Revisiting Little Women: Louisa May Alcott's Classic and Its On-Screen Legacy
Written by Louisa May Alcott and originally published in two volumes (1868-1869), Little Women stands as one of my all-time favorite novels.
The book holds a special place in my heart, as I first encountered it around the age of ten when my mom gifted me a collection of literary classics that included this timeless tale along with its sequel, Little Men. Growing up in Italy, my initial copy was an Italian edition, which despite showing signs of wear from multiple readings, remains cherished. Later, I acquired a stunning American edition as part of the Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics series, which I have also enjoyed reading multiple times.
The enduring appeal of Little Women may stem from its focus on female characters, which was quite rare for its time. Although narrated in the third person, the story largely unfolds through the perspectives of the March sisters, with male characters often serving as supporting figures in their lives.
The story is set in the 1860s and begins during the American Civil War; Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March live in the small town of Concord, Massachusetts (where Louisa May Alcott also wrote the book), and the first chapter introduces the sisters who are preparing to face a Christmas of hardships because of the war, with many concerns due to the fact that their father serves as chaplain for the Union Army. The March sisters exhibit distinct personalities, yet share a profound bond of affection. Meg, the eldest at sixteen when the story begins, is characterized by her rationality and strong sense of responsibility toward her siblings. Along with Jo, she strives to support the family, working as a governess while Jo helps their wealthy Aunt March. Jo, bold and outspoken, is deeply passionate about writing, with some of her stories being published in local newspapers to contribute to the family's finances.
Beth and Amy, the younger sisters, are still studying and are closely cared for by Meg and Jo. Beth is shy and quiet, loves music and playing the piano, as well as taking care of her cats and dolls. Twelve-year-old Amy is the youngest of all the sisters: she is artistic and very ambitious. She is quite opinionated for her age, always wanting to have her say, and she resents feeling excluded from the activities of her older sisters, which leads her to clash frequently with Jo’s character because they both have very strong personalities.
Throughout the novel, many characters enter the lives of the four sisters, including their beloved mother, Mrs. March. Living with them, she is a constant source of support and guidance, always ready to assist her daughters in their daily struggles. While offering her own perspective, she allows them the freedom to make mistakes and learn important life lessons on their own. Aunt March is both humorous and stern, and her influence on the girls, particularly Jo and Amy, becomes more evident as the story unfolds.
Other key characters include Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, the Marches' neighbor and Jo's close friend, who becomes an honorary member of the family through his deep bond with the sisters. Laurie’s grandfather, Mr. Laurence, and his teacher, Mr. John Brooke, who is slightly older than Meg, also play significant roles in the story, providing support to the girls during the difficult moments they face.
Little Women is a book rich in positive emotions, embodying traditional American values such as resilience, a sense of duty, and facing challenges with unwavering hope and faith in divine providence. It conveys the belief that, in the end, everything will work out for the best.
The March sisters endure hardships, grapple with internal and external conflicts, experience moments of joy, and navigate their paths, forging such a deep connection with the reader that by the conclusion of the novel, it feels as though we have come to know them intimately, as if they were real people living in our world.
Women and girls who have read Little Women likely feel a connection to one of the four March sisters. Many may aspire to identify with Jo, whose strong, rebellious spirit challenges the notion that women should be confined solely to the roles of wives and mothers. As the aspiring writer and Louisa May Alcott's alter ego, Jo symbolizes independence and liberation for women. However, as time goes on, it’s possible for one's perspective to evolve, leading to a stronger identification with a different March sister.
Currently, I find myself resonating most with Amy as the "little woman" I connect with the most. This sentiment may be influenced by Greta Gerwig’s film adaptation, where Florence Pugh’s portrayal adds depth to Amy's character, showcasing her as pragmatic and realistic despite her artistic aspirations. While Amy might initially be seen as the most vain and capricious of the March sisters, Gerwig presents her with rich depth and nuance that goes beyond surface appearances.
I believe Amy can be considered a feminist character on par with Jo; however, while Jo often feels confined by her beliefs and struggles to fit into the world around her, Amy embraces her femininity and believes that love and self-fulfillment can coexist without compromising her independence. She sees herself as an equal in her relationships with men, asserting her will while maintaining mutual respect.
Amy’s significant growth throughout the story makes her character evolution particularly compelling. I appreciate the various reinterpretations of Amy’s personality over the years, which have added depth to her portrayal and highlighted her journey of self-discovery.
Little Women has been adapted for the screen numerous times over the years, with notable versions including the 1918 silent movie adaptation and the 1933 Academy Award-nominated film featuring Katharine Hepburn. However, more recent adaptations have garnered significant attention from audiences.
I had the opportunity to watch the 1949 version, which stars Elizabeth Taylor as Amy. This film boasts excellent cinematography and won an Oscar for Art Direction and Set Decoration. It captures the essence of family values, making it a beloved classic characterized by the grace that distinguishes many films of its era.
However, each adaptation of Little Women is a reflection of the time in which it was created and reflects much of the zeitgeist of the time. I am more familiar with the 1994 adaptation because I have seen it plenty of times throughout the years (I own a DVD copy and the film has also been shown several times on TV). The 1994 adaptation features many renowned actors whose faces have become familiar through various roles over the years. Susan Sarandon plays the girls’ mother, Claire Danes portrays Beth, and Winona Ryder's performance as Jo remains one of her best to this day. I distinctly remember having a crush on Christian Bale as Laurie, and he continues to be one of my favorite actors. While both adaptations of Little Women—Gillian Armstrong’s 1994 version and Greta Gerwig’s more recent 2019 film—are expertly crafted, they each present multiple differences in their interpretations.
I previously noted that Gerwig breathed new life into the character of Amy, who tends to remain on the margins in the 1994 movie, particularly as an adult. In Gillian Armstrong’s Little Women, Amy comes across as more austere, while Gerwig’s version presents her as fresher and more youthful, coupled with a strong sense of self-awareness.
Beth's character is also well represented by Gerwig as a quiet but significant presence within the family. In contrast, the 1994 adaptation emphasizes her strong bond with Jo above all else.
In the two adaptations, the portrayal of the mother differs significantly. Susan Sarandon’s Mrs. March in the 1994 film symbolizes the head of the household, taking on the responsibility for crucial decisions. In contrast, Laura Dern’s interpretation in the 2019 film highlights her headstrong and adventurous spirit, emphasizing her similarities with Jo. Gerwig's adaptation presents a more vibrant depiction of the mother, while Sarandon's portrayal leans slightly somber, reflecting the challenges posed by the American Civil War.
Although Christian Bale and Timothée Chalamet’s portrayals of Laurie are both faithful to the novel, Greta Gerwig’s film gives the character a freshness, especially in his younger years. Gerwig's brilliant dialogue adds depth to Laurie’s relationship with Amy and modernizes the friendship between Laurie and Jo. This modernity extends to Jo's relationship with Professor Bhaer, who, in Gerwig's adaptation, is portrayed more closely to his age in the book, reflecting the fact that he is around 40 years old. The 1994 film, however, presents the Professor as older than his actual age, aligning more with the norms of the 1800s, where being 40 was considered "old."
In Gerwig’s movie, Meg, played by Emma Watson, is depicted as determined and perfectionistic, often facing comparisons with wealthier girls. This portrayal aligns closely with both the novel and previous adaptations of Little Women.
The structural differences between the two films are notable; the 1994 version follows the novel closely, starting with the March sisters’ Christmas scene in their Concord home. In contrast, Gerwig’s adaptation begins with Jo (brilliantly portrayed by Saoirse Ronan) presenting a manuscript she hopes to publish, representing an early draft of Little Women. This scene is followed by a beautiful sequence where Jo runs to the boarding house where she teaches in New York. Gerwig’s film shifts the focus toward the sisters as adults, with Jo reminiscing about events from their lives seven years prior, depicting major events from the first part of the novel through flashbacks.
A significant emphasis is placed on Jo’s character as a writer, with several captivating sequences devoted to the writing and printing process toward the film's conclusion. I have a slight preference for Gerwig's adaptation, especially for its fresh take on the story, which captures the timeless essence of Little Women while infusing it with modern sensibilities. Gerwig's portrayal of the strong bond among the March sisters and her skillful direction of the dialogues showcase how the novel continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.
She incorporates elements from the novel that deeply resonate with viewers, such as Mrs. March's poignant exchange with a man who lost his children to the war, highlighting a resilience that transcends time. The movie received excellent reviews from both critics and audiences. Tim Robey’s review for The Telegraph sums up the effort behind the adaptation: “It would be near-impossible to love Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women more than Greta Gerwig does.”
This underscores the enduring legacy of Louisa May Alcott's novel, which has resonated with readers across diverse generations and cultures over the years. It holds a special place among my most cherished books, and I am hopeful that its timeless appeal will continue to captivate and inspire readers for many more years to come.