"Little Women": Women in the Victorian Era

Paper Summary:

This paper explores how "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott, has shaped the way women since the Victorian Era have defined womanhood, family, and girlhood. The novel has a sense of realism because it is based on the author's family. The paper details Alcott's experiences while writing "Little Women" and summarizes the story. The paper argues that the novel is beloved throughout time, because it is a landmark in female self-expression unique for the late-19th century literature.

Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Louisa May Alcott
III. Synopsis
IV. Media Adaptations
V. Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Barely one generation after Charles Dickens had popularized the observance of Christmas, as a festive day in Protestant America, one of the most famous opening-lines in American literature became Jo March's lament, "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents!" Little Women (1868) is one the best loved classics of its time. Written by Louisa May Alcott this is the story of four sisters set in the nineteenth century England. Girls by the thousands, later millions, fell in love with it, and then passed it on to their daughters in turn, and so on."

More papers on "Little Women": Women in the Victorian Era:

• Essay # 137435 : "An Analysis of Class Representation of 19th Century Women in the Victorian Portrait "
• Term Paper # 94603 : "The Victorian Era and Religion"
• Essay # 54402 : "Coco Chanel"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: