Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The novel, Little Women, is an accurate symbol of nineteenth century ideals; however it serves as an even more precise glance into the life of its author, Louisa May Alcott. In fact, when delving into the realm of Alcott's real-life biography and into the novel itself, it is often difficult to separate fact from fiction. The main characters found in Little Women are clearly based upon Alcott and her family; moreover, the maternal instincts and internal struggles that Alcott shouldered during her lifetime can also be found within much of the storyline of the novel. In addition, the author's attitudes towards Victorian societal ideals are demonstrated, as well as the similarities and differences of the attributes she gives to the novel's characters and to the actual members of her family.

One of the most prominent internal struggles that Alcott renders in the novel is her own feelings of guilt and inadequacy for being an independent, willful young woman during a time in which women were regarded as mere ornaments, shiny and pretty, but of no real intellectual value. This attitude was one that her real-life father, Bronson Alcott, subscribed to wholeheartedly, along with beliefs such as "children were tabulae rasae... that lighter coloring (like his) betokened a deeper spirituality and closer connection to divinity" (Wells). The fact that Louisa had dark hair, not to mention a flair for voicing her opinion and desires, led Bronson to view her as somewhat of a challenge, and he dedicated much of his energy to correcting her unruly ways.

Although Alcott does not bring this conflict openly to the storyline of the novel, she does express feelings of underlying guilt for not submitting to her father's ideals or expectations. Bronson's moralistic views can be found in the first chapter of the novel when the March family receives a letter from their father, who is away at war. In the letter the father writes: "I know they [the four daughters] will remember all I said to them, that they will be loving children to you [Marmee], will do their duty faithfully, fight their bosom enemies bravely, and conquer themselves so beautifully that when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women" (232). Alcott's feelings of guilt and remorse for not being all that her father wanted are evident in the response that Jo (the character that mirrors Alcott) gives after hearing her father's letter: "I'll try and be what he loves to call me, 'a little woman' and not be rough and wild, but do my duty here instead of wanting to be somewhere else" (232). It seems that Alcott was indeed torn between wanting to be the "ideal woman" that her father sought and from her strong desire of "wanting to be somewhere else". It is apparent that she never outgrew this desire, because even though a great deal of her life was spent at home caring for members of her family, ...