How much do the “Little Women” Actually Change?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is an enlightening story to read. It follows the lives of four girls that learn to grow up and live happily, despite their individual faults. Ultimately, they learn to place love and happiness over materialistic wealth. One might note how Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth all overcome their flaws and live happily as women. I would argue that the “little women” do not change drastically in their lives, rather they learn to be happy and accept themselves for who they are.

Amy began her life as a “selfish pig” (9). She claimed that the greatest trial of her life was her nose, which was quite comical. Throughout the novel, Amy was very materialistic. She even says that she would marry a man simply for his wealth. She grows and changes her opinion on these things, and she learns to love others more than herself. She proves this by marrying Laurie, not for his wealth but for his character. However, even when she does this, she still was “taking conjugal strolls over velvet carpets” (467).        

Jo’s greatest flaw is her “quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit” (38). She struggles throughout the novel to grow up and behave like a woman. It is not until she marries Professor Bhaer and creates a school for boys that she is truly happy. By being surrounded by children and a loving husband, she is able to be herself. Unlike the other girls, Mr. Bhaer and her enjoyed walks “along muddy roads and sodden fields” (467). This is a part of her character that she never changes, even though she grows to be a loving mother and wife.

Meg improves upon her character flaw, which is her fondness of luxury. However, the improvement does not come without conflicts. She married a poor man, recognizing the trials she would face in the future. When she said to John that she was “tired of being poor,” it led to one of the married couple’s first arguments (283). Besides this, she always had a motherly attitude about herself that she carried with her for the rest of her life. She is successful in raising her family and loves her husband dearly.

In the end, each of the March children keeps core pieces of their personalities with them for their entire lives. While nothing substantial can be said for Beth because of her short life, she persisted throughout the novel as a “peacemaker,” and she continued to be this after her death. All the while, Meg, Jo, and Amy grow to be happy women. In the end of the novel, the three sisters reflect on their old “castles in the air” (489). While each of the sisters acknowledges that their dreams were changed, they realize they are happy in their new lives. Their goals were achieved not by considerably altering who they were as individuals, but by using their unique characteristics to be good women.