Resumo de Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Aptly titled, the book is about the lives, experiences and childhood lessons of four young sisters, who through each chapter of living and learning, mature into little women as the book progresses. The storyline centres on the commonplace, everyday living of a family. To some, the plot may sound unexciting and humdrum. The talent of Alcott lies in transforming an otherwise prosaic plot into a remarkable and memorable story that inspires and strikes a chord in most hearts.

Four sisters, each with very different personalities and temperaments collectively decide to embark on a ?Pilgrim?s Progress? where they seek to become better people. Along the way, they are each faced with personal trials and little adventures that develop their characters and personalities. Meg is sophisticated and a rare beauty. Being the eldest, she remembers the time when Father was rich and while she wishes for the same pretty clothes of her friends and the nice things that money can buy, she learns to stand up for her own style and be content with the simpler things in life. Jo is volatile, headstrong and explosive. She wishes she were a boy and could fight alongside her father in the Civil War. With a fiery temper, events in her life soon teach her that it is infinitely better to master her temper than give in to rage and harsh words. Beth is quiet, content, compassionate and loving. Sadly though, she catches scarlet fever and the reader is left hanging, desperate to find out if the sweet, caring and very likeable Beth pulls through or is lost forever. Amy, the youngest, is preoccupied with petty concerns, trying too hard to act grown up and womanly and constantly worrying about the shape of her nose. Another genuinely likeable character is Mrs March (Marmee), who is the pillar of strength and wisdom, a perfect role model for the girls.

The book is a sweet and pure story of lovely girls trying their best to be perfect in their mother?s eyes. This in itself makes it a warming read. More importantly, the story comes with very valuable lessons for the reader. Although set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the problems faced by the characters resonates with ours in today?s world.

A timeless lesson about anger and forgiving comes through in this book. Sisterly spites and quarrels between Jo and Amy, whose personalities could not be more different than night and day, end up with Amy setting alight a book Jo had painstakingly crafted for many years. The wickedness of Amy?s act and the immense sense of loss of her beloved writings, never to be retrieved from the flames, seems too much to bear and Jo vows never to forgive Amy. When that stubborn anger almost results in the death of Amy, Marmee?s lesson ?Never let the sun go down on your anger? rings loud and clear in Jo?s ears and she vows never to be so consumed by rage, as one never knows what may be lost the next day. The Marches are also put through some trying times, coming close to losing first their father than Beth. The book makes a strong point about the importance of family love, health, friends and neighbourliness. The book also highlights the lesson about being diligent and not being mistaken thinking that the life without chores and work would be better and easier than the life with. Work and duties, though tiring, is essential and can be an enriching and fulfilling part of life.
Altogether, this is an uplifting read.

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