Little Women
Little Women. Louisa May Alcott. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 1997. 142pp
Based on her experience and family life, Louisa May Alcott writes Little Women, telling that four girls with different personalities, from a poor family in American in the 19th century, grow to be four little women. Complicated changes of feelings in family life, friendship and love are perfectly and delicately showed through their growth. The highlight of the book is spreading the spirit that women should also pursue self-reliance besides love and marriage. As far as I’m concerned, these two features contribute to the great reputation of the book since published.
As a story is set in the American Civil War, new tendency of exploring more possibilities about women is challenging the traditional one. Aunt March is the prototype holding that love is just all a woman is fit for and each woman must struggle to marriage well to support herself and her family. Evidently, the author would shape a distinguished character to express disagreement——Jo March. She is the most boyish and straightforward of the four; she prefers to fight in a war with her father than become a graceful lady who cares more about beautiful dress and hair; she is enthusiastic about writing; she wants to be a free spinster and paddle her own canoe. She is truly fascinating, reminding me of Jane Eyre who also has the spirit of innovation, resistance and free thinking.
Besides Jo, there are three other girls in the March’s. The first daughter Meg is a typical elegant lady who looks forward to a wonderful marriage life and a little bit vain. The third daughter Beth is a quiet angel who enjoys playing the piano, ready to helping others and willing to be a supporting part. The fourth daughter Amy is dreaming to be a genius artist, who nearly married a rich instead of the true love as her aunt suggested.
The author adopts the traditional all-known narrative pattern to create the story, and it feels like a storyteller is telling to you with an easeful emotional tone. The characters’ personalities gradually build up and are enriched through these plots. What impressed me profoundly is the atmosphere of the family in childhood and the different ways four girls view and done on love and marriage.
The whole story begins with a Christmas morning, at the time when father had joined the army and mother proposed to give their substantial breakfast to poorer people near their house and the four girls complained about presents. Different traits of each girl can be explicitly seen—— Meg with little vain, boyish Jo, the kind-hearted Beth, little and favorite Amy. And it’s interesting that these four girls love each other very much even with those differences. Amy burned the writing papers cherished by Jo for she was refused to see an opera together with boys. Jo found it and turned furious with Amy, saying she would hate Amy forever and never forgive her. However, when Amy fell into ice lake, Jo went to save her and regretted it for a long time. These are the sincere feelings between sisters that the author wants to show.
Jo is happy to be herself and fear marriage would restrict her freedom in doing and thinking. So, she worries her sister a lot at Meg’s wedding day, because she thinks Meg should become an actress to go after what she really likes. This kind of emotion is strongest in Jo’s reaction when Laurie expresses affections to her. "Yes, you are; you're a great deal too good for me, and I'm so grateful to you, and so proud and fond of you, I don't see why I can't love you as you want me to, I've tried, but I can't change the feeling, and it would be a lie to say I do when I don't." what she said is exactly what many girls want to but never dare to express.
Another point which moves me deeply is the education Marmee March gives to her four daughters. Ms. March teaches them to share happiness with others and holds the concept that girls have to go into the world and make up their own minds about things. Moreover, she is not only mother but also a bosom friend with listening and offering suggestions carefully. How valuable! Personally, I hope that I can share secrets with my mother as a friend one day.
In brief, Little Women is an emotion storage where you can find the moving points in family life, and also a book that provides useful inspirations for girls on marriage and growth. Therefore, I’m grateful that I have met four girls’ stories in my life which taught me a lot.
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