1. In the first two chapters, the girls use John Bunyan''s The
Pilgrim''s Progress as a model for their own journey to becoming
"little women." What was Alcott trying to say by using such a
strongly philosophical piece of literature as the girls''
model?
2. What purpose does Beth''s death serve? Was Alcott simply
making a sentimental novel even more so, or was this a play on
morality and philosophy? Do you think Beth was intended to be a
Christ figure?
3. Consider the fact that Beth will never reach sexual maturity
or marry. What do you think this says about the institution of
marriage and, more important, about womanhood?
4. Consider Jo''s writing: While we are treated to citations
from "The Pickwick Portfolio" and the family''s letters to one
another, we are never presented with an excerpt from Jo''s many
literary works, though the text tells us they are quite successful.
Why is this?
5. Do you find it surprising that once Laurie is rejected by Jo,
he falls in love with Amy? Do you feel his characterization is
complete and he is acting within the "norm" of the personality
Alcott has created for him, or does Alcott simply dispose of him
once our heroine rejects him?
6. Some critics argue that the characters are masochistic. Meg
is the perfect little wife, Amy is the social gold digger, and Beth
is the eternally loving and patient woman. Do you believe these
characterizations are masochistic? If so, do you think Alcott could
have characterized them any other way while maintaining the realism
of the society she lived in? And if this is true, what of Jo''s
character?
7. The last two chapters find Jo setting aside her budding
literary career to run a school with her husband. Why do you think
Alcott made her strongest feminine figure sacrifice her own life
plans for her husband''s?
8. Alcott was a student of transcendentalism. How and where does
this philosophy affect Alcott''s writing, plot, and
characterization?
9. Do you believe this is a feminine or a feminist piece of
work?