Little women book reportIn 1868, Louisa May Alcott wrote the book Little Women in”response to a publisher’s request for a ‘girl’s book'”. Louisa wrotethis book by calling upon her own memories of her childhood and puttingthem down on paper. This is the story of four young girls, Meg, Jo, Beth,and Amy March, and how they endure all the trouble and hardships that comealong during their lives.
They are raised by their mother and by theirfather, and many interesting characters pop up along the way, such asLaurie, their good-natured next-door neighbor; Laurie later falls in lovewith Jo but ends up marrying Amy. In the beginning of the story they areall fairly young, the youngest being twelve years old, and their mother,whom they call Marmee, is left to guide them while their father is awayfighting in the war. As they grow and mature, they learn many hardlessons about life. For instance, there was the time when Amy, theyoungest, suffered her first punishment in school. She carries thatanger, humility, and embarrassment with her for the rest of her life.
There were also more serious lessons to be learned, like when one of thesisters, Beth, dies. By the end of the book, they really have turned fromlittle women into real women. Jo was the second oldest of the four sisters. Her birth name wasJosephine, but she always thought that it sounded too feminine, so sheshortened it to Jo.
Clearly, Jo was one of the main characters of thestory because many of the events centered on her and the audience learnedmore about who she was. She was a tomboy at heart and hated all the primand proper ways of the ladies in those days. Jo was very blunt in herspeaking and always said exactly what was on her mind. However, mostpeople felt right at ease speaking with her because she had a way ofmaking them feel comfortable, despite her frankness.
Jo was the one whofirst had enough courage to go over to the frightening house next door andtalk with the Laurence Boy, whom they knew as Laurie after that, andbecame the best of friends with him. Despite that one good trait, Jo hasan uncontrollable temper that can erupt at any time. This is quiteevident one day when Amy burns one of Jo’s most precious items-a book thatshe wrote stories in and had for years. She is so outraged that shecannot even look Amy in the face and storms out of the house.
Jo thenwatches as Amy follows her and Laurie outside to a pond to go ice-skating. Laurie warns Jo that the ice is very thin in the middle, but Amy does nothear him and proceeds to skate into the center. Jo does nothing to stopher. Amy almost died that day, and Jo realized that her selfishness andanger almost cost her her own sister.
Mrs. March then teaches Jo how tocontrol her temper, and that was one of the most valuable lessons she everlearned. Jo has the ability to see things as they are. She can seethrough any kind of facade, and she will never put up a facade of her own. As they say in France, ‘Elle est la cr*me de la cr*me’. She is the bestof the best.
Another character that is very important yet was not seen verymuch was Mrs. March, the girls’ mother. Mrs. March was a very emotionallystrong woman who would give up anything for someone else.
She is veryaware of how her daughters are feeling. Their father is at war, and theyno longer have the money that they once had. Mrs. March makes sure thather children count the blessings that they do have and that they do notcomplain. Continuously yearning for more makes one unappreciative of whathe already has. She demands authority, yet is gentle as a small mouse.
She is actually both father and mother to the girls because although herhusband does come home later in the book, he is rarely seen. Mrs. Marchand Jo are actually quite alike. They both have spitfire tempers, andthey both know how to get their point across tactfully. Mrs.
Marchprovides wisdom and advice and guides her daughters down the straight andnarrow path toward happy and fulfilling lives. There are two themes to this book. The first one is that familyis everything in a person’s life. A family is there for when a person issoaring above the stars, and they are there to pick him up again when hefalls. It is very difficult to get through life without a caring andloving family to offer support in all of life’s experiences. Thoseblessed with this precious gift rarely seem to appreciate it to the fullextent that they should.
The second theme of this book shows that nomatter how hard situations get and how much turmoil life deals out, no oneshould ever give up. Everyone goes through tough times, but perseveranceand a good attitude will fend off the blows life delivers everyday. Little Women is definitely a classic that will continue on throughthe ages. Everyone should read this book once before they’re too old andhardened to appreciate it.
This book set a precedent for how all goodliterature should be written. From this book I’ve learned how to pick upand get on with my life after something bad happens. If the Marches cancarry on after the death of their sister Beth, then the common man shouldbe able to go on after smaller challenges entrap him. Mankind shouldalways love and support each other in all areas of life, and maybe thiswill make this world just a little more pleasant in which to live.
