Discussion Topic
Information about Amy's and Laurie's ages in Little Women
Summary:
Amy March is the youngest of the March sisters in Little Women, starting the novel at around 12 years old. Laurie, whose full name is Theodore Laurence, is a few years older than Amy, beginning the story as a teenager. By the end of the novel, Amy is in her early twenties, while Laurie is in his mid-twenties.
What is the age difference between Laurie and Amy in Little Women?
There is a three year age difference between Laurie and Amy. When Jo meet Laurie, they have the following conversation:
"Aren't you but fifteen?" asked Jo, looking at the tall lad, whom she had imagined seventeen already.
"Sixteen, next month."
Laurie, as the above quote shows, is fifteen, almost sixteen, as the novel begins. We are told in the first chapter and in the later chapter where Amy is struck by her teacher with a ruler for bringing forbidden limes to school that Amy is twelve:
during the twelve years of her life she had been governed by love alone, and a blow of that sort had never touched her before.
Although Amy is only three years younger than Laurie, she is treated as much more the little kid in the novel by Jo. Jo is fifteen when Laurie is almost sixteen, making them very close in age. She sees...
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her sister as a little child and an unwelcome tag-along on adventures with Laurie.
Often, these kinds of age gaps fade as people get older. This happens when Laurie and Amy meet up in Europe a few years later. By this time Laurie is in his early twenties and Amy in her late teens. As a grown woman, she seems closer in age to him than before and Laurie falls in love with her. Nevertheless, because we are used to thinking of Laurie as much more the grownup than Amy in the beginning of the book, it can be surprising that they marry.
How old is Amy in Little Women?
Amy March is the youngest member of the March family, and she's only 12 years old at the beginning of the novel. At this time she's described as spoiled, vain and even a little bit selfish; in fact, Alcott insinuates that the reason why her family spoils her so much is because she's perceived as the baby of the family. Amy is a very cute little girl, and everyone knows that she'll grow up to be a very beautiful woman. Typical of her age, she's sometimes very immature and occasionally throws a tantrum if things don't go her way; because of this, she becomes quite good at manipulating people.
Amy's also very artistic, pragmatic, and rather intelligent for a 12-year-old, and she sometimes uses her sister's experiences to learn and to form her own views and opinions. Thus, It could be argued that Amy is basically Jo's polar opposite—while Jo refuses to behave like a proper lady and to conform to society's standards and conventions, Amy actually likes it and grows up into a gentle and dignified young woman; in fact, she's often considered to be the prettiest and best-dressed young woman in town, which makes her very popular.
As the story progresses, Amy grows out of her childish selfishness. However, she's still materialistic and vain. She believes that girls should marry for security and financial and social stability first and then for love. Despite all of this, she ends up marrying Laurie, with whom she falls in love, and gives birth to a little baby girl, who she names Elizabeth. It's noteworthy to mention that even though she sometimes comes off as snobbish and even shallow, Amy is actually very kind and has a big heart.