Some people might read Little Womenand think to themselves that it's outdated, old-fashioned, and out of touch. I mean, the book is basically a morality play about how to be a good, little woman and support the men, and learn how to be a real woman with manners and tact. I enjoyed every word of it.Maybe that makes me old-fashioned and backwards and an enemy of feminism, but I don't care. Little Women is a sweet book about growing up and learning the ropes of life and dealing with tragedy and just loving the people around you.
Little Women is the story of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Each of the sisters has a distinct personality.Meg is beautiful, calm, and ladylike. Jo is clumsy, strong, independent, and a writer. Beth is selfless, shy, and unbelievably good. Amy is a bit snobby, aristocratic and in pursuit of high society. I love Jo (Josephine). Jo doesn't fit into the traditional female roles of the time. Instead of wanting to look pretty, keep a home and get married, Jo wants to write. She starts selling her stories, even when this sometimes involves publishing them anonymously (Jo March has to get paid). She goes to New York all by herself and lives in a boarding house
Alcott used her own family as the inspiration for the characters in her books. You can see just how close she was to everyone in her family, but especially to her sisters and mother. Some people today might think that the way Alcott glorifies women in the roles of homemakers and wives and mothers is downright primeval, but I found it sweet. We've lost a little something in today's culture with our constant pursuit of MORE.
I loved that the March sisters argue, but learn to forgive each other quickly. I love the lack of teenage angst. The March sisters HAD problems Their dad was risking his life in the Civil War, they were poor and NEARLY starving, and they lived in freezing-cold Massachusetts and had maybe TWO dresses each in their entire wardrobes. But instead of moping about and...