Little Women by Louisa May Alcott :: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

It is interesting that Louisa May Alcott writes Little Women, in which she incorporates her own feelings and experiences. In fact, Jo's character is a near replication of Alcott herself. This makes the novel all the more interesting and personal, with the author speaking directly through the protagonist. Alcott writes the novel from third person limited point of view, focusing chiefly on Josephine March. She develops the characters brilliantly throughout the entire work, especially the March girls. Each sister is entirely unique, and yet so tightly bound together through their love for one another. Little Women takes place during the Civil War in a small town in Massachusetts. The Marchs live a life of poverty with their father in the war. Through this hardship, the girls: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, learn to be thankful in all circumstances and help those less fortunate than themselves. The girls are very hopeful and dream of a brighter future. Each experiences adventures and pursues her own dreams. In the end, they are still gathered as one family, grateful for their many blessings and for each other. Josephine March is the protagonist, a tomboy who refuses to submit to the traditional image of ladyhood. This mindset is radically different from a typical woman of her time. Jo possesses an innate passion for writing and literature in general. However, she loses much of her headstrong independent nature through marrying Professor Bhaer. She gives up writing as he is a significant critic of her style. The reader is exposed to two the dramatically different sides of Jo March. She is rebellious, fiery, and outspoken, wishing all the while that she was a man who could fight in the war along side her dear father. Jo stresses and works to keep her family together, becoming extremely upset when Meg and Amy become married. With their father absent, Jo assumes the male role as a father figure in many ways. Nevertheless, her flaws only make Jo a more lovable character. The reader cannot help but adore Jo for her sheer humanity, much like Huck in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Amy is the youngest March sister. She is ladylike, artistic, and is regarded as the beauty of the March family. Often fantasizing a life of riches and popularity, Amy's thirst for worldly pleasures represents the inner desires of man.