Discussion Topic
Comparison of the confidence levels of the March sisters in Little Women
Summary:
The March sisters in Little Women exhibit varying confidence levels. Jo is assertive and self-assured, often challenging societal norms. Meg, though more traditional, is confident in her domestic role. Amy is ambitious and socially adept, growing more self-confident over time. Beth, the shyest, struggles with self-esteem but finds quiet strength in her music and family.
Which March sister in Little Women appears the most confident, and which the most hesitant?
Meg seems to be the most "in charge" while Amy is the most confident, and Beth is the most hesitant sister. Although Meg complains about being poor at first, she speaks, soon after, in an "altered tone" about doing their part and "mak[ing] [their] little sacrifices." Later, when Jo and Amy begin to quarrel, Meg encourages them not to "peck at one another," calling them "children" and "girls," though she is only a year older than Jo.
Amy, however, seems to be the most confident. While Meg feels badly about wanting pretty things yet hating being poor and wishing she could quit working, Amy claims that she—absolutely—suffers the most of all her sisters because she has
to go to school with impertinent girls, who plague you if you don't know your lessons, and laugh at your dresses.
Then, when Jo uses slang words, Amy orders her to stop and says...
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that she hates "rude, unladylike girls." She is certainly extremely confident in her own opinions of others and herself. Even Meg tells Amy that she has "airs" and is too "particular and prim," and the narrator calls her a "most important person, in her own opinion at least." Amy has nearly unshakable confidence and does not feel that, as the youngest of the family, she has any less right to speak and be heard.
Beth seems to be the most hesitant of the four sisters. She has a "shy manner [and] a timid voice." Though she is reserved, she is also quite peaceful. Her father has nicknamed her "Little Miss Tranquility" because she is so happy to be in her own little world, "only venturing out to meet the few whom she trusted and loved."
Little Women opens with four comments, one from each of the March sisters. Jo speaks first, then Meg, Amy, and Beth. The first three sisters complain, whereas Beth offers consolation.
Although Jo is the first to speak, Meg is the eldest and generally the most assertive through the chapter. She is only a year older than Jo but is constantly emphasizing her position as the eldest sister and telling the others what to do. When Meg and Jo argue, it is because Meg has told Jo not to whistle and put her hands in her pockets, describing this conduct as rude and unladylike. It does not occur to Jo to try to give Meg such instructions.
Of the four sisters, Meg appears to be in charge of the others, but Jo, the rebel, may be the more confident of the two. Amy is not lacking in confidence either and is described as "a most important person, in her own opinion at least." This leaves Beth, by default, as the most hesitant and uncertain of the March sisters. Mr. March refers to his third daughter as "Little Miss Tranquility," and the author describes her as having "a shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression." However, despite her apparent timidity, Beth is depicted as a strong character who is actually able to control the behavior of her sisters more effectively than Meg, through the softer tone she employs.
Which March sister is the most confident in Little Women?
Of the four March sisters, Beth is clearly not the most "in charge" or confident, though her sweet temper and modesty give her a great deal of influence over the rest of the family. Any of the other three sisters, however, would be a reasonable answer. Meg, as the eldest, often assumes the role of mother when Marmee is not there, taking care of the others and telling them what to do. Jo is the most exuberant and energetic of the sisters, the one who has the most physical courage and confidence. Amy, despite her youth, has a strong, assertive character, and she is very certain of what she wants and determined to get it.
If it is necessary to choose a single sister, however, Jo is probably the one who is most confident. She takes the lead in the games the sisters play and is the principal author of their fantasy life. She also goes to New York on her own and becomes a governess, showing a more adventurous disposition than the other sisters. This assertive nature and tendency to take charge of her own life are also reflected in her choice of partner, a German immigrant professor. Her sisters, meanwhile, rather tamely select the boy next door and the boy next door's tutor.