A Feminist Study of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women

The Portrayal of the Plight of Women by the Author, In Their Particular Period of Time

Sojourner Truth once remarked, in reply to an allusion to the late Horace Greeley, "You call him a self-made man; well, I am a self-made woman” (Gilbert, v). This quote digs deeper into the leadership of what Sojourner Truth’s journey was all about. Truth’s greatest commitments for women’s suffrage stood alongside of her remark to Greely. No woman was just to be a housewife or a slave to her own family, but to be able to enjoy the world as men did. Sojourner Truth was an important figure in American History because she helped create a pathway for the ideas of feminism and the justices of racial equality.

During the times these books were written, it was very common for a woman to be considered inferior to a man, and to have certain duties to fulfill around the house. A woman’s jobs usually consisted of taking care of the kids, feeding the family, and cleaning the house. There wasn’t much else they were expected to do, and if they did not do that they were considered useless. Both stories capture different sides of how the women felt during this oppression and tell both sides of the story.

During the 20th century, the women’s rights movement changed the role of women in society for the better, causing a change in the traditional gender roles that culture dictated before the turn of the century. Women won the right to vote in 1919, which was a major turning point in the respect of women as equal members of society as compared to men. In addition to this newfound right, women also took steps to become part of the work force rather than stay home and raise the children like traditional housewives of the time. This sudden interest was sparked by the two major wars that were fought during the 20th century, each causing women to feel that it was their duty to fill in for men while they were fighting for our country. Another significant feature of this time period was the exploration of sexuality for women, especially in the case of determining whether or not a woman was a lesbian. Given these issues, John Dos Passos and Patricia Highsmith both wrote novels that touched on the issues of being a woman during the 20th century and the certain rights that one had as a woman in society. In their respective works, Dos Passos and Highsmith explore the view of women through the characters of Janey and Therese Belivet, which portrays the distinct nature of women that are defying the traditional gender norms of the time.

In the late nineteenth century, when the book takes place, women were defined by society as completely subordinate to men. The sole purpose of women was to tend to the whims of their husbands and children (of which they were expected to birth many). This role is characterized by the

The subject matter of early American women writers has been criticized in the past, but the messages these authors sent women and society cannot be denied. Susanna Rowson and Fanny Fern came from two different time periods in American history, but their impact on society is similar. In both cases, the women experienced great success as writers during their time. Their popularity shows how their messages were transferred to many people of their time. By exploring the themes of these novels, a better understanding of females in society can be gained. The themes of womanhood and the issues associated with being female in early America will be detailed through specific problems. The

Some critics have argued that Richard Wright’s women are “flat, one dimensional stereotypes, portrayed primarily in terms of their relationship to the male character”. (Quote, p540) However, in Uncle Tom’s Children, Wright resents three very distinct types of female characters who did not fit this description. Wright portrays women as an Avenger, a Sufferer and a Mother figure whose actions propel the stories to their final conclusion. In the story “Bright and Morning Star” Wright places the protagonist, Aunt Sue, in a domestic environment. “Her hands followed a lifelong ritual of toil” (pg222) as she cleans and cooks. Interestingly, Aunt Sue is the only heroine in the stories, who shows a different type of bravery than perhaps shown by

American Literature has always been about men and for men. In this essay, we are going to analyze the women’s role in the book, as inferior and weaker gender.

Louisa May Alcott was born in 1832 in Germantown, Pennsylvania where she was taught by her father who was a transcendentalist philosopher. She studied informally with other authors such as Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Theodore Parker. She has been publishing since 1851 poems, short stories, thrillers and juvenile tales. Her most popular novel was Little Women published in 1868. From what I read in a biography, she transformed her father’s story “Fruitland” to make it look like the woman was the hero. It says in the article that she: “makes her own creation out of his Fruitland's story, feminizes it, making the mother the hero and the father the fool”. I feel like Louisa wanted to mock her father’s story by telling her own that

"Four women, taught by weal and woe To love and labor in their prime. Four sisters, parted for an hour, None lost, one only gone..." (365-366). Jo wrote these lines in a poem, after Beth died. This is the most significant struggle for Jo. Jo and Beth are the two middle sisters in the classic novel, Little Women (1869) written by Louisa May Alcott. This is a classic novel about an American family of four daughters, a father who is off at war and a mother who works for the food. Jo and Beth are best friends and Jo sets the example for Beth.

Throughout the evolution of the world’s societies, the roles of women seem to act as a reflection of the time period since they set the tones for the next generation. Regardless of their own actions, women generally appear to take on a lower social standing and receive an altered treatment by men. In Mark Twain’s pre-civil war novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, lies a display of how society treats and views women, as well as how they function in their roles, specifically in regards to religion and molding the minds and futures of children. The novel’s showcase of women affords them a platform and opportunity to better see their own situation and break away with a new voice.

The classic tale of “Little Woman” has taken a place on many bookshelves throughout the world. The story follows the March girls through 15 years of their lives and is written in a very pronounced omniscient voice. Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy live with their mother in New England. Their father is away serving as a chaplain in the war, and the sisters struggle to support themselves and keep their household together. In the process, they become close friends with their wealthy neighbor, Theodore Laurence, known as "Laurie." As the girls grow older, each faces her own challenges in life. Jo, the main character, wishes to have the freedom of a man but she also must learn to be a lady while pursuing her ambition to be a great writer in the male dominate word. Meg, the oldest child, puts away her love for finer things in order to marry the one she loves. Beth, the third born, must learn to be more out-going, and Amy, the youngest, must learn that it’s not all about her and she must learn to think of others. The girl’s mother, "Marmee," sets an example of a perfect house wife. Meg falls in love with John Brooke, Laurie's tutor. This seems to spark Laurie’s emotions and he reveals to Jo that he has fallen in love with her, but she refuses him, saying that she cannot care for him the way he wants her to. Jo goes to New York as the governess to escape the awkward situation at home and tries her hand at professional writing. Meanwhile, Amy travels through Europe with the March’s wealthy

Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women has been adapted several times over for the small and silver screen. Its latest incarnation as a musical stage production would seem promising, given the character- and dialog-driven narrative contained within the original novel. However, few of its prior adaptations have been compelling enough to warrant lasting attention. The latest musical incarnation of Little Women is no exception. If nothing else, the theater production of Little Women offers audiences a chance to doze off for a few hours in the comfort of their local theater. Some might opt to leave the theater before screaming.

Louisa May Alcott, in her story presented a good picture of the life in the 19th century in America. Where family paying attention in how to educate their children to get better life and serve the community. American community look at man as the builder of the society, and woman as helper whose work to take care of what man do. Alcott stressed on masculinity in her novel, because people at that time appreciating manners to see in their men and women. Trust, Honor, knowledge and other features should all men have it. Like all communities in the world, American society had its own identity. Were men have the authority and power to rule. Do the hard works. On the other side, women have to be a housekeepers and take care of the family. Alcott worked

Little Women considers the place of women in society by presenting the portraiture of several very different but equally praiseworthy women. As we read the novel, we experience their different interpretations of femininity, and we see a range of different possibilities for incorporating women into society. Because the novel was written in the mid-nineteenth century, historical setting places limits on what women can do. However, modern readers may be pleasantly astonished by the novel 's tendency to push the boundaries of women 's traditional roles. This book insists that women have a great deal to contribute, certainly to the home and domestic sphere, but also to literature, art, and an honorable society.