little women《小妇人》

.,.,AuthorCharacterListPlotThemes,.,LouisaMayAlcott,Birthday:November29,1832Died:March6,1888(aged55)Birthplace:Germantown,PennsylvaniaShewastheseconddaughterShenevermarriedorhadafamilyofherown,.,HerFamily,HerWorks,Experiences,.,Poems(56)-Sunlight(in1852)Plays(11)-ThePrinceandthePeasantShortStories(252)teenagerShortStories(157)-TheAccidentBackWindowAdultShortStories(66)-FateinaFanOtherShortStories(29)-AnnaNovels(18)-LittleWomenLittleMenCollectiveWorks(24)OtherWorks(25)-HappyWomen,.,ShewasatomboyandshehadanunladyliketemperShereceivedthemajorityofherschoolingfromherfather.ShealsoreceivedsomeinstructionfromwritersandeducatorssuchasRalphWaldoEmerson,Child,Adult,PovertymadeitnecessaryforLouisetogotoworkatanearlyageasanoccasionalteacher,seamstress,governess,domestichelper,andwriter,Louisealsoproducedwholesomestoriesforchildren,andshedidnotreturntocreatingworksforadults,.,WhentheCivilWarbrokeoutin1861,Alcotthadanurgetogoandfightinit.ShesupportedtheNorthernsideoftheconflictbecauseshewasagainstslavery.Alcottwasdevotedtoherparentsandhersisters.Alcottcaughtpneumonia（肺炎）whileworkingasanurseintheCivilWar.Shesufferedalot.,.,Herfatherfailedtoprovideenoughmoneytosupporthisfamily,andtheirpovertywassodirethatintwentyyears,theymovedtwentytimes.HersisterLizziediedatage21,worsestill,herlittlebrotherdiedininfancy.,.,JosephineMarchTheprotagonistofthenovel,andthesecond-oldestMarchsister.Jowantstobeawriter.Johasatemperandaquicktongue.Sheisatomboy,andreactswithimpatiencetothemanylimitationsplacedonwomenandgirls.Shehatesromanceinherreallife,andwantsnothingmorethantoholdherfamilytogether.,.,MegMarchTheoldestMarchsister.Responsibleandkind,Megmothersheryoungersisters.Shehasasmallweaknessforluxuryandleisure,butthegreaterpartofherisgentleandloving.,.,BethMarchThethirdMarchdaughter.Bethisveryquietandveryvirtuous,andshedoesnothingbuttrytopleaseothers.Sheadoresmusicandplaysthepianoverywell.,.,AmyMarchTheyoungestMarchgirl.Amyisanartistwhoadoresvisualbeautyandhasaweaknessforprettypossessions.Sheisgiventopouting,fitsoftemper,andvanity;butshedoesattempttoimproveherself.Shegetswhatshewantsintheend:popularity,thetriptoEurope,andLaurie.,.,LaurieLaurenceTherichboywholivesnextdoortotheMarches.Laurie,becomeslikeasonandbrothertotheMarches.Heischarming,clever,andhasagoodheart.Lauriestruggleswithhisgrandfathersexpectationsofhim.Heisnotmanlyenoughforhisgrandfatherbecausehedoesnotwanttoenterthebusinessworld.,.,Marmee-TheMarchgirlsmother.Marmeeisthemoralrolemodelforhergirls.Shecounselsthemthroughalloftheirproblemsandworkshardbuthappilywhileherhusbandisatwar.,Mr.March-TheMarchgirlsfatherandMarmeeshusband.HeservesintheUnionarmyasachaplain.Whenhereturnshome,hecontinuesactingasaministertoanearbyparish.,.,Mr.Brooke-Lauriestutor.Mr.Brookeispoorbutvirtuous.FrederickBhaer-ArespectedprofessorinGermanywhobecomesanimpoverishedlanguageinstructorinAmerica.Mr.BhaerlivesinNewYork,wherehemeetsJo.Heiskindandfatherly.AuntMarch-ArichwidowandoneoftheMarchgirlsaunts.Althoughcrotchetyanddifficult,AuntMarchlovesherniecesandwantsthebestforthem.,.,ThestorybeginsonChristmasEve.,.,MarmeecomeshomewithaletterfromMr.March,thegirlsfather,whoisservingasaUnionchaplainintheCivilWar.Theletterinspiresthegirlstobeartheirburdensmorecheerfullyandnottocomplainabouttheirpoverty.,.,OnChristmasmorning,Marmeeencouragesthemtogiveawaytheirbreakfasttoapoorfamily,theHummels.Theirelderlywealthyneighbor,Mr.Laurence,whomthegirlshavenevermet,rewardstheircharitableactivitiesbysendingoverafeast.Soon,MegandJoareinvitedtoattendaNewYearsPartytheremeetsLaurie,.,Onedarkday,thefamilyreceivesatelegramsayingthatMr.MarchissickinthehospitalinWashington,D.C.Marmeegoestotendtohim,andJosellsherhairtohelpfinancethetrip.BethgoestovisittheHummels,andcontractsscarletfeverfromtheHummelbaby.BethteetersonthebrinkofdeathuntilMarmeereturns.Meanwhile,AmyspendstimeatAuntMarchshouseinordertoescapethedisease.Bethrecovers,thoughnotcompletely,.,Threeyearspass,Mr.Marchishomefromthewar,MegmarriesandmovesintoanewhomewithMr.BrookewhoisLauriestutor.AmygetstogotoParisforstudyinsteadofJo,becauseAmysgoodbehaviorwinsherAuntspraise.ThenJomovestoNewYork.TheremeetsProfessorBhaer,apoorGermanlanguageinstructor.SinceAmyisillseriously,Joreturnshome,Laurieproposestoher,butsheturnshimdown.Bethsoondies.,.,AmyandLauriereuniteinFrance,andtheyfallinlove.Theymarryandreturnhome.ProfessorBhaercomesforJo,theymarrylater.,.,Thenovelendswiththefamilyhappilygatheredtogether,eachsisterthankfulforherblessingsandforeachother.,.,WomensStruggleBetweenFamilialDutyandPersonalGrowth,Inthenovel,anemphasisondomesticdutiesandfamilydetractsfromvariouswomensabilitiestoattendtotheirownpersonalgrowth.,.,TheDangerofGenderStereotyping,LittleWomenquestionsthevalidityofgenderstereotypes,bothmaleandfemale.AlcottbestowsthehighestesteemuponJoandLaurie,who,intheirrefusaltoembodygenderstereotypes,willingtobethemselves.,.,TheNecessityofWork,ThenoveldemonstratestheimportanceofthePuritanworkethic,whichdictatesthatitisholytodowork.Alcottultimatelyrecommendsworknotasameanstoamaterialend,butratherasameanstotheexpressionofinne