Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Theme

One of the re-occurring themes in Louisa May Alcott's story Little Women is sacrifice and the

rewards it brings both personally and spiritually. Even though the March family is struggling financially,

while their father is serving as a chaplain in the Union army, they still share what little bit they have with

others. They do this because they believe it is the moral and right thing to do and that they will be

rewarded through personal growth and spiritual rewards they will receive in their heavenly home. Each

member of the family makes sacrifices in different ways. Mr. March sacrifices his safety and time with

his family in order to serve in the Union army to help free the slaves. At a time when most women stayed

home to raise their families, Mrs. March worked long hours to help provide for her family. The March

girls unselfishly use their hard-earned money to buy Christmas presents for their mother and then give

away what little food they have for Christmas breakfast to a family who is struggling more than them.

Their philosophy on how to live is expressed by Marmee when she tells her daughters, “Our burdens are

here, our road is before us, and the longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through

many troubles and mistakes to the peace which is a true Celestial City.”

Plot

 The story begins around Christmas at the March home where sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy and

their mother, who they call Marmee, are struggling to make ends meet while their father is serving

as a chaplain in the Union Army during the Civil War.

 The family is not rich materially, but they have a strong faith, a genuine love for each other,

and a desire to live moral lives.

 The March girls sacrifice buying things for themselves, and instead use the money they have

earned to buy Christmas gifts for their mother. In return, their mother gives them each a book,

Pilgram's Progress, a book about Christian morals to guide and direct them in their lives.

 Wanting to live by their Christian morals, the March girls sacrifice their Christmas breakfast and

give it to the Hummels, a poor family in need.

 Their wealthy neighbor, Mr. Laurence hears about their unselfish act and sends them over a feast

for them to enjoy.

 At a dance hosted by one of their rich friends, Meg and Jo meet and become friends with Laurie,

the grandson of their wealthy neighbor, Mr. Laurence.

 The March family spend a lot of time with Mr. Laurence, Laurie, and Laurie's tutor, Mr. Brooks.

 Jo sacrifices her beautiful, long chestnut-colored hair for $25 so her mother can travel to be with

Mr. March, who is critically ill.

 Beth becomes ill with scarlet fever, while Marmee has gone to Washington D.C. to take care of

her husband. Marmee returns home as soon as she hears about Beth's condition, but by the time

she arrives, Beth has gotten better.

 Mr. March returns home from the war, and the family is reunited.

 Mr. Brooks falls in love with Meg, and they soon become engaged and agree to wait three years to

get married. They soon have twin girls.

 Jo enjoys writing and sells some of her stories to help provide money for the family.

 Jo is upset when her Aunt Carrol doesn't ask her to go to Europe but asks Amy instead. This

leads Jo to travel to New York where she takes a job as a governess at a boarding house, and it

is there where she meets a German professor named Friedrich Bhaer.

 When Jo eventually returns home, Laurie asks her to marry him. Jo tries to persuade him that they

are not meant for each other. Upset and angry, he soon leaves with his grandfather, Mr. Laurence,

for a trip to Europe.

 Laurie meets up with Amy while he is in Europe, and they become very close and fall in love.

 Jo remains at home caring for Beth, but Beth soon dies.

 While Jo is mourning the death of Beth, Amy and Laurie elope and then return home from Europe.

Jo realizes life is changing and everyone is going their separate ways.

 Professor Bhaer surprises Jo with a visit. They realize they have feelings for each other and decide

to marry.
  Aunt March leaves her home in Plumfield to Jo, which she and Professor Bhaer decide to turn into

a school for boys.

 At the end, the family is celebrating Marmee's sixtieth birthday and reflect on how happy and

blessed they are for their lives and each other.

Characters

Mrs. March/Marmee – She is the moral compass and loving mother to her daughters, Meg, Jo,

Beth, and Amy.

Mr. March – He is the strong, loving father and spiritual leader of the March family.

Meg/Margaret March – She is the oldest of the March girls and is a beautiful, responsible and kind

young lady.

Jo/Josephine March – She is the second oldest March daughter and is strong-willed, but caring.

She loves writing and makes many sacrifices to help her family.

Beth/Elizabeth March – She is the next to the youngest March sister and is shy, quiet, and

helpful. She enjoys playing the piano and suffers from illness most of her life.

Amy March – She is the youngest of the March sisters and is graceful and well-mannered but gets

upset when things do not go her way. She enjoys art and is constantly working to improve herself.

Theodore “Laurie” Laurence – He is the smart, charming, and handsome grandson of the March's

rich neighbor, Mr. Laurence. He falls in love with Jo, but eventually marries Amy.

James Laurence – He is the rich and kindhearted neighbor of the March family and grandfather of

Laurie.

John Brooke – He is the smart and caring tutor of Laurie who helps the March family when they

are in need and later marries Meg March.

Professor Friedrich Bhaer – a kind German professor who becomes friends with Jo while she is in

New York and eventually marries her.

Setting

The story Little Women begins in 1860 in rural New England during the Civil War and centers

around the March family home.

Review

The book Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a great story about the importance of faith,

family, sacrifice and moral character. There are important life lessons which can be learned from each of

the characters. The characters of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy had to work hard at a young age to help their

family survive, but yet they still shared whatever they had with others and remained strong and thankful

no matter what they were going through. The story shows that faith and family can get you through

anything. Meg teaches that morals and love of family are more important than material wealth. Jo

demonstrates unselfish acts by selling her hair so her mother could travel to be with her critically ill

husband, and also by taking care of her dying sister, Beth. It is Beth who pays the ultimate price for her

own unselfish deeds. She developed scarlet fever while caring for the Hummel family, when no one

else would help them. Amy shows that it is important to always strive to be a better person. Reading about

teenage girls and the problems they faced more than a hundred years ago, helps me appreciate my own

life. It inspires me to be unselfish, to make sacrifices for others, to love my family more, and to be strong

in my faith. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially to teenage girls.

Favorite Quotes

1. “Money is a needful and precious thing, — and, when well used, a noble thing, — but I never

want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for. I’d rather see you poor men’s wives,

if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace

(Marmee, Chapter 9, Page 92 ).” I like this quote because Marmee is teaching her daughters

that money doesn't buy you happiness and that it is more important to have love.

2. “Don’t laugh at the spinsters, dear girls, for often very tender, tragic romances are hidden away

in the hearts that beat so quietly under the sober gowns, and many silent sacrifices of youth,

health, ambition, love itself, make the faded faces beautiful in God’s sight (Narrator/Alcott,
 Chapter 34, Page 402.)” This quote is important, especially for young girls, to know some

women may have a different purpose in life and may not get married, but they can still serve

God and have fulfilling lives.

3. "Touched to the heart, Mrs. March could only stretch out her arms, as if to gather children and

grandchildren to herself, and say, with face and voice full of motherly love, gratitude, and

humility – 'Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness

than this! (Marmee, Chapter 47, Page 578)' ” I like this quote at the end of the book, because it

shows the values and sacrifices of the March family have been rewarded. By putting God,

family, and others first, they have been blessed with a loving and happy family.