Analysis of Little Women
Throughout the history of literature many authors have based their writings upon the places, people, and events that have shaped their lives. This was no different for Louisa May Alcott when it came to writing her most famous work, Little Women. It is a story of four young girls, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March, and how they survive growing up in New England in a time of both philosophical and social reform. Alcott reflects upon her own life and many of the experiences of growing up during the nineteenth-century with three of her own sisters are found within the March family. Louisa May Alcott was born in 1832 to Abigail and Bronson Alcott. She was the second of four girls. Growing up, there were many struggles and hard times as the Alcott's went from being a family of high status to a family living in poverty. In his despair, Bronson Alcott responded by immersing himself in the transcendental philosophy of the nineteenth century. He forced his family into the natural ways of living. Louisa was always a challenge to her father's theological worldview. Within her father's theological world view, the passionate little girl's behavior--like that of Bronson's sometimes short tempered wife--could be explained away as a comple
It has become a much-loved classic tale. But it is Beth's death that allows her to find the mixture of grief and heartfelt sincerity that enables her to write stories that have the publisher begging for more of the same. Perhaps this is one of the reasons she turned down Laurie's proposal. Eventually life gives her the opportunity to marry wealthy, but she turns it down. While in New York, she receives word that her sister Beth is ill, and she returns home to take care of her. Jo has a natural gift for writing, but she develops it slowly in only in short spurts of time. The winter just after her younger sister, Amy, has become their aunt's new companion, Jo moves to New York City. However, she learns the importance of controlling it and being willing to forgive as the novel progresses. She does recover from the decease, but her strength has weakened and she is never the same. She greatly envies her friends because they are able to afford the luxuries of expensive clothing and jewelry. Despite her father's ways, Louisa's mother, Abigail, took control of the family.
Common topics in this essay:
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throughout novel,
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