Discussion Topic
The ages of the sisters in Little Women at key moments in the novel
Summary:
At the beginning of Little Women, Meg is 16, Jo is 15, Beth is 13, and Amy is 12. By the end of the first part, a year has passed. In the second part, Meg is 21 when she marries, Jo is 25 when she marries, and by the end, Meg, Jo, and Amy are all mature women with children.
What are the ages of the girls in Little Women?
Little Women takes place over a number of years and shows the growth and maturation of the four daughters into "little women" or what we would today call "young women." As the story opens, Meg is 16, Jo is 15, Beth is 13, and Amy is 12. Part 1 spans one year, from Christmas to Christmas. During the first Christmas, the girls are missing their father, who is away serving as a chaplain the Civil War. When he returns the following Christmas, he admires how much his daughters have grown up and matured during his absence.
The second part, which is sometimes published as a stand-alone book called Good Wives , has a looser structure and covers a much longer span of time. In it, Meg, now age 21, marries John Brooke, Laurie's tutor with whom she has long been in love. Jo is depressed by the breakup of the...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
childhood family unit with the marriage of Meg and the death of Beth, but later, at age 25, agrees to marry Professor Bhaer. A year later, they marry. By the end of the story, Meg has had her twins, Jo has given birth to two sons, and Amy, who married Laurie, has a daughter. All three are now mature women.