Abalde, Gillie Frans D.

What does the tiger represent?

Throughout the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, the protagonist, Pi, is shown on a boat with
four animals which each represent a part of Pi’s psyche. As the animals each meet an end, certain
parts of Pi’s personality disappear. Not counting Richard Parker, who represents Pi’s himself, the
zebra represents Pi’s innocence, the hyena represents Pi’s fear, and the orangutan represents Pi’s
empathy.
After Pi lands on the boat, he hopes for the best. He holds the naive belief that his parents and
brother somehow survived the sinking of the Tsimtsum. These thoughts are the last innocent
thoughts Pi has. He has a realization that he is alone in chapter fourty six. “I was just another
animal that had lost everything and was vowed to death” (Martel 125). In the paragraph
immediately after this realization, the hyena kills the zebra. Based off of the assumption that the
hyena represents Pi’s fear, the death of the zebra is the result of Pi’s fear forcing himself to stop
being innocent and accept reality.
The hyena is perhaps the most despicable creature in Life of Pi. It is ugly, cruel, and will kill and
eat anything. Before the death of the hyena, fear controls Pi. “Fear and reason fought over the
answer” (107). However, after Richard Parker kills the hyena, Pi feels relaxed and without
worry. “To cope with a hyena seemed remotely possible, but I was so obviously outmatched by
Richard Parker that it wasn’t even worth worrying about. With a tiger aboard, my life was over.
That being settled, why not do something about my parched throat.” (135). Despite knowing that
he could not survive with Richard Parker on the boat, Pi transcends fear and is able to focus on
his own survival.

The final part of Pi’s psych, empathy, is represented by the orangutan. The orangutan is the
easiest animal for Pi to relate to because of her humanlike looks and facial expressions. Like Pi,
she has no family. When she dies,

The Meaning of Animal Symbolism

To make the discussion understandable, in this analysis will present the animal symbolism that
emerges in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. In order to analyze the meaning behind the animal
symbolism that has briefly discussed on the previous chapter. Symbol interpreted as the relation
of form and sign that is the signifier, which is giving direct idea or directly meaning from the
significant. Like a picture, which is the part of reality, teks that have sign of icon, which is, have
similarity of textual sign with the form. The sign that called as animal symbolism in Yann
Martel’s Life of Pi is the part that in the inside of the teks there is sign that represent the
similarity with the object intention.
There are four various animal that have been the central of the story that referring as a human
being, and that is Hyena, Zebra, Orangutan that named Orange juice, and the last is the Bengal
Tiger that named Richard parker. Like what the conversation between the Maritime Department
representations in the Japanese Ministry of Transport named Tomohiro Okamoto and his
assistant Asuro Chiba. For the listener of what Pi tell to the two representation that symbolize
human into an animal is something strange or unbelievable because in reality human and animal
is different, human smarter and more civilized than animal especially wild animal. Moreover,
that is why the four animals that were emerges as animal symbolism in Yann Martel Life of Pi
will be analyses one by one in order to answer the statement problem in the first chapter and
make the analyses more acceptable and understandable.

The Meaning of Zebra

Besides that zebra symbolizes individualism and the dangers of passivity. Being an individual is
something that all people hold themselves firmly to be.
From the beginning of the book, Martel describes about Pi’s religious beliefs, like how he
practices the Christian belief, the Hindu belief, and Muslim belief all in some way, whether with
reading bible, or praying on a prayer mat. The religion belief that describe about truth and lies in
human life can be describe by the stripe that the zebra have, which color white and black that
symbolize yin and yang, like bad and good or right and wrong, which is the life events polarity.
Moreover, for the result the zebra in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi can concerned to teach someone
become the brave person and ready to fight for his or her self to get what he or she want. Like
what Pi saw, when the zebra show it braveness to fight the hyena, when “...the zebra came to life
to defend itself. It pushed on its front legs and reared its head in an attempt to bite the hyena, but
the beast was out of reach. It shook its good hind leg....” (165)
The Meaning of Orangutan
Orangutan or Orange Juice as his mom. Like how Pi explained in chapter 99, which state
“...Mother held on to some bananas and made it to the lifeboat....” (407). The same as how Pi
told in chapter 42 which state “She came floating on an island of bananas in a halo of
light…”(146) turns out that : “It was Orange Juice-so called because she tended to drool-our
prize Borneo orang-utan matriarch, zoo star and mother of two fine boys...” (147)
The description of orangutan as Pi mother could analyze with observes the similarity that for the
result orangutan in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi can called as the symbolism of mother. Like how Pi
described the orangutan as an angel when Pi saw and express his happiness with stated “Oh
blessed Great Mother, Pondicherry fertility goddess, provider of milk and love, wondrous arm
spread of comfort, terror of ticks, picker-up of crying ones…”(146) when Pi saw the orangutan
float above of a pile of bananas. The statement that Pi said is like how people describe a mother
as an angel who has maternal feeling and always gives any attention, protection, and love.
Besides the motherhood characteristic, from this analysis can be represent that orangutan has
cool calm even in times of stress and pressure. Like how calm the orangutan when stand above
of a pile of bananas that floating upon the sea. Moreover, just how mother usually face some
problem with cool calm and wisdom to solve it, such as Pi mother that always knew how to help
Pi when there is conflict between Pi and his father, Pi mother always become the balance to
make the situation calmer and make her son comfortable and being loved by her.
The Meaning of Hyena
The third animal that has described as human being is the hyena which is explain as the cook,
like Pi state in chapter 99 that “... The cook was already aboard, as was the sailor” (407) which
mean that the cook and the sailor or the zebra already inside of the lifeboat with Pi. The character
of hyena which has a vicious nature, avarice, one who waits for the leftovers instead of being
aggressive in a situation or an unclean scavenger who brutality kill the zebra and Orange juice is
more symbolize as the death because everywhere, every time when.
Hyena can remind someone to still thinking humanity that the animal did not. Nowadays, in
human daily life there is humanity crisis that there is news about murdering because of wealth,
throne even a woman. At first, the terminology of murdering usually happens in animal world,
but for now it was not, because the avarice that attack someone who has n hyena was there, there
will always death around them.
no knowledge or less knowledge will influence someone humanity to do something that express
the fierceness such as try to kill each other to get what they want.
The Meaning of Bengal Tiger
The last animal that described as human is a 450- pound Bengal tiger that named Richard
Parker. In the story that Pi told, the tiger that denoted as an aggressive nature, emotionally
erratic; an overly severe nature, which has vitality and energy that make the enemy anxious is
become the great predator in lifeboat. As if how the hyena felt when "Super alpha is watching
me-I better not move" and that is why “...the hyena had confined itself to such an absurdly small
space behind the zebra and why it had waited so long before killing it. It was fear of the greater
beast and fear of touching the greater beast's food.”(181). Even the tiger has not do anything
wrong, the hyena already feel anxious with the tiger existence only.
Although both of hyena and tiger was categorize as the predator, both of them still have to fight
for their right in the one small space, like how Pi understand about the situation between the tiger
and the hyena that “...There couldn't be both a hyena and a tiger in such a small space. He must
have fallen off the tarpaulin and drowned” (144) between both of tiger and hyena, although they
are same as predator there are still big difference, like how they kill their prey. The way how
hyena kill their prey more like messy and disgusting, example like how it kill the zebra when the
zebra through a majority lives of the time that the hyena brutality attack the zebra leg and eat
within it, after “The hyena had attacked the zebra. Its mouth was bright red and it was chewing
on a piece of hide.”(158) Then it can be seen that “The zebra's broken leg was missing. The
hyena had bitten it off and dragged it to the stern, behind the zebra. A flap of skin hung limply
over the raw stump. Blood was still dripping. The victim bore its suffering patiently, without
showy remonstrations.”(158).
In addition, for the tiger killing skill much different with the hyena, when the tiger killed the
prey, the tiger kill it with quiet move like straightly jump to the prey and directly kill it without
causing any suffer from the prey. As how it explain in chapter 53 that”… it happened practically
in silence. The hyena died neither whining nor whimpering, and Richard Parker killed without a
sound.”(200). beside the tiger had characteristic that has great maternal instinct, like when”… a
sleek tiger that stepped into the open one night. A female with a single cub.” that “Oddly, the
cub, who looked to be about three months old, paid little attention to the goat. It raced to the
water's edge, where it drank eagerly. Its mother followed suit.”(176).
And for the result it can be seen that the tiger in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi means strange or
power, consideration, and position which how Pi describe it as himself. Thus statement can be
proven with the statement that Pi stated when Pi beheld Richard Parker”… from the angle that
showed him off to greatest effect: from the back, half raised, with his head turned. The stance
had something of a pose to it, as if it were an intentional, even affected, display of mighty
art”(201). The Pi statement has described about the mighty of the tiger that although just shown
in the tiger appearance, the power or strange can felt to someone who see it. And like Pi self, Pi
has power or strange that influence the tiger, which shown in page 220 that describe how Pi try
to tame the tiger with circus trainer tricks and shown that “ it had an effect on Richard Parker. At
the very first blow of the whistle he cringed and he snarled” (221) then” He roared and he clawed
the air. But he did not jump. He might not be afraid of the sea when he was driven mad by
hunger and thirst, but for the time being it was a fear” (221) until in the end” He backed off and
dropped to the bottom of the boat”(221)
Symbolism of the Carnivorous Island: Analysis
The carnivorous island acts as a paradox in Life of Pi. A paradox is an idea that appears
contradictory or absurd but holds truthfulness after further reflection or consideration. When Pi
initially finds the island, he believes he has found a haven with food and shelter. The island
appears to offer everything Pi needs to survive, so it is paradise compared to his restricted life on
the boat. However, upon further examination, Pi finds that the island threatens his survival rather
than assists it. Pi feels he has been saved by finding the island, but it functions as purgatory
rather than paradise.
Life of Pi contains strong themes of religion, as Pi subscribes to numerous religions. In
Christianity, one of the belief systems that Pi follows, there is a conflict between salvation and
temptation. Christianity teaches that human beings must resist temptations to achieve salvation.
Pi thinks he has found salvation on the island, as it offers him a place to rest and avoid
continuing his laborious journey. However, after spending some time enjoying the island, he
learns that it is punishing and cruel, as it consumes living creatures.

Is Life of Pi About Cannibalism?

Life of Pi is a 2001 novel by Canadian writer Yann Martel. It tells the story of a boy named Pi
Patel who survives a shipwreck only to be stranded on a lifeboat with several animals, including
an adult tiger he names Richard Parker. All of those on the boat die, apart from Pi and the tiger.
The story follows Pi as he endures many trials before finally arriving on shore, having befriended
the tiger. Upon his arrival, Pi tells officials his story, but they do not believe him. He then tells a
different version of the story in which the animals are replaced with humans who resort to
cannibalism (eating each other) in order to survive. The officials believe Pi's second story, but
the narrative remains ambiguous about what happened.

Role of Cannibalism in Life of Pi

Cannibalism is a recurring theme throughout the novel. When Pi is a boy, he becomes Muslim,
Hindu, and Christian. The religious leaders of each group all try to persuade him that he has to
choose one religion rather than practice them all. The imam, a Muslim religious leader, tells Pi
that he should distrust Christians because ''they eat pigs and are cannibals.'' He is referring to the
practice of Communion in Catholicism, where consecrated bread and wine are believed to
undergo transubstantiation and become the flesh and blood of Jesus.
In Pi's initial story about the shipwreck, there is no cannibalism. He is stranded on a lifeboat with
an orangutan named Orange Juice, a hyena, a zebra, and the tiger. The hyena eats the orangutan
and the zebra, and then Richard Parker kills the hyena. It is only later, in the second version of
his story, that Pi discusses cannibalism among humans. The novel is deliberately ambiguous
about which story is the correct one: perhaps Pi is telling the truth about his extraordinary
journey, or perhaps he replaced the people in his story with animals to make the truth less
horrifying.

Cannibalism Among Animals in Life of Pi

In Life of Pi, animals play a major role. Before the shipwreck, Pi is on a ship transporting zoo
animals across the ocean. When the ship wrecks, he ends up in a lifeboat with several animals,
but without any human survivors. This tale seems plausible because of the number of animals on
the boat in the first place. Pi notes that among hyenas, cannibalism is common: when they get
into a feeding frenzy, ''in reaching for a bite of zebra, a hyena will take in the ear or nostril of a
clan member, no hard feelings intended.'' This note serves as foreshadowing for the story that is
to come.

Pi's Mom and the Cook

In the second version of the story, which officials take to be the true one, the animals are
replaced with humans. Pi's mom takes the place of the orangutan, the ship's cook takes the place
of the hyena, and a young Taiwanese sailor takes the place of the zebra. In Pi's second story, the
young sailor injures his leg by jumping into the boat. The cook, who is both brutal and practical,
cuts the sailor's leg off and uses it as bait to try and attract fish to eat. He has limited success, and
after the sailor dies, the cook butchers and eats him, to the shock of Pi and his mother. Both of
them try to prevent the cook from committing cannibalism, but they are weak from starvation.
The cook kills Pi's mother and throws her decapitated head at him. In a horrifying scene, Pi says,
''I held my mother's head in my hands. I let it go. It sank in a cloud of blood, her tress trailing
like a tail.'' The cook then proceeds to eat her as Pi watches. The cook, who was represented by
the hyena in the first version of Pi's story, is the first to engage in cannibalism.
What is the true meaning of the story Life of Pi?
A story about struggling to survive through seemingly insurmountable odds.
Life of Pi is (for me, at least) the greatest adventure novel of all time. Truly, it’s an amazing
book full of life and wonder, danger and adventure, survival and unshakable faith. It’s an
extraordinary tale about a young boy and a tiger surviving together on a lifeboat in the middle of
the inhospitable Pacific Ocean.
But the story turns out to be more than merely an epic tale of adventure – a story that mixes
between Robinson Crusoe and The Jungle Book, if you will –: not only does it host an intense
moral about good and evil, love and hatred, life and death, the differences between what is
considered savage and what is considered humane; but it’s also about the relativity of truth,
which means that not every fictional tale can be deemed unbelievable, for most (like Life of Pi)
do possess the slightest verity and genuineness within them, especially when they involve
maintaining one’s bravery, moral fibers, strong love and faith in God, even in times of great
trouble.
What is the real message from Life of Pi?
Forgiveness is always the right choice: Pi lost everything, by no fault of his own. For some
people, this could create resentment and anger. But he manages to take it all in stride and forgive
the situation. To hold onto the anger and pain would be to let those situations control his life.

Conflicts - Life of Pi
MAN VS. SELF
Throughout the novel Pi is at a constant struggle with himself. He must decide what is more
important to him, surviving or staying true to himself. To face this inner conflict with himself he
creates a scapegoat to do what he cannot make himself do, that is Richard Parker. When he is
forced to kill the chef in order to survive he forces himself to think that it is Richard Parker that
does it and not him. Even though Pi is becoming Physically weak he refuses to become mentally
weak as that would cause him to lose faith in God. This is because if he mentally stops believing
he will survive he is subconsciously thinking God is not there.

MAN VS. SOCIETY

 Pi is forced to fight society at a very young age when he begins to practice multiple religions.
He must practice at time when others wont see him because he is often harassed and kicked out
of temples when the priests see him. He must face all this discrimination simply because he
believes in more then one religion and that is not acceptable in the society in which he lives.
MAN VS. NATURE
When Pi leaves for Canada with his family and the Tsimtsum sinks Pi is left stranded at sea in
a Life Boat. He must then face the harsh conditions at sea and fight against the elements in order
to survive, he faces hunger, dehydration from the sun all while he is surrounded by an ocean full
of fish. Ultimately nature takes everything from Pi including his family, and his family's fortune.

What actually happened in Little Women?

Amy and Laurie have a daughter named Beth, who is sickly. Jo inherits Plumfield, Aunt March's
house, and decides to turn it into a boarding school for boys. The novel ends with the family
happily gathered together, each sister thankful for her blessings and for each other.

Little Women
Introduction to Little Women
A coming of the age novel, Little Women, was written by Louisa May Alcott, a popular
American writer. The book was originally requested by the publisher after which Alcott wrote it
in two volumes. The novel was published in the United States in 1869 after which the second
volume appeared shortly next year. The story comprises the lives of four sisters and their growth
into adulthood. It is argued that the story has some autobiographical elements from the life of the
author, as she had three sisters too. The book has been translated into numerous languages, and
frequently adapted for stage and screen.
Referring to The Pilgrim’s Progress in the preface of her novel, the author starts her story of the
four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy engaged in discussing the situation of their poverty and the
arrival of Christmas. It is an allegorical novel that focuses on leading a Christian life. The four
sisters decide that they will buy Christmas gifts for themselves to enjoy it but later they change
their decision and decide that their mother, Marmee, needs a good gift instead of them.
Meanwhile, Marmee comes with a letter in her hand from their father, who is serving as a Union
chaplain in the Civil War, advising them not to complain regarding their poverty. When
Christmas arrives, the girls find The Pilgrim’s Progress on their bed in the morning.

Meanwhile, their mother asks them to distribute their breakfast to the poor family of the
Hummels after which they are brooding over their good action when Mr. Laurence, the neighbor,
arrives with a good feast for the girls. Sally Gardiner, the friend of Meg, too, arrives with an
invitation to enjoy the New Year’s party at her house. When Jo and Meg, both, attend the party,
At the party, Jo retreats to an alcove and meets Laurie, a boy who lives with Mr. Laurence while
Meg enjoys dancing. Later, Meg causes injury to her ankle and Laurie comes to escort both of
them home. The holiday enjoyments last for a few days after which the girls have to revert to
their daily academic routine.
After a few days, the girls come to know about Laurie being ill. Jo visits Mr. Laurence, his
grandfather, to ask about his grandson’s health. She also passes insulting comments on his
painting but the old man admired her spunk. He then befriends the girl, and when all the girls go
to meet him one day, he makes Beth his chum and donates his granddaughter’s piano to her. Life
is going on as usual when one day Amy is caught in school for playing hooky, inviting the
teacher’s fury. Fed up of these mischievous acts, Mrs. March then withdraws her from school.
When Jo visits the theatre, she does not allow Amy to accompany her. Amy then burns Jo’s
manuscript and Jo in return nearly allows Amy to drown during ice-skating. On the other hand,
Meg also enjoys parties with Annie Moffat, her friend, and learns how appearances and beauty
are not everything. She also hears rumors about her wanting to marry Laurie for his money.

Soon the family starts a newspaper, The Pickwick Club, that becomes a popular paper in the
area. Jo also brings Laurie secretly to the meetings after which he starts a postbox activity for the
paper. Although the family often neglects work and even the mother takes a day off, the whole
family enjoys it. They also enjoy a picnic when Laurie brings his English friends over there.
Later, Jo succeeds in publishing her story in the paper for the first time that the whole family
enjoys. After some time, the family receives a telegram about Mr. March falling ill and is
admitted in the hospital in Washington, D.C. Marmee is going to him and Jo is selling her hair to
help finance her trip. However, the girls soon find themselves in hot waters for neglecting
everything at home, while Beth, too, catches scarlet fever on account of her visits to Hummels.
Marmee has to make a run to the home to save her from dying until Meg falls in love with
Laurie’s teacher, Mr. Brooke, and they finally get engaged.

Three years after that, Mr. March returns from the war. Meg marries and leaves with Mr. Brook
while Laurie is also free from schooling. Jo publishes her first novel after meeting the publishers’
demands, while Meg starts her own home, giving birth to twins. Meanwhile, Amy leaves for
Paris after which Jo leaves for New York to leave Laurie and Beth to engage with each other.
However, she herself meets her German professor, Bhaer, to have his advice on her writing and
after some time returns to find Beth dead. Laurie, after this, leaves for France and meets Amy
where they marry, while Jo marries Bhaer, her German professor. Jo opens a school on the
Plumfield and the novel ends on the sister reunion, thanking each other.

Major Themes in Little Women

Feminism: The book shows a female perspective through the lives of four girls and their
families. Four March’s daughters grow up living together with their chaplain father, Mr. March,
and homemaker mother, Marmee. They teach them how to live in the best possible way.
Although they leave schooling, their upbringing, enjoyment of festivities, and matchmaking
continue until all of them settle and gather together to recall their childhood memories. The novel
shows how personal responsibilities are ignored in the larger interests of the family when Joe
abandons her career and Amy follows suit. The life of Meg and Beth as they care for each other.
Their father, Mr. March, too, points to this domination of feminism in the novel.
Anti-Stereotyping: The novel shows the theme of anti-stereotyping by presenting girls taking up
unconventional roles in the family. First, the family, having four girls, could hardly afford their
education as it happened during those times. For example, Jo wants to work to earn for the
family, a patriarchal responsibility that is unconventional during those times. Similarly, when
Laurie goes to learn music, that too is unconventional and doesn’t suit him when it is considered
a purely feminine pursuit. Therefore, the novel shows the major characters breaking
stereotyping.
Necessity of Work: Although femininity and domesticity were intertwined at that time, the
novel shows that even women can choose professions and work. The March sisters demonstrate
their activities that femininity cannot stay confined to homes and domestic chores. Whereas Jo
and Amy follow what they want to do in life, Laurie starts learning music. In fact, this shows the
Puritan ethic of working to show one’s passion for religion.
Integrity: The novel shows the theme of integrity in the family and among the characters
through the March family. A down-to-earth family living in a relatively tight situation
demonstrates how its girls should and should not behave. It seems that the March girls have been
put into contrast with other ladies such as Sally and Amy. The constant struggle of Amy and
Meg to shed their vanity shows that they want to be honest and down-to-earth sincere persons in
their lives. When it comes to showing this cultivation of attributes, Amy shows it during her
rejection of Fred which if accepted would have caused an uproar about her acceptance based on
Fred’s riches. Even the presentation of their New England home seems to communicate this idea
of Alcott that it is better to be content than to be dissatisfied and be displeased.
Family: The novel, Little Women, shows the thematic strand of family through the little girls,
their assistance to each other, their help to their father, and their simple way of living with each
other. All of their efforts and behavioral traits point to their one goal; keeping the family united
and supported. Even the family stays united to oppose Aunt March’s proposal of adopting some
child. When the March sisters do not see money coming easily, they start clubs and create
situations where they can enjoy even without riches. Even some of the familial issues are
resolved within the family with the help of each other.
Marriage: With the familial thematic strand runs the idea of a happy marriage. The novel, Little
Women, shows that when given proper training within a good family structure, girls can learn
when and whom to marry. The very first lesson of Marmee, the mother of the girl, is to teach her
daughters that they must have a good family and a loving husband rather than riches. She also
raises them to be loving to each other and their parents. When Mr. March falls ill, almost all of
them remain with him. They also impact the neighbors, eventually, Laurie becomes their
household name and a family member because of the family first approach.
Poverty: The theme of poverty is significant in the novel that though it draws the family and
family members. It teaches a person how to keep his head high in the midst of raging
materialism. Amy knows that “poor gentle folks fare badly” when talking to Laurie, but she also
knows that the March family is going through difficult times. So, Amy and Meg mostly think of
ways out of their tight situations to live within their means. They also teach the same to Meg
who marries Brooke. Within this little context, the Gardiners and the Moffats are given to remind
the readers that poverty does not mean happiness.
Work: The theme of work and its reward is also apparent through the March family where it has
become a norm to work honestly and earn a reward for it even though it might break conventions
prevalent in society. Meg who is an introvert by nature realizes her value when rewarded by Mr.
March for her work. That is also the reason for Brooke’s defense of her. Similarly, Joe also sees
her achievement in writing, while she learns to be happy to work with Mr. Bhaer, her German
teacher.
Morality: The novel shows the theme of morality through the March family and the four March
girls. The reference to John Bunyan in the preface and then the description of Mr. March in the
initial pages point to the ethical framework the novel is going to follow. This shows that the
sharing of their breakfast with the Hummels, assistance to Laurie and even getting assistance
from Mr. Laurence are the morals prevalent in that society that good Christians always take care
of their neighbors.
Major Characters Little Women
Meg: Meg March is the eldest among the four March girls whose consciousness of her poverty
leads her to desire a luxurious lifestyle. However, she accepts her life as it is and learns to be
happy quite early when she marries a man for love instead of riches. She is the main
representative of goodness and social conventionality that syncs with her mother’s character
whom she follows in letter and spirit. Although she, sometimes, follows the public agenda of
pleasing people around her, she comes to her senses after marrying John Brooke, knowing that
he likes politics and simple middle-class life.
Jo March: Although she could not be termed as the protagonist, she is a central character who
harbors a passion for writing, an unconventional profession at the time when mostly patriarchy
followed it. Jo has a tomboy personality who dares to spurn Laurie’s offer and accept Bhaer as
her husband. In both ways, this proves a surprising move on her part, for she loses her
independence to domesticity, marrying the man beneath her status. The rebellious and outspoken
attitude of Jo March echoes the good March household until she becomes a conventional
submissive lady, leaving an example to follow.
Beth March: The third significant character of Little Women, Beth March is quiet by nature, yet
she is known for her caring attitude. Her concern for family unity and her penchant for keeping
others happy is highly noticeable. It seems that the author has made her very soft, with angelic
nature, to survive the pragmatic lifestyle. When she dies, she leaves the March sisters to learn a
lesson from her good nature. Despite her resemblance to Jo, she does not compete to live
anymore where social conventions stifle one’s personality.
Amy March: A very dexterous and amiable, Amy is the youngest of the March sisters who not
only pleases but also manipulates people around her. She wins popularity as well as Laurie in the
end and also visits Europe. Although she seems quite in contrast to her elder sister, Jo, by the end
of the story she submits to the social norm and becomes a household woman after marrying
Laurie.
Laurie Laurence: One of the charming male characters in Little Women, Laurie is the neighbor
of the March and son of the Laurence family. Although he seems on the verge of marrying Jo, he
ends up with Amy, though, his life experiences are more similar to Jo than others. Instead of
entering the business world, he defies his grandfather’s desires and takes up music instead.
Mr. Robert March: Mr. Robert March heads the March family with his wife, Mrs. March, and
his four daughters. He appears highly irresponsible for leaving her with her daughters to take
care of the family when he leaves with the army to fight in the Civil War. However, he wants to
set moral examples for his daughter with the assistance of his wife when he returns which seems
quite contrary to the idea he preaches.
Mrs. Margaret March: She is addressed as Marmee in the novel. Mrs. March is a gentle
character who only takes care of the household and almost the entire responsibility when Mr.
March leaves for the Civil War to work as a chaplain. Her character seems an epitome of
calmness and morality who she takes it upon herself to teach the girls to be content, even in
poverty, and keeps themselves balanced.
James Laurence: The head of the neighboring family, the Laurence, Mr. James Laurence is an
educated person and also benevolent when it comes to helping the poor. However, his piquant
behavior often makes the girls play fun at him when he becomes their guardian, though, he
always complains about his daughter-in-law, Laurie’s mother.
Esther: Working as the maid with the March family, Esther is French by birth and catholic by
religion. She helps Amy to learn French and becomes her best friend.
Writing Style of Little Women
Little Women shows Louisa May Alcott’s mastery in describing people and their behavior. The
author paints realistic pictures through the dexterous use of different images, evoking the
feelings of the readers toward their favorite character. Despite being written in the style of the
last century, the sentences show variety in phrases and clauses where the suitability of the diction
is excellent and fitting to the modern era. The author has relied heavily on metaphors and similes
along with personifications.

Analysis of the Literary Devices in Little Women

Action: The main action of the novel comprises the childhood, poverty, and maturing of the four
March sisters. The falling action occurs when Beth dies after a long illness and Amy marries
Laurie. The rising action, however, occurs when it transpires to the father that the sisters have
started growing in character and career after meeting Laurie.
Allusion: The novel shows excellent use of different allusions as given in the examples below,
i. Mrs. March broke the silence that followed Jo’s words, by saying in her cheery voice, ‘Do you
remember how you used to play Pilgrims Progress when you were little things? (Chapter-II)
ii. They had a charming time, for THE SEVEN CASTLES OF THE DIAMOND LAKE was as
brilliant and wonderful as heart could wish. (Chapter-VIII)
iii. They called themselves the Pickwick Club. With a few interruptions, they had kept this up for
a year, and met every Saturday evening in the big garret. (Chapter-X)
iv. ‘I’ll teach you whether we play HAMLET or not. It’s grand fun and will straighten you up
capitally. (Chapter-XV)
These examples allude to different books such as the first to John Bunyan’s, the second to The
Seven Castle and the last alludes to The Pickwick Papers. The last one alludes to the
Shakespearean tragedy of Hamlet.
Antagonist: There is no antagonist or villain in the novel but it could be stated that Jo March is
the protagonist and also the antagonist of the novel as she always obstructs her own avenues to
progress and maturity.
Conflict: The novel shows both external and internal conflicts. The external conflict is going
between the world and the March family girls’ struggle to ward off the wolves of pangs of
hunger from their doorsteps. The internal struggle is going on in the minds of Jo March about her
ways and her character.
Characters: The novel shows both static as well as dynamic characters. Both Jo and Amy are
dynamic characters as they show a considerable transformation in their behavior and conduct by
the end of the novel. However, all other characters are static as they do not show or witness any
transformation such as Mr. Bhaer, Laurie, the grandfather, Marmee, and even Mr. March
himself.
Climax: The climax in the novel occurs when Jo March rejects the proposal of Laurie and shows
her autonomy in thinking and acting.
Foreshadowing: The novel shows many instances of foreshadows as given in the examples
below,
i. Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,’ grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. ‘It’s so
dreadful to be poor!’ sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. (Chapter-1)
ii. ‘It seems so long to wait, so hard to do. I want to fly away at once, as those swallows fly, and
go in at that splendid gate.’. (Chapter-XIII)
The mention of Christmas and poverty shows that the March family is going to have hard times
ahead.
Hyperbole: The novel shows various examples of hyperboles as given below,
i. ‘Well, I do believe the world is coming to an end. (Chapter-VII)
ii. Everyone scattered like leaves before a gust of wind, and the quiet, happy household was
broken up as suddenly as if the paper had been an evil spell. (Chapter-VI)
Both of these examples exaggerate things as the world and a gust of wind have been exaggerated
when giving in the description. For example, the world is not going to end in this way, nor the
gust of wind could come quietly.
Imagery: Little Women shows the use of imagery such as given in the below examples,
i. Margaret, the eldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with large
eyes, plenty of soft brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which she was rather vain.
Fifteen-year-old Jo was very tall, thin, and brown, and reminded one of a colt, for she never
seemed to know what to do with her long limbs, which were very much in her way. (Chapter-I)
ii. Jo was very busy in the garret, for the October days began to grow chilly, and the afternoons
were short. For two or three hours the sun lay warmly in the high window, showing Jo seated on
the old sofa, writing busily, with her papers spread out upon a trunk before her, while Scrabble,
the pet rat, promenaded the beams overhead, accompanied by his oldest son, a fine young fellow,
who was evidently very proud of his whiskers. (Chapter-XIV)
These two examples show images of feelings, sight, color, and sound.
Metaphor: Little Women shows excellent use of various metaphors as given in the examples
below,
i. ‘If Jo is a tomboy and Amy a goose, what am I, please?’ asked Beth, ready to share the lecture.
(Chapter-I)
ii. Oh, my goodness! That little goose means a centaur, and she called him a Cyclops,’ exclaimed
Jo, with a burst of laughter. (Chapter-VII)
These examples show that several things have been compared directly in the novel as the first
shows the comparison between a girl and a goose, and the second shows it again with the
addition of Cyclops and a centaur.
Mood: The novel shows various moods; it starts with a very funny and jolly mood but becomes
tragic at times when the girls face poverty and again turns to happiness and jubilation when it
comes to an end.
Motif: Most important motifs of the novel are weather, family, poverty, and marriage.
Narrator: The novel is narrated from a third-person omniscient point of view, who is the author,
Louisa May Alcott.
Parallelism: The novel shows examples of parallelism as given below,
i. So Beth lay down on the sofa, the others returned to their work, and the Hummels were
forgotten. (Chapter-XVII)
ii. I think it very appropriate to you, and feel very grateful for your efforts to make it so pretty,
but we must give up our private wishes, of course, and I will see that you have a good place
elsewhere. (Chapter-XXX)
The phrase in both of these examples shows the use of parallelism in that the conjoining phrases
are equal in the word count.
Personification: The novel shows examples of personifications as given below,
i. There was a simultaneous sigh, which created quite a little gust, as the last hope fled, and the
treat was ravished from their longing lips. (Chapter-VII)
ii. Perhaps curiosity might have conquered resentment, if Beth had not been there to inquire and
receive a glowing description of the play. (Chapter-VIII)
iii. She did earn several that year, and began to feel herself a power in the house, for by the
magic of a pen, her ‘rubbish’ turned into comforts for them all. (Chapter-XXIX)
These examples show as if the gusts, curiosity, and rubbish have life and emotions of their own.
Protagonist: Jo March is the protagonist of the novel on account of her central role, her
dynamism as well as her obstruction to her dreams.
Rhetorical Questions: The novel shows good use of rhetorical questions at several places such as,
i. Why should I complain, when we both have merely done our duty and will surely be the
happier for it in the end? ‘I never dreamed of such a thing. What will Mother say? I wonder if
her…’. (Chapter-IX)
ii. “Once more, how do you know? By what instinct do you pretend to distinguish between a
fallen seraph of the abyss and a messenger from the eternal throne—between a guide and a
seducer?” (Chapter-XV)
This example shows the use of rhetorical questions posed but different characters not to elicit
answers but to stress upon the underlined idea.

Setting: The setting of the novel is New England, Boston, and Massachusetts.
Simile: The novel shows good use of various similes as given in the below examples,
i. ‘Never mind, you’ve got the tarlatan for the big party, and you always look like an angel in
white. (Chapter-IX)
ii. Like bees swarming after their queen, mother and daughters hovered about Mr. March the
next day, neglecting everything to look at, wait upon, and listen to the new invalid, who was in a
fair way to be killed by kindness. (Chapter-XXIV)
iii. Just now it’s the fashion to be hideous, to make your head look like a scrubbing brush, wear a
strait jacket, orange gloves, and clumping square-toed boots. (Chapter-XXV)
These are similes as the use of the word “like” shows the comparison between different things.