Ap Lit Essay
Ap Lit Essay
Ap Lit Essay
Greta Haley
Mrs. Detsch
AP Literature
22 March 2023
From the moment the four March girls were written down on a page, their stories
influenced the lives of people all over the country and around the world. From the grace of Meg
to Jo’s wit, with Amy’s charm and Beth’s innocence, each of these girls brings a unique
perspective on the lives of women. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a story of women
finding their own path along with finding themselves. Throughout the novel, Alcott emphasizes
the roles and societal pressures of women and men during the mid-1800s and the struggles of
fitting into a specific role shown through dialogue and conflict. One of these conflicts has to do
with Jo who always feels as if she is more than her gender; thus conflicting with herself and
other people's indifference. Throughout the novel, Jo chooses to act against societal gender
norms by having “boyish” qualities that are not suited for women during her time. While Jo
shows boyish characteristics, Laurie is portrayed in a feminine light which shows how they are
both similar and yet completely different. Thus, Alcott demonstrates the roles of genders as well
Throughout the novel, Jo is known to have a fiery spirit, whether it is about the roles of
women, opinions about war, or her love of writing. It is evident in this story that Jo is
opinionated about many subjects; one of them happens to be the roles of women. While the other
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sisters were growing into more of a feminine role, Jo did not seem to like that idea. The societal
norms during this time did not meet Jo’s ambitions. Women were meant to be nothing more than
housewives with no career or ambitions; Jo refused to accept those terms. She expressed to Many
how “It’s bad enough to be a girl, anyway, when I like boys’ games and work and manners!”
(Alcott 5). Jo emphasized the boyish aspect of her in an attempt to drown out the feminine
aspects of herself. In her mind, women have no life, therefore she must become a man to have
one. She views everything that a woman is meant to do in a negative light. Jo further explains
that “I’m dying to go and fight with Papa, and I can only stay at home and knit, like a poky old
woman!” (Alcott 5). She would rather go fight in a war than sit and knit. This also shows how Jo
sees the potential in women; women can fight and make a life of themselves, and not just do
busy work. Jo sees her father being able to fight in a war as a man, while she has to stay home,
regardless that she is only fifteen and too young to fight anyway. While it may seem that Jo
dislikes women, she dislikes how society views women. By giving herself a masculine
nickname, Jo further challenges the way society sees women. While Jo’s given name is
Josephine, she feels it is “too sentimental! I wish every one would say Jo instead of Josephine''
(Alcott 30). Her given name is a very feminine name, but she decides to give herself a masculine
nickname. While Jo chooses to give herself masculine characteristics, there is nothing she can do
Even though she wishes to be a man, Jo is a feminist that wants a better life for women
like her who strive for more. By acting like a man, she feels as if there are bigger opportunities
waiting rather than acting like the perfect woman. When she meets Laurie, her closest confidant
and neighbor, they bond over their laid-back personalities. When Laurie reveals he is going to
college, Jo exclaims “How I wish I was going to college!”(Alcott 31). Jo wants the life a man
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can live, and part of that is further education or just education in general. While Jo expresses she
wants to be a man, she rather wants the same opportunity that a man can have; that is what she is
envious of. Jo chooses to focus on her manly qualities, but she has a lot of feminine qualities that
add to her character. She cares for her sisters like a mother, as well as attends balls and theaters
to appease her sister, Meg. Jo is Meg’s confidant, Beth’s caregiver, and Amy’s reasonable voice.
Clare Bender, a graduate of the University of Northwestern explains that "Ultimately, it seems
that Louisa’s intention was to grant Jo the perfect blend of maintaining her true self but also
balancing that with femininity"(Bender 151). Jo’s true self is to be boyish, not a quiet woman.
She has strong feminine qualities that could also be mistaken for masculine behavior. Wanting a
better life for herself, rather than what is waiting for her is often mistaken for boylike qualities,
when, in reality, it is Jo wanting to be her true self. Jo’s character is a feminist in its original form
that applies masculine qualities to emphasize the point that women are more than housewives.
Jo March has a lot of qualities about her that lead to the fact that she is androgynous; with
both feminine and masculine characteristics. Not only does Alcott show this through Jo’s actions
and words, but also their appearance. Alcott describes Jo as having “Round shoulders [. . .], big
hands and feet, a fly-away look to her clothes, and the uncomfortable appearance of a girl who
was rapidly shooting up into a woman, and didn’t like it”(Alcott 6). These characteristics are the
opposite of what most women are deemed as. In contrast, Alcott describes Meg as “very pretty,
being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft, brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white
hands”(Alcott 6). Meg is meant to be the graceful sister with all of the poise while Jo is a
growing woman stuck in a boy’s mindset. Alcott makes it evident that Jo is the complete
opposite of Meg. While Meg is graceful and compliant, Jo is clumsy and argumentative. These
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two sisters are a juxtaposition to one another. Jo’s lack of grace comes out quite often throughout
the novel. While the sisters are all singing, “Meg had a voice like a flute” while “Jo wandered
through the airs at her own sweet will, always coming out at the wrong place with a
croak”(Alcott 13). Alcott intentionally uses little events such as this to emphasize the difference
between the two sisters. Through the novel, Jo is continuously compared to Meg, not only with
looks and appearance, but the way they both act and their morals. Meg is always the reasonable
and collected sister, while Jo is the one to make rash decisions. While Jo could not be a man
herself, she enjoyed acting like one. Meg held Jo accountable saying “‘Don't, Jo, it's so
boyish!'[...]'You are old enough to leave off boyish tricks, and to behave better'"(Alcott 5). Alcott
often puts conflict between the two sisters to show their differences and how they view the
world.
Jo is continuously reminded that the way she acts is not ladylike, and yet, Jo doesn’t
listen. The reason that people find her so odd is because she actually has her own opinion and
stands up for what she believes in, which was rare for women during this time. Bender explains
it as “Through Jo, Alcott exemplifies her ideas about feminism fairly well. She provides a picture
of a woman who can be not only feminine but also strong and vocal"(Bender 151). Most of the
characters within the story of Little Women view Jo’s behavior as unladylike, but she is really just
strong willed. Through the turmoil the Jo endures, Alcott makes a point to view Jo in her truest
form. Throughout the novel, Jo’s opinion of herself and of the world does not waver even after
While Jo and Meg are complete opposites, Amy is more like Jo. Amy wants to become a
famous painter who can make her own money. The difference between Amy and Jo is that Amy
is a perfect balance between lady-like and masculine. Amy has a view on the world much like Jo.
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Amy expresses that “talent isn’t genius, and no amount of energy can make it so. I want to be
436). Just like Jo, Amy wants to make a life for herself with her own talents. Just like Meg, Amy
acts in a feminine way that she develops on her journey to Europe where she wishes to make a
career. Beth is not only feminine, but also fragile, both mentally and physically with scarlet
fever. Because of this fragile nature, the other sisters have taken it upon themselves to care for
her, especially Jo (Alcott 188-200). Between the four sisters, each have their own view on the
world as well as their own fiery spirits. Each balances out each other, and together they become
whole.
compliment her: Laurie. Everything about Jo appears masculine; the way she holds herself, her
actions, and her words. Laurie on the other hand possesses more feminine qualities. While his
name is Theodore Lawrence, which is a masculine name, he chooses to use the name Laurie
which is predominantly a woman's name during this time. Alcott describes him often in a
feminine light. For example, Laurie is often seen as fragile and emotional. During this time
period, men were meant to show no emotion, for it would show weakness. Alcott made an effort
to show the fragility of Laurie’s character. One of these instances was when ‘“Laurie drew his
hand across his eyes, but could not speak till he had subdued the choky feeling in his throat and
steadied his lips. It might be unmanly, but he couldn't help it, and I am glad of it’”(Alcott 197).
This is just after the news of Beth and her scarlet fever. Instead of telling Jo to “man up,” Laurie
also grieved with her. This is one of the few moments where Jo and Laurie show a moment of
weakness. The “manly” man was so normalized during this time, that a simple showing of
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affection or emotion from Laurie paints him in a feminine character. Jo and Laurie have opposite
roles in their relationship. Jo is the “man” while Laurie is the emotional and caring woman-like
character. As Jo was upset about Beth's health, Laurie comforted her and stroked her hair just as
a mother would do (Alcott 197). Laurie cares for Jo in a motherly way. In the view of society,
Laurie should not act like that. He should not act like a mother, but a man who has no sentiment.
Not only do their actions and words suggest they act like the other gender, but their activities do
as well. Bender analyzes their relationship by explaining that "Laurie shows interest in
feminine-coded activities, such as writing music and playing piano, while Jo shows more
masculine interests, such as joining the war"(Bender 143). These two characters, while having
qualities of their own gender, their qualities and characteristics of the opposite gender often
outweigh other aspects. Alcott does not degrade Laurie and Jo for acting in these ways, she
encourages it. Claire Bender describes it as "However, rather than being a whole, androgynous
person, they are a whole because they fit together in perfect symmetry. Together, Laurie and Jo’s
attributes complement one another’s"(Bender 144). In fact, they often complement each other so
often that most readers expected them to get married. Their relationship is unique and something
unheard of because they have opposite qualities. Jo and Laurie often struggled with their
opposite qualities. Jo was often ridiculed for being too “manly,” while Laurie was often thought
of as weak. Jo, in fact, said to Laurie "'Take it like a man, and don't do anything rash, for God's
sake'"(Alcott 396). As the “man” of the relationship, Jo is the one to tell Laurie in a state of
fragility to “man up.” Their gender roles restricted them from being the person they wanted to
be. Bender describes it as "If ‘a whole person’ could not exist in that era, it was because
nineteenth-century society would not accept or recognize that there is more to people than their
gender-identified roles"(Bender 145). Alcott added these qualities intentionally to defy the
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gender norms of the time, and to emphasize how societal roles do not, and should not restrict the
prosperity of a person.
The difference of qualities between Jo and Laurie are present when Laurie proposes to Jo.
Laurie is the one to ask, and Jo rejects him. Laurie is heartbroken but Jo says “I agree with
Mother that you and I are not suited for each other, because our quick tempers and strong wills
would probably make us very miserable”(Alcott 393). While Jo and Laurie might have opposite
personalities regarding their gender, they both have “quick tempers and strong wills” even if they
are on opposite sides of extremes. While the two might seem like polar opposites, their
Conclusion
Each of the March girls made their own way in life. Some followed the norms of society
like Meg and Beth, while others like Amy and Jo made their way by striving for more than who
they are supposed to be. During the 1800s, it was hard to be accepted in society if the gender
norms were not followed. Alcott chose to show this through Jo’s fiery opinions, her masculine
qualities, and the gender roles between Laurie and Jo. The androgynous qualities of both Laurie
and Jo help to emphasize the roles of gender during this time. Women had to stay home and be
proper, while the men had to work and be “manly.” Little Women is argued to be a feminist novel
by a lot of critics. Based on the way that Alcott portrays each of the sisters, especially Jo, their
analysis of the novel is convincing. Not only does Alcott defy gender roles, she also goes one
step further and does not marry Jo to the obvious person. Instead of marrying Laurie like
everyone hoped, Alcott married her to an unromantic and odd character that matches Jo’s
awkwardness. Alcotts portrayal of these characters changed the views of many people across the
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country and the world and helped to change the way men and women are portrayed in their
gender roles.
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Works Cited