Recently, I have been reading the novel Little Women by the American writer Louise May Alcott. It describes the story of the March family, who raised four girls — Joe, Meg, Emmy, and Beth. They were not rich financially, but they were rich in their love within the family and in relation to others. Mother and father were able to instill in the girls’ souls such qualities as respect, compassion, love, kindness, and others that helped them to survive the difficult moments of their lives. The mother, helping the poor, showed an example to her girls, who actively participated in this, although they sometimes starved (Alcott 24). Investing in the inner world of girls of such high qualities gave a guarantee to parents that they would live a good and kind life, even despite their financial situation, the main thing was that they were rich in their soul.
The novel by Louise May Alcott was not only innovative for its time but also highly frank: the writer described the life of her family in some detail, making the characters of the book her parents, sisters, and herself. The author managed to subtly and in details notice the changing nature of the surrounding her individuals, which is curious to read because her background is captivating. Alcott’s parents advocated for the abolition of slavery and the granting of rights to women. She also recreated herself young in the image of Josephine, a young rebel who had just embarked on the path of writing (Desmawati 92). In real life, the writer inspired her daughters with a simple truth – a woman’s happiness does not consist only of the desire to get married profitably.
These ideas transmitted in the novel seem relevant to modern society. In some parts of the world, women are still told that getting married is the only way to be successful. However, females fighting for independence and equal rights are ensuring they are capable of making the right choices on their own (Rioux 43). The image of a feminist is Josephine –ambitious, independent, breaking traditions, impatient, dedicated to her work, and proud of her ability to earn money on her own (Alcott 19). She has become a model and inspiration for many generations of girls and women around the world.
What is more, I am assured that it is the finding of true happiness and the denial of the concept that only material values can give people everything they want and what they are looking for. All humans need is a loving family, friends, and an atmosphere of coziness. The significance of this theme is that individuals are overly busy finding peace and comfort in hobbies, activities, or work, whereas true happiness is in the people around them (Kelly). It is true for me because sometimes I barely remember to appreciate every moment spent with mates or family. In general, there is much pleasure in simple things and we should not forget to notice them.
Upon finishing this book, I would like to read the continuation – Good Wives. I believe Alcott has dramatically impacted classic American literature as well as the feministic movement. The suggested ideas will always spark a reader’s interest in how people choose to live their life. Ultimately, I feel really inspired to start expressing myself as a professional as well as Josephine did, since I find this character inspiring.
Works Cited
Alcott, Louisa. Little Women. Read Books Ltd., 2019.
Desmawati, Eka. “Analysis of Feminism in the Novel of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott,” Journal of Literature and Languages, vol. 5, no. 8, 2018, pp. 91-96.
Kelly, Hilary. “We Regret to Inform You That Little Women Is Not a Feminist Novel.” Vulture, Web.
Rioux, Anne. Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters. W. W. Norton & Company, 2018.