In Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Beth’s sudden illness, apparent recovery and tragic death lead readers on an emotional journey. Alcott often depicts Beth as the idealized “little woman” among the four March sisters. Despite Beth being arguably the least active main character and unrealistically perfect, she still establishes herself as the most beloved and relatable sister. Her character serves a distinct dual-purpose. For the March sisters, Beth reminds them to remain humble, and for readers, she represents ordinary life’s extraordinary nature.
From the novel’s beginning, Alcott establishes Beth as the
sister with the fewest burdens. In comparison to Meg’s elitist attitude, Jo’s
unruly behavior, or Amy’s selfish tendencies, Beth’s flaws are “dishes and
dusters, and envying girls with nice pianos, and being afraid of people” (14).
In comparison, these flaws prove trivial. Her genuine love for the piano
also models true passion to her sisters. Furthermore, both Meg and Jo
vocalize their sorrow and regret over Beth’s near death, respectively stating
that if Beth lives, to “never complain again” and “to love and serve [God]”
eternally (219). Beth makes the March sisters simultaneously reexamine
themselves and consider others. Without receiving explicit instruction from
Beth, the March sisters (excluding Amy) instinctively know to forget their own
troubles. Not only does Beth involve herself in the least plot conflict, she
also likely possesses the fewest lines of dialogue. Still, the March sisters
adore her and constantly learn from her, as exemplified in Jo’s beautiful
poetic ode (490-491). Ironically, Beth is a rather passive participant in Little Women yet assumes the role as an active catalyst for others’ self-criticism and self-reflection.
The March sisters demonstrate their clear love and devotion
for Beth. While readers can easily favor Beth for her simple, good
qualities, Alcott suggests to look further, noticing what Beth teaches about
daily life. After admitting that she feels herself dying, Beth does not make
grandiose requests. Jo saves money to vacation together, but Beth “[begs] not
to go so far away from home” for a “little visit to the seashore would suit her
better” (437). Even when opportunity presents itself, Beth chooses simplicity
over an exciting finish to life. This theme continues with how the March family
prepares a room filled with “everything that [Beth] most [loves]—flowers,
pictures, her piano, the little worktable, and the beloved pussies” (486). Her
looming death does not make her want to live any differently than usual.
Although Beth’s steadfast meek personality conflicts with themes of
independence or maturity, Alcott prioritizes a much more poignant lesson.
Finding joy in everyday life offers more internal satisfaction than external
glory. Also, Beth does develop in small, true-to-self ways. She grows
comfortable around stranger Mr. Laurence (76) and requests sisterly help during
her time of need (442). At its core, Little Women is a personal narrative capturing the beauty of day-to-day life, with drama, romance and moral lessons along the way. Beth subtly reminds the audience to appreciate this life, flaws and all, not to strive for unattainable perfection.
I think that this is an interesting and accurate description of Beth's role in the novel. During discussions in class, it was mentioned that we were confused by the fact that Beth seemingly had the least amount of flaws, yet was not rewarded in any way that was similar to her sisters. Jo was able to make a large sum of money for winning a writing contest, Amy was able to travel to Europe with her aunt, and Meg was able to find happiness in a simple yet lower class life. Beth, however, eventually dies from disease. Her death is seen as a stark contrast in comparison to her sister's lives. Despite the fact that all characters have flaws, they seem to be able to grow and mature out of them, however, Beth is not entirely given that chance. An interesting point made during discussion was the fact that going back to God, as in dying at a young age, can be seen as the greatest reward of all. It could be argued that because Beth had the least amount of growing to do, she was rewarded younger than her sisters by going to the happiest place of all- with God.
ReplyDeleteI really like the perspective you have offered on Beth in this post. As I was reading the novel, I could not help but wonder why Beth seemed to be such a beloved character; she does not really do anything, rarely engages with the plot in a meaningful way, and has little to say about or do with that which is happening around her. But I think you are right: it is the tiny ways Beth asserts herself to others, not the least of which is Mr. Laurence, who becomes her dear friend, that are integral to the story. Beth is always quick to support her sisters and celebrate her successes, as evidenced by the publication of Jo’s first story in the newspaper, when Beth “got excited, and skipped and sang with joy” (201). To the end, she does not ask for anything for herself, “and even while preparing to leave life, she tried to make it happier for those who should remain behind” (531). I think Beth herself serves as a catalyst for character development; she is a constant reminder to the other girls about the importance of kindness and gentility, of being of service to others. When Beth passes away, the sisters have learned these lessons, and she has fulfilled her duty as an example to them. Perhaps that is why her end is, in its own way, a reward: she does what she is meant to do, and does it well.
ReplyDeleteAlcott, Louisa May. Little Women. Sweetwater Press. 2013. Print.
I have already read Little Women and knew the ending to Beth’s storyline ahead of time, so I was able to pick up on some hints and cues that allude to Beth’s death throughout the novel. When Beth first recovers from her fever, her father says, “‘There’s so little of her [left], I’m afraid to say much, for fear she will slip away altogether’” (Alcott 206). Although she gets better, the fever severely weakened her and its after-effects are evident for years to come. At Meg’s wedding, Beth is “slender, pale, and more quiet than ever… It is the shadow of pain which touches the young face with such pathetic patience” (232). It seems that the “shadow of pain” still haunts her and that she is still not entirely healthy.
ReplyDeleteWhen Beth finally reveals her secret, Jo realizes that Beth had been “slowly drifting away from her” this whole time (341). Beth likens her failing health to the tide on the seashore: “‘when it turns, it goes slowly, but it can’t be stopped’” (342). Despite her meek personality and few lines of dialogue, her extraordinary nature manifests itself in her touching comparison of her sisters to various types of birds – Jo is the gull, Meg the turtledove, Amy the lark, and Beth the little gray-coated sand bird (343). Beth, our sweet little sand bird, accepts and embraces her fate by letting the tide go out easily, content with her positive impact on the many lives she’s touched during her time on earth.