Little Women

All the March sisters have a burden that they must conquer, as does Marmee. Do the male figures in the novel have any burdens that they must overcome? Are they expected to deal with them in the same manner as the women?

Mr. and Mrs. March bestow upon their children certain ideas regarding love, money, and work, which they expect the sisters to uphold. In which instances have the sisters either benefitted or suffered from these ideals?

How is Beth different than her sisters?

In Little Women, there are references to God, faith, prayer and Christianity. In fact, John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is given by Marmee to the children as a guide for their daily lives. What purpose does religion serve in the novel, both to the development of the characters and the plot? Is it fair to call the book a Christian novel?

In the novel, how does the Civil War affect the story? What does Alcott choose to reveal or exclude about the war? Is her intention conscious or not, and why do you think so?

How is Jo more “male” than Laurie, and how is Laurie more “female” than Jo, given traditional gender roles of the time?

Little Women has been hailed as a feminist story for the depictions of strong female characters and men serving as a complement to the women and the plot. Do you agree, and if not, what conflicts prevent it from being feminist literature?

All of the sisters, with the exception of Beth, get married. However, if the men they marry represent something for each, what does it mean when Meg chooses Mr. Brooke against Aunt March’s opinion; when Jo chooses Professor Bhaer instead of Laurie; and when Amy chooses Laurie over Fred?