Why “Little Women” should be on the English curriculum
By Imogen McVey
I’m sure almost everyone has heard of Louisa May Alcott’s famous 1868 novel “Little Women” and has possibly read it or watched a movie adaptation. Many adults recommend it but, obviously, schools don’t study it. This book is recommended for children but it does look at serious topics such as war, illness and complicated love.
The story, in a nutshell, follows the March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy through their child/teen life and early years of adulthood. All including their good friend Theodore Lawrence, or Laurie, who ends up marrying Amy.
The books’ focus on the love triangle between Laurie, Jo and Amy could help students learn about different relationships and how hurtful and complicated they can be. Their story shows how Laurie is in love with Jo throughout most of the novel. At Meg’s wedding, Laurie finally asks Jo’s hand in marriage, to which she rejects. Amy has been in love with Laurie since she met him. After his rejection, Laurie realises he’s in love with Amy and the two end up married. Some students could relate to their story like with the feeling of rejection and the act of liking or even loving someone.
Beth’s illness and sudden death could make more students be interested in family issues or even different Victorian illnesses. Beth catches Scarlett Fever and passes away later in the book. This could teach the students about how different families cope with different issues. Her death could also be studied further and be seen as symbolic. Beth is the most timid and quiet out of the four so, she could have been too fragile to live in Alcott’s strong, fictional world.
The story is set in the civil war which could add another aspect of learning in the story. The sister’s father is fighting in the civil war during the novel so students could learn more about the war and the effects while reading through the book.
The stories’ touch on feminism is an important subject to learn and read about.
Throughout the story, Jo continuously says she doesn’t want to marry and that she can go through life on her own, which in the 1800s was a strong statement to make. Both Jo and Amy’s view on marriage is a main point. They both describe marriage as economical proposition and, while the two still marry and their sister Meg’s life goal was to get married, their strong feminist views could make the students like and relate to them.
This book is seen as a classic and has many factors to it which I believe students would enjoy learning about.
By Imogen McVey
I’m sure almost everyone has heard of Louisa May Alcott’s famous 1868 novel “Little Women” and has possibly read it or watched a movie adaptation. Many adults recommend it but, obviously, schools don’t study it. This book is recommended for children but it does look at serious topics such as war, illness and complicated love.
The story, in a nutshell, follows the March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy through their child/teen life and early years of adulthood. All including their good friend Theodore Lawrence, or Laurie, who ends up marrying Amy.
The books’ focus on the love triangle between Laurie, Jo and Amy could help students learn about different relationships and how hurtful and complicated they can be. Their story shows how Laurie is in love with Jo throughout most of the novel. At Meg’s wedding, Laurie finally asks Jo’s hand in marriage, to which she rejects. Amy has been in love with Laurie since she met him. After his rejection, Laurie realises he’s in love with Amy and the two end up married. Some students could relate to their story like with the feeling of rejection and the act of liking or even loving someone.
Beth’s illness and sudden death could make more students be interested in family issues or even different Victorian illnesses. Beth catches Scarlett Fever and passes away later in the book. This could teach the students about how different families cope with different issues. Her death could also be studied further and be seen as symbolic. Beth is the most timid and quiet out of the four so, she could have been too fragile to live in Alcott’s strong, fictional world.
The story is set in the civil war which could add another aspect of learning in the story. The sister’s father is fighting in the civil war during the novel so students could learn more about the war and the effects while reading through the book.
The stories’ touch on feminism is an important subject to learn and read about.
Throughout the story, Jo continuously says she doesn’t want to marry and that she can go through life on her own, which in the 1800s was a strong statement to make. Both Jo and Amy’s view on marriage is a main point. They both describe marriage as economical proposition and, while the two still marry and their sister Meg’s life goal was to get married, their strong feminist views could make the students like and relate to them.
This book is seen as a classic and has many factors to it which I believe students would enjoy learning about.
