Recently Read: Little Women

I finished my re-read of Little Women right about the same time that the trailer for Greta Gerwig's film adaptation was released. The news that a new version of the classic story was being released was the inspiration for a long-overdue revisit of this charming tome overflowing with heart-- and no matter how the film turns out (fingers crossed its fantastic) inspiring this return is something I will be grateful to it for.


Little Women, written by Louisa May Alcott and originally published in 1868 tells stories that are very much still relevant today. These are stories of the March sisters, women with unique ambition. Between these ambitions not one is treated as better than the other-- each has its own value.
Before I move to anything else: yes, marriage is a significant plot point and characters get married-- but it is not treated as the goal. And within these marriages there are challenges and growth. Marriage is not the end, it is another adventure of living. Beyond this, each of the March women have their own unique dreams, and these dreams are so supported by their parents, sisters and friends-- but not blindly. None of the girls are ever told that things will just happen. They are encouraged to work hard and learn to be better through experiences. Even better they are allowed to learn these things in their own way.

Between the covers of this book are stories of people, of family, of love. There are also descriptions of the challenges of life. Each character wrestles their own faults, and must learn to find the strength in them: vanity, selfishness, shyness or a quick temper. They face challenges of growing up in poverty, with a family member away at war. They face illness and long-distances apart and challenges of their own invention (the worst type in my opinion). Because of these challenges religion is mentioned but it is not pervasive-- it us just another strength in these women's lives.

It also cannot be missed that I believe that this book has one of the most beautifully written deaths I have ever read. It is intensely sad, but written in such a loving way that transforms it to a beauty that I can't seem to capture in words no matter how I try. Loss and grief is a challenge we all face, and it is a challenge that will never really change no matter how the world around us does.

Though written centuries ago, Little Women was (and unfortunately is) in many ways very bold and progressive. From the fiercely independent Jo--to the platonic, albeit complicated, male-female friendship -- Alcott writes with no need to justify or apologize for these traits (something many still struggle with today).

Little Women is so well-deserving of the term classic. No matter the century, decade, day-- the reader can identify with at least one (if not all, at certain points) of the March sisters and their lovingly loyal friends and family. The way Alcott writes restores the readers faith in the relationships we have in our lives: mother, father, neighbor, sister, best friend, even the acquaintance met only one time. Each person we encounter has impact, we form connections that help shape who we are-- but not make us who we are-- Jo March makes it very clear that who we are is very much up to what we believe, do, and dream to be.