AuthorCharacterListPlotThemesBirthday:November29,1832Died:March6,1888(aged55)Birthplace:Germantown,PennsylvaniaShewastheseconddaughterShenevermarriedorhadafamilyofherownHerFamilyHerWorksExperiencesPoems(56)----------------Sunlight(in1852)Plays(11)------------ThePrinceandthePeasantShortStories(252)teenagerShortStories(157)--------TheAccidentBackWindowAdultShortStories(66)------------FateinaFanOtherShortStories(29)-----------AnnaNovels(18)------------LittleWomenLittleMenCollectiveWorks(24)OtherWorks(25)---------HappyWomenShewasatomboyandshehadanunladyliketemperShereceivedthemajorityofherschoolingfromherfather.ShealsoreceivedsomeinstructionfromwritersandeducatorssuchasRalphWaldoEmersonPovertymadeitnecessaryforLouisetogotoworkatanearlyageasanoccasionalteacher,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.Lauriestruggleswithhisgrandfather’sexpectationsofhim.Heisnotmanlyenoughforhisgrandfatherbecausehedoesnotwanttoenterthebusinessworld.Marmee-TheMarchgirls’mother.Marmeeisthemoralrolemodelforhergirls.Shecounselsthemthroughalloftheirproblemsandworkshardbuthappilywhileherhusbandisatwar.Mr.March-TheMarchgirls’fatherandMarmee’shusband.HeservesintheUnionarmyasachaplain.Whenhereturnshome,hecontinuesactingasaministertoanearbyparish.Mr.Brooke-Laurie’stutor.Mr.Brookeispoorbutvirtuous.FrederickBhaer-ArespectedprofessorinGermanywhobecomesanimpoverishedlanguageinstructorinAmerica.Mr.BhaerlivesinNewYork,wherehemeetsJo.Heiskindandfatherly.AuntMarch-ArichwidowandoneoftheMarchgirls’aunts.Althoughcrotchetyanddifficult,AuntMarchlovesherniecesandwantsthebestforthem.ThestorybeginsonChristmasEve.MarmeecomeshomewithaletterfromMr.March,thegirls’father,whoisservingasaUnionchaplainintheCivilWar.Theletterinspiresthegirlstobeartheirburdensmorecheerfullyandnottocomplainabouttheirpoverty.OnChristmasmorning,Marmeeencouragesthemtogiveawaytheirbreakfasttoapoorfamily,theHummels.Theirelderlywealthyneighbor,Mr.Laurence,whomthegirlshavenevermet,rewardstheircharitableactivitiesbysendingoverafeast.Soon,MegandJoareinvitedtoattendaNewYear’sPartytheremeetsLaurie,•Onedarkday,thefamilyreceivesatelegramsayingthatMr.MarchissickinthehospitalinWashington,D.C.Marmeegoestotendtohim,andJosellsherhairtohelpfinancethetrip.BethgoestovisittheHummels,andcontractsscarletfeverfromtheHummelbaby.BethteetersonthebrinkofdeathuntilMarmeereturns.Meanwhile,AmyspendstimeatAuntMarch’shouseinordertoescapethedisease.Bethrecovers,thoughnotcompletely•Threeyearspass,Mr.Marchishomefromthewar,MegmarriesandmovesintoanewhomewithMr.BrookewhoisLaurie’stutor.AmygetstogotoParisfor\studyinsteadofJo,becauseAmy’sgoodbehaviorwinsherAunt’spraise.ThenJomovestoNewYork.TheremeetsProfessorBhaer,apoorGermanlanguageinstructor.SinceAmyisillseriously,Joreturnshome,Laurieproposestoher,butsheturnshimdown.Bethsoondies.•AmyandLauriereuniteinFrance,andtheyfallinlove.Theymarryandreturnhome.ProfessorBhaercomesforJo,theymarrylater.Thenovelendswiththefamilyhappilygatheredtogether,eachsisterthankfulforherblessingsandforeachother.•Women’sStruggleBetweenFamilialDutyandPersonalGrowthInthenovel,anemphasisondomesticdutiesandfamilydetractsfromvariouswomen’sabilitiestoattendtotheirownpersonalgrowth.•TheDangerofGenderStereotypingLittleWomenquestionsthevalidityofgenderstereotypes,bothmaleandfemale.AlcottbestowsthehighestesteemuponJoandLaurie,who,intheirrefusaltoembodygenderstereotypes,willingtobethemselves.•TheNecessityofWorkThenoveldemonstratestheimportanceofthePuritanworkethic,whichdictatesthatitisholytodowork.Alcottultimatelyrecommendsworknotasameanstoamaterialend,butra