Signet Essay Contest Winner 2016: Rachel Reichard

 The titular phrase of Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women is undoubtedly important to both its characters and its readers. However, some may find the meaning of the pet name ‘little woman’ belittling when used in reference to the main characters, the March sisters. They believe it implies that the sisters are nothing more than feminine stereotypes, doomed to live as dainty, passive housewives. Fortunately, this is far from the truth. Time and time again, these sisters defy the restrictions of their gender, which makes them admirable and relatable women that modern girls can look up to. Alcott strategically uses the phrase “little woman” to help the March sisters emotionally connect to other characters, as well as challenge them to break the molds set for them by society. These factors prove Alcott’s overall message of the novel, which is that little women have enormous power when they refuse to accept the limits set for them simply because of their gender.

Readers are first introduced to the ‘little woman’ moniker in a letter from the father of the March sisters. In his parting words on page 15, he tells his daughters “they will conquer themselves so beautifully that when I come back to them I will be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women.” While some may view this quote as possessive, due to Mr. March referring to the girls as his little women, it is used instead to establish a paternal and protective tone. It clearly demonstrates Mr. March’s faith in his daughters’ abilities to become good people, but also shows that he understands that they are still young with much left to learn. He offers positive encouragement to the sisters as they struggle with missing their father, giving them the motivation to be strong in his absence. Because of Mr. March’s affectionate use of the words ‘little women’, it is easy to see the deep father-daughter bond that these characters share.

Interestingly, Amy March is the character most prominently referred to as a ‘little woman’. This may seem simple enough, since she is the youngest of four sisters, but there is actually a much deeper meaning behind it. The name is used to develop Amy’s character, as well as that of her husband, Laurie. For example, when the spouses were still just childhood friends, Laurie tried to convince Amy to listen to her sisters by telling her, “Now be a sensible little woman, and do as they say.” (Page 314) This presents both of the characters as immature and stubborn. Laurie uses the name sarcastically, similar to the tone of an annoyed older brother. However, as they grow up and fall in love, the meaning changes. This is evident in the conversation between Laurie and Jo once the newlyweds return home. Jo teases Laurie on the way that he constantly refers to Amy as his wife, and he responds, “She’s such a captivating little woman I can’t help being proud of her.” (Page 779) Laurie proves that he has matured based on the way that he uses the feminine titles of ‘wife’ and ‘little woman’ with such a great deal of pride, which mirrors the way that Mr. March used the pet name in the beginning of the novel. This connection to two of the central male figures in the March sisters’ lives further proves ‘little woman’ to be a positive and prideful term of affection.

One of the fascinating things about the March sisters is that they all had the potential to be traditional female stereotypes. However, Alcott choses to present them as strong, yet flawed, women who become even more dynamic as the story progresses. For example, Meg starts out as extremely materialistic, yet she marries a poor tutor named John Brooke, and she lives a humble life as his equal. Jo is masculine and brash, (making her an easy candidate for the spinster stereotype) yet she is paired off with the gentle and demure Professor Bhaer. While Beth was presented as weak and timid, she fearlessly sacrificed her health to help a family in their time of need. And then there’s selfish little Amy, the only person unyielding enough to talk sense into Laurie after he sulked for months because of Jo’s rejection to his marriage proposal. If these are the people that Louisa May Alcott deems worthy enough to call ‘little women’, then it certainly describes women of high moral caliber with an admirable refusal to accept derogatory social norms.