Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women Book Review

With Drama Club’s  production of Little Women coming this  winter, this is a great time for everyone to review the beautiful story that this play comes from. Little Women tells the story of the four March sisters and their struggles as they transition from childhood into womanhood. The book takes place in Massachusetts during the 1860s, in the midst of the Civil War. This story follows the four sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, as they encounter love, loss, tragedy, and family, and is loosely based on the author, Louisa M. Alcott's own life. 

Josephine “Jo” March is the second-oldest sister and the protagonist in the story. Jo wishes for nothing more than to be a writer, but due to the time period and her gender, this comes with many struggles. Jo believes that women can be more than just wives and mothers, that they have talent and should be able to share it with the world like men do. Meg, the oldest sister, has a love for anything relating to luxury and is dedicated to her family. The third sister, Beth is the quiet one with a passion for music, especially the piano. The youngest sister, Amy is a talented artist who loves anything visually beautiful. Another worthwhile character to mention is Laurie, a boy who lives next door to the Marches and quickly becomes part of their family. 

I believe that everyone should read this book, not just because it’s a classic, but because it really shows how women were, and are, more than just trophies. That they have talents and ambitions that are equally, if not more, important than just being a wife and mother. This novel is very family oriented and focuses on the dedication these women have to their family. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves romance and female power. This book will really make you think about the gender roles that women are placed in and the struggles they have experienced throughout our history, as well as the sexism they have faced when they try to follow their ambitions, especially if they don’t line up with traditional gender roles.