Little Women

The second of the March sisters, Jo is 15 at the beginning of the novel. She blatantly expresses her yearning to be a boy; Jo is headstrong, energetic and brazen in her ways, relishing independence and adventure. Described as lanky, she has striking gray eyes and thick hair. Based on the author herself, Jo similarly pursues her literary ambitions and her desire to be a writer. Her fiery temper is her biggest obstacle to overcome, placing her in predicaments until she learns the importance of controlling it. Ultimately, Jo marries Professor Bhaer, in whom she meets a companion who can keep up with her values and better her as a person.

The third of the March sisters, Beth is 13 at the start of the novel and nicknamed by her father as “Little Tranquility” for her serene and shy character. A sweet brunette, the love of her life is the piano and she loses herself playing it. Always selfless and generous beyond fault, her only true wish is to be loved and to live for her family. Her untimely death is caused by complications from scarlet fever. In many ways, her character is too divine to exist in the real world. She is close to Jo, who calls Beth her “conscience,” and Beth’s death has a lasting impact on Jo.

The youngest of the March sisters, Amy is 12 when the story opens. Her family calls her “Little Raphael” for her artistic tendencies, as she shows a natural talent for the visual arts. Manners and appearance matter to Amy. By Part 2, she is a beautiful blonde with blue eyes and a sense of elegance and refinement. She has a tendency to be obsessed with looks and a partiality toward high society. However, it is her understanding of the world and how to please which presents her the opportunity to travel Europe and, in the end, marry Laurie. Unlike her other sisters, she manages to attain a balance by procuring both spiritual and worldly benefits.

The head of the family, Mr. March is away to complete his duties to the nation by serving as a chaplain for the Union Army in the Civil War. For the first part of the novel, the women are left alone to overcome their struggles in anticipation of his return. When he becomes ill, his wife goes to tend to him in Washington, DC, with the aid of John Brooke. Later, he surprises his family with his return for Christmas. Described as philosophical, compassionate, well-spoken, and calm, the slightly gray-haired scholar spends his days in his library and is the family’s guide and counsel. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s father, who subjected the family to poverty because there was no livelihood from his educational experiments—which were often found to be eccentric and met with criticism—Mr. March is both the dream of a father Alcott wished for and the reality of a father that was not quite there for them.

The glue of the family, Mrs. March is the matriarch who embodies the importance of principles, emotional strength, inner wisdom, and duties toward one’s family and humankind, by leading a life full of faith. Believing in the value of hard work and conducting oneself as a person of responsibility, she is witnessed providing assistance to those that are in positions of less fortune such as the Hummels. She is also a source of support for her daughters. Although God and Mr. March are vital figures for the girls, it is Mrs. March who is their confidante, always ready to listen and impart her wisdom upon them as they journey through their lives.

Literally the boy next door, Laurie is the Marches’ neighbor. Upon the death of his parents, he lives with his stern but kind paternal grandfather and is described as possessing the same dark eyes and brown skin as his late Italian mother. Laurie has also inherited her musical abilities. His grandfather is possessive of him but allows him to engage with the Marches as he believes them to be of fine character. The Laurences are prosperous in relation to the Marches, but this difference in class does not prevent friendship among the children, with Laurie and Jo becoming very close. However, after he graduates college, Laurie professes his love for Jo, who rejects his romantic proclamations and considers him a brother. When he goes to Europe, he is depicted as being lazy and self-indulgent. In the end, it is with Amy’s direction that he understands his duties and discovers that she is the one he is meant to be with.

The grandfather of Laurie, Mr. Laurence is an old friend of Mrs. March’s father. Although he appears to be intimidating and gruff, he has a big heart and a considerate nature. Previously, he disapproved of his son’s marriage with a foreign woman, but after their demise, he is the diligent guardian of his grandson. Often, he is the benefactor of the Marches during times of crisis, as he has a soft spot for them—especially Beth, who reminds him of his late granddaughter. Secretly, he wishes for Laurie to marry one of them; this wish comes true when Laurie marries Amy. In the end, Amy and Laurie take care of the aging Mr. Laurence.

The tutor of Laurie, Mr. Brooke is a sensible, hard-working, and honest young man with kind, brown eyes who appears to have no family. He begins to harbor feelings for Meg, which are first visible during a picnic hosted by Laurie. There, Brooke defends Meg in front of Kate Vaughn and keeps one of her gloves. Initially, Meg has no feelings for him, but when Aunt March attacks him, she realizes his many qualities and his capacity to provide her a happy home. After his stint in the army, Mr. Brooke takes a job as a bookkeeper in Mr. Laurence’s offices. With Meg, he has the twins, Daisy and Demi.

A famous professor in Berlin who has come to the United States to support his sister’s sons, Professor Bhaer works humbly as a language teacher. He is depicted as a man close to 40 with grey-black hair and a face that is not traditionally handsome. Professor Bhaer becomes attractive to Jo due to his benevolence, his intellect, his work ethic and his good way with children, who seem to love him. He meets Jo in Mrs. Kirke’s boarding house and influences her when he convinces her to stop writing sensation stories. In the end, he marries Jo and together they create an educational utopia for boys, one in which they also raise their sons and nephews.

Seen as an irritable and particular elderly lady, Aunt March is Mr. March’s aunt who cares for the sisters in her strict way. Because she is rich and alone, she offered to take one of the girls in. When she is denied, she takes Jo as her companion. Aunt March admires Jo’s energy, even though the young woman has a willful persona. However, when Amy is sent to her house during the time of Beth’s scarlet fever, she starts to show a fondness for Amy’s pleasing manners and convinces Aunt Carrol to take Amy to Europe. In the end, she bequeaths her estate, Plumfield, to Jo.

The family servant of the Marches. It is revealed that Hannah taught Mrs. March how to cook and has been with them when they were living in more abundant times; now, it is her loyalty that has kept her with them.

The Hummels are a German immigrant family who are in need and live near the Marches. Mrs. March and the girls give up their Christmas breakfast for them early in the novel; later, while taking care of the Hummels, Beth contracts scarlet fever.

Aristocratic British friends of Laurie, the Vaughns visit him during his vacation and become acquainted with the March girls. They consist of Kate, twins Fred and Frank, and Grace. They have a polished and wealthy upbringing that stands out in comparison to the values and background of the Marches. Earlier, Meg is snubbed by Kate for being a governess, although she admits Meg is nice. Later, Amy continues to be friends with Grace, and she almost marries Fred for his wealth, until she realizes she is not capable of loving him.

The Moffats are a family described as wealthy but with no values or principles; they represent a hollow part of society. In the beginning, Meg attends one of their parties and finds herself charmed by their luxuries and their opulent life. However, upon experiencing the gossip and the excess, she understands that this way of life is not her ideal.