy Curtis March: The youngest sister, known for her artistic abilities and ambition for beauty and society.
Margaret "Marmee" March: The mother of the March sisters, warmhearted and morally upright.
Robert March: The father of the March family, serving as a chaplain in the Civil War.
Theodore "Laurie" Laurence: The wealthy and charming boy next door. Initially, he loves Jo but later marries Amy.
Professor Friedrich Bhaer: A German professor in New York, who becomes Jo's suitor and later husband.
John Brooke: Laurie's tutor who marries Meg. He later serves in the Union Army.
Mr. Laurence: Laurie's grandfather and the March family's wealthy neighbor. He develops a special bond with Beth.
Aunt March: A wealthy, elderly relative of the March family. She is often critical of the family's financial struggles.
Mrs. Kirke: Runs a boarding house in New York where Jo works as a governess.
Florence "Flo" Carrol: Amy's cousin and companion in Europe.
Hannah Mullet: The March family's maid and cook.
Franz and Emil: Professor Bhaer's nephews.
The Hummels: A poor German family the March sisters often help.
Sallie Gardiner: A friend of the March family, who later marries Ned Moffat.
Ned Moffat: Marries Sallie Gardiner.
Esther "Estelle" Valnor: A French woman working for Aunt March.
Miss Crocker: An old and poor spinster who likes to gossip.
Mr. Dashwood: Publisher and editor of the newspaper where Jo submits her stories.
Tina: The young daughter of an employee of Mrs. Kirke, who adores Mr. Bhaer.
FAQs
What is Little Women about?
Little Women is a coming-of-age novel that follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. It is set during and after the American Civil War in a New England setting and is loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters.
Who are the main characters in Little Women?
The main characters are the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—along with their mother, Marmee, and father, Mr. March. Important secondary characters include Laurie (the boy next door), Professor Friedrich Bhaer, and Aunt March.
What themes does Little Women explore?
The novel explores themes such as domesticity, work, true love, personal identity, societal restrictions, and the transformation from childhood to adulthood. It also delves into the importance of family ties and the challenges of facing the end of innocence.
How does Little Women reflect Louisa May Alcott's personal life?
The novel is semi-autobiographical, drawing heavily on Alcott's experiences with her own sisters. The characters of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy mirror Louisa and her sisters, Anna, Elizabeth, and May, respectively. The book reflects the dynamics of the Alcott family's life, including their financial difficulties, progressive ideas, and strong familial bonds.
Why is Jo March considered a pioneering character for her time?
Jo March was a trailblazer as an unconventional, ambitious, and outspoken young woman who pursued a career as a writer, defying traditional gender roles of the era.
Why has Little Women remained popular over time?
Little Women has remained popular due to its relatable characters, timeless themes, and the ways it addresses the universal experiences of growing up and finding one's place in the world. Generations of readers have found inspiration in the March sisters' dreams, struggles, and growth into adulthood. The novel's exploration of gender roles and expectations, as well as its critique of societal norms, continues to resonate with modern audiences.
What impact did Little Women have on literature and society?
The novel helped establish a new genre of domestic fiction for young women and influenced generations of women writers. It also challenged traditional gender roles and inspired women to pursue careers and independence.
What awards or recognition has Little Women received?
Little Women has frequently appeared on lists of best-loved novels and greatest children's novels, including being ranked #18 in the BBC's "Nation's Best-loved Novel" survey in 2003.
What different adaptations of Little Women are available?
Little Women has been adapted into numerous films, TV shows, stage plays, musicals, and even opera. Notable film adaptations include versions released in 1933 (starring Katharine Hepburn), 1949 (starring June Allyson), 1994 (starring Winona Ryder), and 2019 (directed by Greta Gerwig). The story has also been adapted for TV in various forms, including a 2017 BBC miniseries and multiple anime adaptations. Additionally, it has been adapted into stage plays and a Broadway musical.
Quotes
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
“I like good strong words that mean something.”
"I'd rather take coffee than compliments just now."
“I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen.”
I want to do something splendid...something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday.
“Love is a great beautifier.”
“Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.”
“Let us be elegant or die!”
“Don't try to make me grow up before my time.”
Quick facts
Little Women was originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, but they were combined into a single novel in 1880.
Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women for money in record time–its immediate success surprised both her and her publisher.
The character of Jo is semi-autobiographical, with Alcott infusing her own traits and ambitions into Jo March.
Little Women has been translated into numerous languages and adapted for stage and screen countless times, illustrating its enduring popularity and appeal.
The book was a response to a request from Alcott's publisher for a ‘girls' book.’ The author was initially reluctant to write it, thinking she knew little about girls, as noted in her journal.
Little Women challenged societal norms of its time by portraying women with ambition and individuality, and it has been a source of inspiration for feminist thought and women's literature.
The character Professor Bhaer was inspired by multiple men whom Alcott was attracted to or admired, including Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Alcott's portrayal of the March family, especially the portrayal of their genteel poverty, was more idealized compared to her own family's financial struggles.
The novel includes several textual and structural references to John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, reflecting this work’s strong influence on Alcott.
About the author
Louisa May Alcott was a prolific American novelist, short story writer, and poet, widely celebrated for her novel Little Women and its sequels, Little Men and Jo's Boys. Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1832, and raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents, Amos Bronson Alcott and Abigail "Abby" May, Alcott was exposed to prominent intellectuals such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau during her childhood. These influences, combined with financial difficulties faced by her family, shaped her writing and reformist views.
Alcott started working at an early age to help support her family, taking up jobs as a teacher, seamstress, governess, and writer. Though her literary career began with the publication of Flower Fables in 1849, she gained significant recognition with Hospital Sketches (1863), based on her letters home during her brief service as a nurse in the Civil War. Her early works, published under pseudonyms such as A. M. Barnard, were more sensational than her later and best known, semi-autobiographical novels. Little Women (1868), loosely based on her own experiences with her sisters, was a milestone in Alcott's career. The novel's success can be attributed to its relatable, vivid portrayal of the lives and struggles of the March sisters during the Civil War era, challenging contemporary stereotypes of women and girls. Alcott's work was notable for its candid treatment of the everyday lives and the emotional depth of its characters.
Aside from her literary achievements, Alcott was an unwavering abolitionist and feminist, advocating for women's suffrage and social reforms. She was the first woman to register to vote in Concord, Massachusetts. Alcott never married, and her personal life and views often reflected the independence and resilience of her characters, particularly Jo March. Despite suffering with health issues later in life, Alcott remained active in her writing and reform work until her death in 1888, just two days after her father's passing. Louisa May Alcott is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts, on a hillside known as Authors' Ridge, alongside other great American writers.
