The novel ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott talks about the life of the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. The story begins when their father is out during the civil war, and the four girls are alone at home with their mother, also ‘marmee’. When their neighbor Laurie becomes close friends with the sisters, Meg becomes interested in Laurie’s tutor John Brooke. Then, Mr. March, their father gets very ill, and Marmee leaves to check on him. But, while Marmee was away, Beth got scarlet fever and had to stay in bed. In the second part, Meg gets married to John and they have twins. Then, after Laurie finished college, he started falling in love with Jo. When she goes to work in New York, she meets Professor Friedrich Bhaer, and he starts getting engaged with Jo. Meanwhile, when Laurie proposes for marriage, she declines. Soon, Beth dies, and Amy meets Laurie in Europe. Soon, they got married and went on to have a daughter. Jo, meanwhile, marries Friedrich and the three girls celebrate Marmee’s 60th birthday with their husbands and children.
Women in different time periods all had differences in what they did at home and outside, usually depending on the requests to females or what people thought women should be like or do at the time. In the time period of the book, which was the mid to late 1800s, people had certain ideas of how women should act at home and in public. In the book, the main stereotype for women is that they have to be an ideal and perfect lady. They had to be elegant, dainty, and polite. Despite the common stereotypes, there are still some people who challenge the requests of women, like Jo. On the appearance, she looks like a girl, but her spirit and personality suggests a boy’s. Her opinion of marriage also showed lots about her, like being interdependent, independent, and having freedom. Unlike other women, Jo choses to be a writer instead. The status of a woman in a family usually depends on the financial situation. Amy likes to find her own protection, while Jo finds her own value. At the time of the book, expectations for certain people are different, especially women, who are said to be in a certain way, like the minor of the family. In most cases, they don't get as many opportunities as men and they are usually inferior to men in the family. Despite that, some, like Amy, think it is actually good to be like that as a woman, and others, like Jo, can have a lot to argue about it. Women often had high requirements in order to be liked by others, where it isn’t always the same in different times through different levels of knowledge.
Poverty isn’t always easy to define as just being poor, there can be multiple hidden meanings to it that doesn’t seem obvious enough to attract attention or prove something. Most people define poverty as being poor and not having as many opportunities, but that's not it, there can be a more positive side to it as well. In the book, the March family are poor, but they are rich at the same time. That means that they are poor in money, but still rich in spirit. They don’t have as many resources, but that doesn’t stop them from being happy. Also, despite the fact that they are poor, the March family can still help those even poorer. Plus, they don’t have any jealousy at the rich, which does make them stand out by being in the middle and being principled. The March family is also complete, unlike Laurie’s family. Although they are rich, the family is broken and he only has his grandfather, unlike the girls who have all their siblings, parents, and aunt. Poverty isn’t always what it seems. Though different people have different interpretations of being poor, one thing is for sure: being poor in money doesn’t mean one is poor spiritually or emotionally. It's not even about money every time either. Most times it's just about being happy and being able to do what one wants. Poverty isn’t only being poor, it can be being poor but rich at the same time when one actually interprets it in a more positive way.
There are many different aspects and opinions on marriage, but the most important point is possessing the correct opinion for marriage. Some people might value certain parts of it, while others put a more direct or whole perspective into it. The social status can also decide what happens and how someone thinks of a marriage. In the book, Aunt March, Mrs. March (Marmee), and Jo all had different opinions about marriage. Aunt March, who is very rich, thinks that money is the important part in a marriage. She wanted the girls to marry rich men who are able to support and protect them. Mrs. March thinks that emotion is more important. When Brooke marries Meg, Mrs. March thought that it was ok and she approved as long as Meg and Brooke liked it. However, Jo thinks that understanding each other and supporting each other is the key. Others, like Amy, who married Laurie, go more towards fashion and money. Different marriages are created in many ways, and they can often be more than just marrying. They have their own opinions about what they should do and the type of people they should marry. Some like luxury and fashion paired with money, while others go more towards feelings and relationships. Not everyone's opinions about marriage are the same, as different individuals might put some things as more important than others.
Religions and spiritual themes can often reflect on one using many different aspects, from books about a certain religion to having huge impacts. There are many different stories that center on one’s behavior that comes from their religion and beliefs. In the book, the March family are very cherishing. It all came from religions. There is one particular book, ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’ that influenced many different authors, like William Hogarth, C.S. Lewis, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, George Bernard Shaw, William Thackeray, Charlotte Bronte, Mark Twain, John Steinback and Enid Blyton. Many of the authors later wrote books composed of the same structure as The Pilgrim Progress, like Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist, William Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, Mark Twain’s The Innocent Abroad, and John Steinback’s The Grapes of Wrath. Religions in books can have major impacts, whereas the results aren't always the same. Religions don’t only mean something only a few people share, the variations of ‘The Pilgrim's Progress’ all share similar backstories and meanings that also give insight to what the author is trying to say. Religions in stories can have great impacts to just about anyone, whereas some variations just sense more similarities or differences that make them unique.
Requests to females, poverty, marriage, and religion are all major themes of the novel ‘Little Women’. Requests to females show the stereotype towards women, like being elegant, dainty, polite, and caring. Some obey them, while others, like Jo in the story, challenge the requests. On appearance she looks like a girl, but her spirit is more like a boy. The status of a woman in a family also influences how they should behave. Amy, for example, likes to find protection while Jo likes to be independent and find her own value. Poverty can also have a more positive side to it. Although the March family is poor in money, they are still rich spiritually. They still had the heart and money to help people even poorer while they have no jealousy at the rich either. They also have a complete family, unlike Laurie who only has his grandfather to support him. Different opinions on marriage also show differences in characters in the story. Aunt March cares the most about money, Mrs. March cares more about emotions, Jo feels like she needs someone who understands her, while Amy decides that she wants someone that can protect her. Other books like ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’ also have influences on others.
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