Name: Edama, Midge Harley M.
Instructor: Angelie Mae Alar
Course/Year: BSED 2.3
“LITTLE WOMEN”
Reflection
Little Women is a famous novel written by Louisa May Alcott, first published in 1868.
The story follows the lives of the four March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy who grow up in
New England during the American Civil War. Alcott based the characters on her own family,
which makes the story feel real and relatable. Louisa May Alcott was an American author best
known for writing “Little Women.” She was born on November 29, 1832, in Germantown,
Pennsylvania. Alcott grew up in a family that valued education and creativity, which influenced
her writing from a young age. She faced many challenges in her life, including financial
struggles and the need to support her family. Despite this, she became a successful writer,
creating stories that often focused on strong female characters and their journeys. Alcott’s own
experiences as a woman in the 19 th century shaped her work and her desire to advocate for
women’s rights, making her an important figure in American literature.
The novel Is connected to the Victorian age, a time when society had strict rules about
how women should behave. In this period, women were often expected to stay at home and take
care of the family. However, the March sisters show different paths for women, especially Jo,
who wants to be a writer and live independently. This challenges the typical roles of women at
that time. Little Women remains significant today because it talks about important themes like
family, friendship, and following your dreams. Readers can still connect with the characters and
their struggles, making the story timeless. It encourages us to think about our own lives and the
choices we make, which is why it continues to be loved by many people around the world.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott shows how people lived during the Victorian age.
The characters’ lives reflect the challenges and opportunities of that time. One of the biggest
challenges was the limitation on women’s freedom. The characters in the novel, especially the
March sisters, face many restrictions because of their gender. Jo March, the main character,
wants to be a writer, but people around her think it’s not a suitable job for a woman. This shows
how women were not allowed to pursue careers they wanted. As Jo says, “I’d rather be a free
spinster and paddle my own canoe, than be a penniless wife and have to beg for every pinch of
salt!” This quote highlights the struggle women faced in choosing between independence and
marriage.
On the other hand, Amy March conforms to societal norms by marrying a wealthy man,
Laurie Laurence. This marriage secures her financial future and raises her social status. This
reflects the reality of many women’s lives during the Victorian era, who relied on marriage for
financial security. The characters' social standing and class also affect their relationships,
decisions, and opportunities. The March family is poor, which causes them many problems. In
contrast, the wealthy Laurence family helps the March sisters in many ways. For example,
Laurie helps Jo publish her writing, and his family introduces Amy to high society. This shows
how social connections and money can open doors to new opportunities. In addition, the novel
shows how women challenged societal norms. Jo rejects Laurie’s marriage proposal and decides
to pursue her writing career. Although people around her disapprove, Jo follows her dreams. This
reflects the growing desire for independence and self-reliance among women during the
Victorian era.
If we reflect the relevance of the novel in our time today it is really important for women
to look the right path of their life not just for women but to all of us, in life we experience
different challenges that make us think if we can pursue our dreams, but we should always think
that challenges and obstacle is not barrier to our success. The novel also teach us that sometimes
being selfish isn’t a bad thing just like Jo did, she refuse the love of Laurie because she want to
preserve her self to achieve her dreams. In addition, this novel encourage women to stand on
what they believe in, to be what they want to become in life and not to be limited because
woman has the most autonomy on their self. Let us always put in our mind and soul that we are
the tower of strength, a pilar of hope, and a champion of purpose
