After recently watching Little Women in theaters, I am so inspired by the story. I’ve already checked around to see where I can get a reasonably priced copy of the book. I really saw myself in some of the characters. Turns out that even though the story was written way long ago, the way the women deal with dating and love is surprisingly similar to modern day dating. If you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, *spoiler alerts* ahead.
The story has love triangles for sure, but the most integral conflict that each woman faces is balancing her own happiness with her responsibilities to the family. From a young age, the women are taught to be selfless and always serving. The family often visits the homeless, and gives what they can to the less fortunate. The women are faced with pressure from their Aunt to marry rich and support their family, but see how happy their Mom and Dad are as well. Mr. and Mrs. March however never pressure their children to marry rich or anything, and encourage them to pursue what they are passionate about. The family is seen putting on plays together, and each girl has her own hobby and passion. Jo is an avid writer, Amy a striking artist, Beth an incredible piano player, and Meg a rising actress. The men that Jo, Meg, and Amy each end up with speaks a lot to each of their characters, and how they treat their male suitors reflects their own characters as well.
A closer look at the sisters
Meg- the oldest sister, a good girl, follows social norms. She falls in love with the neighbor tutor. They love each other and sometimes struggle with money, but are always on the same team. She really enjoys acting, but wants to get married and be a good wife as well. As the oldest, Meg is never one to break rules, but when she does, she is super hard on herself. She is a good girl inside out.
Amy- the second-to- youngest. She gets angry when she doesn’t get attention (same), and has had a crush on Laurie forever. She’s not afraid to make the first move when she likes someone. Throwback to when she makes a mold of her foot to remind Laurie that she has nice feet. You go, girl. She’s also tired of being second to Jo all the time. Goes to Paris to foster her interest in painting and meet a nice rich man. (A good economic move). Fearless, assertive, and bold. Eventually, Laurie and her get married and are happy together.
Jo- Strong, ambitious, and passionate. Loves writing. She is comfortable in her own skin and is not afraid to go after what she wants. Very independent and free. Runs away from boys and pushes them away. The closer they try to get to her, the more she distances herself (same, yikes). Even if she loves them. She is never one to chase a man, and does not want to get married. But also, is super lonely. The french dude is super into her, but when he tells her that her writing is not good (how dare he), she gets mad and leaves. The dude is so into her that he shows up to Concord, MA and ends up meeting the entire family. He tells everyone that he is going to California for work. Besides, it’s not like he has a reason to stay *hint hint* @Jo. Eventually, with the help of her entire family she musters the courage to tell the french dude she is into him.
Beth- Rest in peace, dear Beth. The youngest daughter. Super sweet, wholesome, and shy. Befriends Mr. Lawrence next door because of her fire piano skills. She is always encouraging of her sisters to pursue their passions. Although we don’t get to see her when she is older, I would hope that she meets a super sweet dude. The type of guy who, when no one hears what she said in the convo, would take the time to acknowledge what she said. We love those men.
Overall, loved this movie. Definitely recommend it. Which character do you most resonate with? Are we all a little combination of all these women?
Life of an Aloo 