This was a Nerdy Girl pick in June of 2009. We read this after having read two others by Alcott - An Old Fashioned Girl (another work aimed specifically at young readers) and A Long Fatal Love Chase (a book deemed so controversial at the time that it remained unpublished or over a century!) I enjoyed those two books pretty well, but must conclude (along with the rest of the world) that Little Women is Alcott's true masterpiece. It is not, however, a perfect book. Alcott will never rival LM Montgomery in my mind. The problem with Alcott's work is its preachiness - you never are able to shake the feeling that you're being taught a very important lesson. I never get lost in the narratives like I do with Montgomery's work. However, what saves Alcott here and solidifies this book as a perennial classic is the excellent characterization of the four principal characters - Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy.
I think most readers will always relate to clever, awkward Jo - who is quite clearly meant to represent Alcott herself and is the unofficial ‘star’ of the story. But there is something in each girl which rings true – pretty and proper Meg, sensitive and fragile Beth, vain and spoiled Amy. The novel follows as each has their own journey of self discovery and personal growth. It’s probably not too surprising that in this reading I found myself relating most to Meg with her domestic and marital adventures. And back when I read it as a child I always sympathized a little more with Amy - always shoved aside by Jo and treated like a baby. But that’s the beauty of this book – if you give it a chance you can get something new with each reading.
While so many things in this novel strike me as dreadfully old fashioned and even a little grating; so many more things are strikingly forward thinking and endearing – that a love match is preferable to a financially advantageous one, that women are strong in spirit and mind, and that they deserve educational and career opportunities beyond the traditionally prescribed roles. But for me this is primarily a book about the importance of family. Despite my chafing at the constant sermonizing I must admit this is one message I don’t mind hearing preached. With out a doubt Marmee and Mr. March are impossibly perfect parents, but they present a powerful argument for ‘nurture’ - that thoughtful and loving parenting is one of the most important factors in shaping character. And I must admit it’s refreshing to encounter fictional parents who are not evil, dead or divorced. Certainly stories of children overcoming odds are interesting, but isn’t it nice to hear about children who succeed *because* of their parents not just in spite of them?
Another final thing that I think is worth noting is that this book was originally written as two separate books - Little Women and Good Wives. (Now it is almost always published as one complete volume) The first volume (about the sisters coming of age) was met with such critical and commercial success that Alcott found herself bombarded for a sequel in which the girls all get married. It was naturally expected that Jo and Laurie would marry. I think Alcott took much perverse pleasure in not following through on this and the match that Jo does make is very odd indeed. I have always appreciate this!
I think most readers will always relate to clever, awkward Jo - who is quite clearly meant to represent Alcott herself and is the unofficial ‘star’ of the story. But there is something in each girl which rings true – pretty and proper Meg, sensitive and fragile Beth, vain and spoiled Amy. The novel follows as each has their own journey of self discovery and personal growth. It’s probably not too surprising that in this reading I found myself relating most to Meg with her domestic and marital adventures. And back when I read it as a child I always sympathized a little more with Amy - always shoved aside by Jo and treated like a baby. But that’s the beauty of this book – if you give it a chance you can get something new with each reading.
While so many things in this novel strike me as dreadfully old fashioned and even a little grating; so many more things are strikingly forward thinking and endearing – that a love match is preferable to a financially advantageous one, that women are strong in spirit and mind, and that they deserve educational and career opportunities beyond the traditionally prescribed roles. But for me this is primarily a book about the importance of family. Despite my chafing at the constant sermonizing I must admit this is one message I don’t mind hearing preached. With out a doubt Marmee and Mr. March are impossibly perfect parents, but they present a powerful argument for ‘nurture’ - that thoughtful and loving parenting is one of the most important factors in shaping character. And I must admit it’s refreshing to encounter fictional parents who are not evil, dead or divorced. Certainly stories of children overcoming odds are interesting, but isn’t it nice to hear about children who succeed *because* of their parents not just in spite of them?
Another final thing that I think is worth noting is that this book was originally written as two separate books - Little Women and Good Wives. (Now it is almost always published as one complete volume) The first volume (about the sisters coming of age) was met with such critical and commercial success that Alcott found herself bombarded for a sequel in which the girls all get married. It was naturally expected that Jo and Laurie would marry. I think Alcott took much perverse pleasure in not following through on this and the match that Jo does make is very odd indeed. I have always appreciate this!
5 comments:
Believe it or not, there's a book even preachier (is that a word) than Little Women: The Wide, Wide World by Susan Warner (Jo actually reads this book in LW). I had to read it for my Gender and Girls' Fiction class a few years ago, and I wanted to poke my eyes out. (It didn't help that the lead character cries CONSTANTLY. I actually went back and counted how many times. I don't remember how many it actually was, but I do remember that out of 52 chapters she cried in all but 2 of them.)
I agree with you about LW, though. As preachy as it gets, there's just something about that book that gives it a special place in my heart :)
The very sad thing is that I never could like this book, because of the preachiness. I loved the film, but when I went to read the original it just paled for me.
It seems like female readers of LW fall into two general categories - complete nostalgic adoration or total rejection. And funny enough I get both sides completely and so I have to say I'm somewhere in the middle! I do love this book and I love Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy very much. They almost seem like real people to me! I also embrace a lot of Alcott's forward thinking ideals while also rejecting some of her more old fashioned notions. I do think it's a book that holds up for good film adaptation and I'd love to see a newer adaptation that covers the entire novel - kind of mini-series style.
I am wondering if in order for a woman of that era to get her work published she had to demonstrate some "enduring value" in the manuscript, some lesson for the reader. The preachiness never bothered me, but then I was "An Old-Fashioned Girl" even as a child!
Lirael - I'm certain that had to be a factor! Did any of you see the recent American Masters episode which featured LMA? It was fantastic! I loved learning more about her life and particularly her relationship with her mother which is always overshadowed by her father. I really do have a great deal of respect for LMA despite some of her more 'old fashioned' ideas. I do hope that modern girls will continue to read her!
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