Little Women Summary In Plots And Characters

Little Women summary is important to know to better understand the book. Little Women is a novel written by the author Louisa May Alcott that was published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869 at the request of her publisher. After, that it became a best-selling and one of the most criticized books of that time.

Throughout this article; I’m going to summarize the novel and take out an analysis for your best reading experience. Firstly I’ll give you a short description of the author; then I’m going to write the Little Women summary. And, at the last, I’ll write a simple analysis of the book.

About The Author Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was an American author best known for her novel “Little Women” and its sequels “Little Men” and “Jo’s Boys”. Raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents, she grew up among many well-known intellectuals of the day.

Alcott’s family suffered from financial difficulties, and she worked to help support the family from an early age. She was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. “Little Women” is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts,

and is loosely based on Alcott’s childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.

Little Women Summary in Plots And Characters

To get the Little Women summary, continue this reading cause I’m going to give Little Women summary in plots first and then I’ll give Little Women Summary in characters. So let’s start the Little Women summary by plots.

“Little Women” is a coming-of-age novel that follows the lives of the four March sisters- Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy- and throughout the novel, their passes from childhood to womanhood are detailedly discussed. The novel was published in two volumes.

Little Women Summary In plots

The novel begins with the four March girls—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—sitting in their living room, lamenting their poverty. They decide to buy presents for their mother, Marmee, instead of themselves for Christmas. Their father, Mr. March, is serving as a Union chaplain in the Civil War.

The girls have various adventures throughout the novel. Amy is caught trading limes at school, and the teacher hits her as punishment. Jo refuses to let Amy go with her to the theater. In retaliation, Amy burns Jo’s manuscript, and Jo, in her anger, nearly lets Amy drown while ice-skating. Meg attends a party and learns that appearances are not everything.

The novel has two sequels: “Little Men” (1871) and “Jo’s Boys” (1886). It initiated a genre of family stories for children.

Little Women Summary Of Characters

Though the Little Women novel is pretty small, but there are many characters in the novel. about 16 main characters are found throughout the novel.

Josephine “Jo” March: The protagonist of the novel, and the second-oldest March sister. Jo, who wants to be a writer, is based on Louisa May Alcott herself. Jo has a temper and a quick tongue, although she works hard to control both. She is a tomboy and reacts with impatience to the many limitations placed on women and girls.

Meg March: The oldest March sister. Responsible and kind, Meg mothers her younger sisters. She has a small weakness for luxury and leisure, but the greater part of her is gentle, loving, and morally vigorous.

Beth March: The third March daughter. Beth is very quiet and very virtuous, and she does nothing but try to please others. She adores music and plays the piano very well.

Amy March: The youngest March girl. Amy is an artist who adores visual beauty and has a weakness for pretty possessions. She is given to pouting, fits of temper, and vanity; but she does attempt to improve herself.

Laurie Laurence: The rich boy who lives next door to the Marches. Laurie, whose real name is Theodore Laurence, becomes like a son and brother to the Marches. He is charming, clever, and has a good heart.

Marmee: The March girls’ mother. Marmee is the moral role model for her girls. She counsels them through all of their problems and works hard but happily while her husband is at war.

Frederick Bhaer: A respected professor in Germany who became an impoverished language instructor in America. Mr. Bhaer lives in New York, where he meets Jo. He is kind and fatherly.

Mr. March: The March girls’ father and Marmee’s husband. He serves in the Union Army as a chaplain.

Mr. Brooke: Laurie’s tutor. Mr. Brooke is poor but virtuous.

Mr. Laurence: Laurie’s grandfather and the Marches’ next-door neighbor. Mr. Laurence seems gruff, but he is loving and kind.

Hannah: The Marches’ loyal servant.

Aunt March: A rich widow and one of the March girls’ aunts. Although crotchety and difficult, Aunt March loves her nieces and wants the best for them.

Daisy: Meg and Mr. Brooke’s daughter. Daisy is the twin of Demi. Her real name is Margaret.

Demi: Meg and Mr. Brooke’s son and Daisy’s twin. Demi’s real name is John Laurence.

Mrs. Kirke: The woman who runs the New York boarding house where Jo lives.

Kate Vaughn: One of Laurie’s British friends. At first, Kate turns up her nose at the bluntness and poverty of the Marches. She later decides that she likes them, however, showing that she can overcome her initial prejudice.

So, this was the Little Women summary of plots and I’ve also tried my best to write the best plot summary and character’s summary.