Jan 3, 2010

Little Women | Themes

Each March girl is on a "pilgrimage," a journey of moral transformation that will mark her coming of age. The point of embarkation is Father's letter. Each girl responds to it with a vow to "be better" and do her duty to the household. The novel depicts progress made as the girls undergo, separately or together, a series of trials by which selfish temptations are overcome. A persistent theme is that selfless, spiritual values bring happiness and comfort. When the several sisters first voice discontent, Beth recalls how Meg had said that "we were a deal happier than the King children, for...