Little Women December 15, 2013
LITTLE WOMEN written by
Louisa May Alcott is a simple, realistic story of the four March girls' journey
from adolescence to adulthood. It is a conventional Victorian era "coming
of age" story, set in New England. Alcott weaves a lively, domestic tale
of American youth in the nineteenth century. Through their experiences, the
young girls learn to appreciate the importance of family, the happiness derived
from being unselfish and resourceful, the disconnection between wealth and
happiness, and the benefits of working hard to improve themselves and their
community. It is a charming episodic tale of proper female etiquette. A glimpse
of Civil War America, and what it was like growing to up poor in an
upper-class, wealthy, and frivolous social setting.
The dominant theme of LITTLE
WOMEN is family values. All the main characters in the novel are defined by
their familial relations and behavior towards each other, and all are deeply
invested in cultivating and supporting one another. In particular, Josephine
March, the novel's protagonist is devoted to her Concord, Massachusetts
family. She is an outspoken tomboy with
a passion for everything to do with literature. She "devoured poetry,
romance, history, travel, and pictures, like a regular book
worm."(205) Jo's character is a
semi-autobiographical sketch of Alcott herself.
Influenced by the transcendental philosophy of the New England
Renaissance period, Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN introduces realism and entertainment
to the female readership of early American children's literature.
LITTLE WOMEN is a family
romance. It emphasizes the importance of loving relationships within the family
dynamic. Jo's relationship with Laurie might seem to point towards a future
adult romance. However, a closer examination of their maturing friendship
contradicts this assumption. In chapter 3, Jo meets the "Laurence
boy" at a New Year's party in the home of Meg's wealthy friend, Sally
Gardiner. Jo "slipped behind a
curtained recess. Unfortunately, another bashful person had chosen the same
refuge."(198) Laurie hides out of shyness, while Jo slips out of sight to
avoid social embarrassment due to a burn mark on her dress. The two make friends easily and find out
early in their relationship that they have many things in common. "They
got to talking about books; and to Jo's delight she found that Laurie loved
them as well as she did."(212) Neither are above doing something
spontaneous and silly. "The hall was empty, and they had a grand
polka"(200) Throughout the novel their evolving relationship exemplifies
the attitudes of a proper Victorian society. Teddy is the typical "boy
next door" type of male companion for the March girl. Jo is an adventurous,
rebellious, and spirited girl. Together they establish a platonic relationship.
Chapter
5 sets the stage for the March and Laurence families to fill the gap in each
other’s lives. The differences in their wealth is initially a barrier to
friendship but as both parties are noble, they overcome that divide. Before the
appearance of the curmudgeonly old neighbor, Mr. Laurence, and his grandson,
Laurie; Josephine tries to compensate for the absence of a male role model in
the March household. "I'm the man of the family now papa is away."
(186) It doesn't take long, however, for the playful Jo March to break the ice
with her shy neighbor by throwing a snowball at his window. "...the head
turned at once, showing a face which lost its listless look in a minute, as the
big eyes brightened and the mouth began to smile," because "That boy
is suffering for society and fun."(210)
Theodore Laurence benefits greatly from the March family's influence,
"Never having known mother or sister, he was quick to feel the influences
they brought about him."(216)
Laurie's main function in the novel, apart from providing some semblance
of a big brother character in the plot, is to show the redeeming influence of
the March girls. "The solitary hungry look in his eyes went straight to
Jo's warm heart.”(212) Laurie's
character growth is essential to Alcott's novel. The March girls, including
Marmee, provide a sense of belonging to the lonely, orphaned teenager. Laurie becomes particularly close to Jo
because they are the same age. However, their enthusiastic friendship may have
been considered something of an oddity during the Victorian era. "In the
nineteenth century, intense and florid female friendships were all the rage. It
is significant that in LITTLE WOMEN, the ultimate 'girl's book' of the day, the
heroine's BFF (best friend forever) is not a female but a male."* Still,
Laurie and Jo become fast and devoted friends. "He liked Jo, for her odd,
blunt ways suited him; and she seemed to understand the boy as well as if she
had been one herself"(215)
Jo and Laurie have a
brief experience with romance when she embraces him after he sends for her
mother. Jo "flew out of her chair,
and the moment he stopped speaking she electrified him by throwing her arms
around his neck,..., and, finding that she was recovering, followed it up by a
bashful kiss or two."(292) However, this brief moment passes quickly and
Jo recovers her stoic posture towards the affectionate boy.
All the March woman
have a genuine interest in a wholesome, loving relationship with Teddy. Marmee
values him as an adopted son. He serves as chaperone to her daughters and
providing transportation services. Meg and Laurie have a brother-sister
relationship. He watches over her protectively when they are at parties. He is
instrumental in bringing John Brookes and Meg together. With Beth he is
particularly gentle, and they share a love of music. Amy is saved from drowning
after falling into a frozen pond. Laurie is the hero of the day when he finds
the means to pull her clear of the "rotten ice." The only March woman
Laurie doesn't affect is the cranky old Aunt March. Still, he impacts the lives
of all the little "Pilgrims.". He is more than a wealthy next door
neighbor. His friendship with the March girls, his desire to keep their good
opinion, and his tendency to absorb the girls moral principles reinforces a
strong sense of Christian pathos in the maturing March girls.
In the final analysis,
romantic love does not sit well with the novel's heroine. "Jo lounged in
her favorite low seat with the grave, quiet look which best became her."
Throughout the novel, Jo continually avoids Laurie's boyish, unsophisticated
advances. "…and Laurie, leaning on the back of her chair, his chin on a
level with her curly head." He is
the loyal friend to an ambitious, impetuous young Josephine. A girl that loves
literature, both reading and writing, more than the prospect of establishing a
stable romantic relationship. Apart from her love of family, she finds
employment more rewarding than the secure fineries of high society. She is the liberated woman challenging social
conventions. Jo's pro feminist persona distorts the social norms of her
Victorian age; and with her loyal friend Laurie by her side as a devoted
witness, "...smiled with his friendliest aspect, and nodded at her in the
long glass which reflected them both." (321)
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