Little Women

Synopsis

The the four March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy live in poverty, they are rich in familial love. In contrast, their neighbor and playmate Laurie comes from wealth but has only his grandfather for company. The children form a close bond and grow up together in New England during the Civil War. While Mr. March works far away as a Chaplain for the army, his daughters are left with their mother to navigate their personal ambitions. They meet many roadblocks along the way, from impossible societal expectations, illness , death and eventually marriage and motherhood. 

Review

Despite being written in the mid 19th century, the moral significance of this book transcends time. Alcott uses the March sisters as a vessel to convey the trials of growing up. As they each overcome their personal struggles, the reader learns how to deal with these problems along with them. Not unlike the modern world, they face uncertainties, comparisons to others, the drifting apart between loved ones and so much more. Although there were many points throughout the book that felt quite dated, strangely nationalistic and driven by paternalistic ideals, it still reads as quite modern. This book is so layered with emotions and Alcott doesn’t leave anything out. Rather than flattering the characters with idealistic decorum, she grants them vulnerability that makes them feel incredibly real. There are moments of heartbreak and frustration, but these are well balanced with equally tender ones. This wasn’t my favorite classic. It relies a lot on its moral compass, so much that the plot seems a bit neglected at times, but the characters are so vibrant that I was happy to read from each perspectives.