Life Lessons from 'Little Women'

by: Aribah Shafa

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women was first published in the late 1860s. Even after 162 years later, the book remains remarkably popular. Its most recent film adaptation in 2019, starring amongst them are Saoirse Ronan and Emma Watson, and directed by Greta Gerwig was its seventh film adaptation of the novel. It follows the lives of the March women: Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth. Each sister struggles with the hardships of daily life, growing up, and their father being away at war - taking place in the middle of America’s civil war, sometime in the early 1860s.  Whether you have personally read the novel or watched the film (or both), there are essential life lessons that you can pick from them!

1. Passion with Persistence is Key

Jo's fiery, headstrong personality gets her in a lot of trouble. Her success is due to her ability to balance compassion and perseverance. With only her passion, she would have given up on rejection and probably isolated everyone in her life. She struggles with her role in her family, society, and her self-esteem. She, on the other hand, never gives up! We celebrate her success because she is an unlikely leader and a beautiful heroine.

2. No Dreams are Unimportant

This lesson can be learned from Meg, who aspired to marry Mr. Brooke and become the mother of his children. Jo begs Meg not to marry, puts her down, and tells her she will be a miserable wife. Unlike Meg, Jo's ambitions were to become a famous author and to never stop having fun. Meg reminds us all to have the courage to advocate for ourselves. This life has been given to us to live, and if we have dreams, we must pursue them. “Just because my dreams are different than yours, doesn’t mean they are unimportant” - Meg March. 

3. No Matter How Hard, Try to Forgive

Jo was determined to hate and disown Amy for the rest of their lives after a petty sibling fight. When Amy nearly dies in a skating accident, Jo realizes that holding grudges leads to bitter regret rather than a sense of righteousness. Anger, frustration, and bitterness are all natural emotions that make us human. These feelings are valid and, at times, healthy, but allowing them to fester can cause harm not only to others but also to yourself.

4. Everyone Should Know How to Support Themselves

Meg and Jo, the two eldest March sisters, are only 15 and 16 at the start of the book, but after the family fell on hard times, they insisted on working - Meg as a governess and Jo as a companion to their wealthy aunt. Later on, Amy takes over as Aunt March's companion while Jo works as a writer. Except for Beth, who is sickly, the girls are all able to work, even at a time when young middle-class women are expected to do little outside the home and focus on finding a husband to support them.

5. Be Grateful for What You Have

Despite her best efforts, Meg, the eldest of the March girls, is frequently dissatisfied with what she has. Surrounded by wealthy friends, she pines for their fancy clothes, lavish parties, and ability to avoid work in order to attend theaters, parks, and expensive dinners. Meg, who is always secretly wishing for more, does not realize how fortunate she is until Beth becomes ill. Only then does she realize that all of the material things in the world are meaningless without her sister.