Little Women is a
novel by
Louisa May Alcott published on
September 30,
1868, concerning the lives and loves of four sisters growing up during the
American Civil War. It was based on Alcott's own experiences as a child in
Concord, Massachusetts. Through their dreams, plays, pranks, letters, illnesses, and courtships, women of all ages have become a part of this remarkable family and have felt the deep sadness when Meg leaves the circle of sisters to be married at the end of Part I. Part II, chronicles Meg's joys and mishaps as a young wife and mother, Jo's struggle to become a writer, Beth's tragedy, and Amy's artistic pursuits and unexpected romance.
Josephine or Jo The
protagonist of the
novel. Jo is a
tomboy and the second-oldest sister. She is very outspoken and has a passion for
writing. Her bold nature often gets her into trouble. She is especially close to her younger sister Beth, who helps her become a gentler person. Jo cuts off her long hair "her best feature" - as Amy calls it, and sells it to a
wig shop to get money for her mother to visit their father, a wounded
Civil War chaplain. She refuses the proposal of
marriage from family friend Theodore Laurence Laurie, and later marries Professor Fritz Bhaer.
Margaret or Meg The eldest sister. She is described as being very pretty and somewhat vain about her looks, with smooth hair and small, white hands. She is the most responsible and helps run the household in her mother's absence. Meg also guards Amy from Jo. Due to the family's poverty she must work as a
governess for wealthy friends. Meg learns to tolerate being poor, and eventually discovers that true worth does not lie with money. She falls in love with Mr. John Brooke, Laurie's poor
tutor. She eventually marries Mr. Brooke and bears twin children, Margaret and John, Jr.
Elizabeth or Beth The second-youngest sister, is a quiet, kind young woman who loves playing the
piano and looking after her dolls. She is docile and shy almost to a fault. Beth also engages with charity. While her mother is nursing their father, she contracts
scarlet fever from a poor family and nearly dies. She never fully recovers after her illness, and dies young in
Good Wives. She is described as having a round face, and appearing younger than her years.
Amy: The youngest sister and a talented
artist, Amy is described as a beautiful young girl with golden hair (often in curls) and blue eyes (she is described as having the general traits of a "snow maiden"). She cares about her family, but is also quite self-centered and
vain, often feeling the need to have what all of the other girls have and feeling that she is of high importance. In her youth she is slightly spoiled and is inclined to throw tantrums when things do not go her way, being often "petted" since she was the youngest. She eventually travels abroad thanks to her aunt, and finally marries Laurie in Good Wives.
Marmee The girls' mother and head of household while her husband is away. She engages in charitable works and attempts to guide her girls' morals and shape their characters. (Her name is also Margaret.)
Theodore Laurie Laurence: A charming, playful, and
rich young man who lives next door to the March family with his stern grandfather. He is often misunderstood by his grandfather, who loves him, yet worries that Laurie will follow in his father's footsteps. After Jo refuses to marry him he flees to
Europe to study
art. While there, he falls in love with and marries Amy.
Aunt March: A rich
widow. She lives alone in her
mansion and Jo is employed to wait on her each day. Actually Mr. March's aunt, she disapproves of his family's charitable work and loss of wealth, while throwing her weight around with hers. Amy is sent to be Aunt March's companion when Beth is ill. Though at first she is dismayed, her tenure there does the spoiled little girl good, and Aunt March eventually pays for her to travel in Europe, replacing Jo and depriving her of her long-awaited trip to Europe.
Professor Friedrich (Fritz) Bhaer: A poor,
German immigrant, who lives in Mrs. Kirke's boarding house and tutors her children. He and Jo become friends and he critiques Jo's work, encouraging her to become a serious writer instead of writing "sensation" stories for weekly tabloids. The two eventually marry.
