Little Women, written by Louisa May Alcott, in the early 19th century has stood the test of time and is still one of the most popular and relevant classics. I particularly find the story very intriguing as the characters are imperfect, varied and are rather unstable, just like how real people with real emotions tend to be. These traits make the characters very alive and hence, their actions affect our moods and their words echo in our minds. They also leave us many perspectives to sit and reflect upon. Little women, like most of the classics published during the time, does more than storytelling. According to Kavana V. (2019) the four March sisters are the main characters of the book. Meg, the elder sister, is a tender and a beautiful woman who looks like rose and dreams about meeting her prince charming and wed into a rich family so that she can finally live a life in which she does not have to sew, mend her old dresses to make them fit to be worn at parties and gatherings and worry about being poor. Jo, the next sister, is a rebellious and free-spirited girl, who does not care for the norms of society, dreams of becoming an authoress, loves her family dearly and considers love and marriage a hoax. Amy is the third March sister, who is an artist, a little selfish, believes that a real good woman has to be elegant and agreeable and resolves to marry a rich person. Beth, the youngest of the March sisters is a delicate and kind heart, who does not have any expectations about the future and only hopes to see every one of her family happy and works hard to keep the life of others in shape. The young little sisters had all these castles in the air imprinted on their minds. But they are not the kind who sit dreaming and let their lives pass. They work diligently and always keep an eye on their actions and thoughts, constantly trying to make their selves better. Their mother is their confidante and guru. The monotonous and peaceful life of the March family sees a positive change when the guy next door, Theodore Laurence (Laurie) becomes their friend. He and Jo hit it off instantly and an intense connection starts building between them.
According to Desmawati E. (2020) the children of the March family have worked hard to fulfill their needs and help their mother, they intend to buy something for their mother as a Christmas present by donating their hard-earned money. Their mother didn't say anything about their money, and won't wish them to give up everything. They wanted to buy what they want, and have a little fun; they're sure they work hard enough to earn it, Jo said, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner. The quotation describes the figure of women who can fulfill their own needs by working hard and have the opportunity to use their freedom to fulfill themselves. All of us has its own strengths and capabilities, we don't need to become dependent forever because we can do some works that boys can do. Just like in the story when their father has on duty and cannot be with the family, then one of them must be there to replace her father's position in the family. It describes the role of the family can change and can be a breadwinner. It is common that if you're the oldest or can play a role as a mother or father you must play the part of your mother of father if they are away. And it's stated woman’s conception or herself is a product of her social existence which is largely defined by the kind of work she does. In the story, because of Josephine a tomboyish thought of herself as a man who could replace her father while her father went on duty, she worked hard and helped her mother earn money and being a breadwinner for their family. One of the first things that we know about Jo March is Boyish, she would rather go out into the world and boldly make her own way than stay at home. Jo always do anything in her way and also does not care about the words of others, in the 19th century the depiction of a woman is by using a long skirt and also her long hairstyle, but not for Jo, she is styled as she wants and the characteristic of Jo occurs because she has a friend named Laurie, so her attitude in every day like man. And when Amy gets problems in the school because of ignorance of her friends then she should get punishment from a teacher at the school. It stated that women’s biology is closely related to their oppression, as well as all the manifestations of sexual violence. There is a protest about the labeling of women is the oppressed weak and the female body as the object of violence. Jo, as her sister protests over what the teacher has done to Amy, she feels uncomfortable with a physical punishment for a woman, because the female body is the main object of oppression by the power of men and women closely related to their oppression. Women are very sensitive when it comes to their bodies and words, that's why they were too emotional. They reacted too much, but women deserves respects and considerations from all.
Feminism is a movement of equality between men and women, equality between men and women concerning all rights and facilities obtained by men can also be obtained for women. Women want the same as men about access to capital, fulfill their needs, earn income and make women as an independent human being. Selves need for total freedom is too absolute to be shared. Women’s conception or herself is a product of her social existence which is largely defined by the kind of work she does. Women's biology is closely related to their oppression, as well as all the manifestations of sexual assault or as one who is the fundamental cause of women's oppression. Feminism is reflected by the struggle of the characters in survival, in placing itself in the world of men, in being comfort with themselves to do what they feel comfortable for them, as well as their protest form to no longer be the object of violence for men. According to Santi, NY. (2019) experience as the kind of feminist value is a crucial part, it is because through her experience so that the women can face their future. When the women met a failure or troubles in their lives, it could be helped by many experiences in the past.
Their characters are built on the ground of virtue and humble living. They evaluate their own shadows and repaint themselves and move forward despite pain and hardships, valuing character more than wealth and status. Hence, their lives seem more convincing. You can find all shades of a woman in the book and witness how they morph from young girls dreaming about their castles in the air into little women building solid little homes nourished by love and gratitude for every small thing that life offers them. A good woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed.
END!!!
REFERENCES
Desmawati E. (2020). Analysis of Feminism. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.35760/jll.2018.v6i2.2487
Kavana V. (2019). An analysis of Little Women and why I think separating Jo and Laurie was its biggest blunder. Retrieved from: https://medium.com/@kavanavvasishta1863/an-analysis-of-little-women-a-novel-by-louisa-may-alcott-949caa73d1c3
Santi, NY. (2019). Feminism Values In Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.. Retrieved from: file:///C:/Users/aspire/Downloads/1216-2403-1-SM%20(1).pdf
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