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A review by erine
Little Women or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy by Louisa May Alcott
5.0
I’ve read and reread Little Women countless times and it remains a cosy headspace, a comforting retreat, an odd but endearing mishmash of quaintness and practicality. Morals abound in Little Women, but many of them are not outdated. The values of hard work, teamwork, forgiveness, reigning in your temper, and generosity are incorporated with a heavy hand but are woven in with endearing comical or heartwarming stories.
The only element that really stuck in my craw was the idea that women need a man to provide discipline to themselves and to children. Neither Marmee nor Meg seem like idiots, and yet the moment Meg gets married she loses all sense, and apparently Marmee also required a Man to show her the way. *eyeroll* Upon further reflection, though, these little women are mostly independent of men, with these few grating exceptions.
I was kind of amazed at just how much doesn’t sound dated 150 years later. Jo’s struggles with rigid gender stereotypes, Laurie’s disgust at being friendzoned, the importance of generosity and friendship and family all still ring very true. The ever-present challenge of being content with what you have, but also to reach for higher things or be a better self is another universal and timeless struggle.
The only element that really stuck in my craw was the idea that women need a man to provide discipline to themselves and to children. Neither Marmee nor Meg seem like idiots, and yet the moment Meg gets married she loses all sense, and apparently Marmee also required a Man to show her the way. *eyeroll* Upon further reflection, though, these little women are mostly independent of men, with these few grating exceptions.
I was kind of amazed at just how much doesn’t sound dated 150 years later. Jo’s struggles with rigid gender stereotypes, Laurie’s disgust at being friendzoned, the importance of generosity and friendship and family all still ring very true. The ever-present challenge of being content with what you have, but also to reach for higher things or be a better self is another universal and timeless struggle.