LITTLE WOMEN

Jo March
Beth March
Meg March
Amy March
Puffen Books (August 28, 2014)
Hardcover Php 799.00 (816pp)
978-0-1475-1401-1

This book is a story about the March sisters' journeys from childhood to
adulthood. It centers on the conflict between two emphases in a young woman's life:
struggle between familial duty and personal growth. It highlights the independence and
freedom of women, remaining true to principles, creativity and the importance of a
family. I love the flow of this novel and how it turned out 'til the end. It is such an
amazing story.

March sisters are raised in genteel poverty by their loving mother, Marmee,
in a quiet Massachusetts town; while their father serves as an army chaplain during the
American Civil War. The eldest March is Meg, a sweet-natured, dutiful, and not at all
flirtatious. In fact, she's unrealistically good and proper that's why she's so alarmed by her
sister Jo's rambunctious, tomboyish behavior. Josephine March, the second March also
known as Jo, is a dazzling and original invention: bold, outspoken, brave, daring, loyal,
cranky, principled, and real. Jo shows us that it is possible to go out and chase our dreams
while still being rooted in those whom we love at home. The third March sister, Beth is
very shy and quiet. Like Meg, she always tries to please other people, and like Jo, she is
concerned with keeping the family together. Lastly, my favorite among the four March
sisters, Amy. She's artistic, ambitious and proud. Though, as the youngest child in a big
family, she was a little bit spoiled at the beginning of the story. This is why some readers
despise her and assume that she was the antagonist.
 The March family was befriended with Theodore Lawrence, also known as
Laurie, the lonely grandson of a rich old man next door. Laurie has been the crush of
many young women including Amy, but the uniqueness of Jo March caught his attention.
They created a strong bond that nearly everyone who reads the book is rooting for them
to get together. They have been best friends, but Laurie proposed to her, professing his
love and wanting to make their friendship into a romance. In the end, she rejected his
marriage proposal and declaration of love, vowing to never marry. This broke Laurie's
heart into pieces.

After the rejection, he met with the youngest March again in Europe. This
time, Amy March has grown into a fine practical woman. She chastised his attitude, his
treatment of others, and naturally, his treatment of her. There has never been avoidance in
Amy's character. Amy got Laurie to grow up and face his feelings. In contrast with her
sister, Jo March, who wanted to pretend that there were no romantic feelings between her
and Laurie. Jo has been avoiding Laurie, allowing him to wallow in his misery instead of
facing the rejection. Even though Amy may not encourage Laurie with his music just like
Jo, in other ways Amy's logical thinking could help Laurie. She's like the ground in the
relationship. Laurie can be a little wild like Jo, and he may need someone to hold him
stable and accountable from time to time. Jo March may have brought light to Laurie's
life. She made him a happy young boy; however, Amy March gave him a purpose to live
life and made him a real man.

“I'm not a poet, I'm just a woman. And as a woman I have no way to make
money, not enough to earn a living and support my family. Even if I had my own money,
which I don't, it would belong to my husband the minute we were married. If we had
children they would belong to him, not me. They would be his property. So don't sit there
and tell me that marriage isn't an economic proposition, because it is. It may not be for
you but it most certainly is for me (Amy March).”

In this part of the book, we see that she has undergone true growth, from an
unruly child to a mature, young woman. Initially she sounds dejected, disappointed with
her lot in life; as the scene progresses, her voice grows strong and defiant, and she holds
Laurie’s gaze. She never stumbles or hesitates, as if this thought has run through her head
a thousand times. Amy clearly understands what she can achieve as a woman, even if she
has at other times seemed self-centered or vapid. It is at this moment that we realize Amy
is no longer a girl, but a woman.

Overall, It is an amazing book containing a journey of pure bliss, relatable

stages of life, and lots of lesson learned. I love the simplicity of this book and I think that
simplicity alone makes this book a masterpiece.