Little women

Louisa May Alcott

May Alcott was born on November the 29^th in1832, and she died on March the 6^th in 1888. She was an American poet and novelist really known because of her trilogy beginning with Little women (1868), continuing with Little men (1871) and finishing with Jo’s boys (1886). During her life, she belonged to the Abolitionism and Women’s suffrage movement. Her writings were known because they dealt with themes such as adultery and incest which were taboos during this time. Besides, she belonged to the Trascendental club alongside Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller and Amos Bronson Alcott.

Little Women (Summary)

“Little women” is the story about four girls’ lives of whom two are becoming teenagers: Meg and Jo. This story occurs during approximately 15 years. Each girl imagines her future in a castle but her lives in a very different way to what they hope. Beginning with Meg, before her father lost all his fortune she marries Mr. Brooke, Laurie Laurence’s tutor, together live in a modest house. Meg has a friend, Sally, she is actually very rich but Meg has to understand and to learn how to live without too much money as her friend, however, Meg realizes that Sally is not apparently so happy living with a self-centered husband. On the other hand, Jo is talented writing very nice, she develops too much this ability beginning with short romances for a local paper and then writing for a newspaper in NY. After her sister’s death, Beth, Jo begins having problems for writing due to the pain inside her. Beth, she is the only sister with no ambitions for her life, the only thing she wants is to live with her parents practicing her music. She is extremely polite and good person, someone difficult to find. She does not like to complain about what she cannot have and always have the good side for every bad situation. Her only problem is her shyness, reason why she is educated at home. The youngest from all the sisters is Amy, she definitely wants to marry just for money, her desire: to move to a big city, having rich friends, excellent wealth and too many jewels. Despite of having the chance of getting of her dreams, she does not accept them and she goes back with her old friend Laurie. Surprisingly, going back with Laurie, almost all her dreams come true because her friend will receive all her grandfather fortune. At the end of the story, these sisters understand that money cannot make people happy in the same way that a loving family.

Style

The story’s style is very formal and partly autobiographical due to the fact that it was inspired in Louisa’s childhood alongside her sisters in Massachusetts. The story is aimed at young women.