little women

Little Women

Little women is a novel written by Louisa May Alcott. It was first published in 1868. The novel is an autobiographical family ethics novel set in the American civil war and based on the trivia of four sisters in an ordinary family in New England in the 19th century.

The novel emphasizes the concept of personal dignity, self-reliance and self-discipline, which was corresponding to the social pursuit of American in the 19th century. It is an era of "man can conquer nature". After the Renaissance, religious reform, the scientific revolution, the enlightenment and the preparation of the industrial revolution, western civilization has entered a period when the world largely depended on human's rational force and used science, technology as a weapon to challenge the authority of the god of the era. Therefore, active exploration spirit has become an important part of the American spirit at that time. What is extremely remarkable is that the female consciousness. More and more women began to break away from the traditional constraints of the family and gradually became involved in social and political life. Based on this special background, Little Women excellently challenges the traditional constraints imposed on women.

The story happened during the American civil war when Mr. March went to war as a chaplain and his four daughters and mother lived a hard but optimistic life at home. Poor as they were, they were still willing to help their neighbors. Women are born to have vanity. They want to get beautiful clothes, eat delicious food and live like a princess. Although full of fantasy, in real life, they have been relying on their own efforts to solve the difficulties in life. Meg, the eldest daughter, had a love of beauty and a longing for love; Second daughter Joe is an independent girl who determined to become a writer; The third daughter, beth, is a traditional good girl, weak and lovable. The younger, Amy, loved painting. The story follows the four women as they grow from girls to young women. It tells the story of their love experiences and their pursuit of different ideals and destiny

    When I read the book, I was really moved by the trifles and details of the four girls life. Alcott is good at showing the warmth of family life through detailed description. Every day's family life is accompanied by a variety of emotions such as happiness, sorrow ,surprise, etc. It is absolutely closed to the family life in reality. The sincerity just is one of the reasons why the book has been rated as one of the best best-selling works in the world and one of the best family novels in the United States by the national library of America. 

Another point which impressed me a lot is the parent-child relationship of March’s family. The four sisters of the March family, integrating the true, good, industrious, the selfless, the tolerant, the strong and so on the fine quality reason, is inseparable from Mrs. March's wonderful education way. It is said that the parents were the children's first teachers, and Mrs. March was no doubt an excellent teacher. She is generous, ready to help others, not easily angry, always grateful for life. In the children's eyes, she is not only a good mother, but also their bosom friend. They liked to confide their troubles to Mrs. March and Mrs. March would gave them good advice and help. It was because of Mrs. March's unique family education that the four sisters became beloved little women. The female images expressed in them have touched the heartstrings of countless female readers.

    The people of the story mostly live a hard and poor life. However, the author doesn't try to describe the characters of suffering in life. Instead, It is highlighted that how they comfort each other and how they always hold a optimistic spirit when encountering hardship.

Little women strikes a chord with millions of readers, especially women. The story of little women is as simple and true as deeply moving. It is just like a cup of hot cocoa that can comfort people with lonely and upset mind.

2020-04-17

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