What is the effect of the point of view in Little Women?

Little Women is written in a third-person omniscient point of view. This means that the narrator knows all the girls’ thoughts, feelings, and actions. The narrator is all-knowing and even knows the past, present, and future. Because of this point of view, the reader is able to see things that the family often does not, such as when Jo is sad that Amy is the one going to Europe. It also allows Louisa May Alcott to use foreshadowing throughout the book. Because of the third-person omniscient point of view, the narrator know the future of the girls and can hint at it for the readers. With this type of narration, the author can move freely in time, provide more information to the readers over a shorter time period, and show what different characters are thinking at the same time.

What are examples of differing character viewpoints in Little Women?

The March girls—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—frequently have different points of view on a number of things. For example, Jo and Amy often clash, as they do in the very first chapter, because Amy believes it is important for girls to behave in a ladylike manner while Jo believes that people who act in "affected" ways are pretentious. Meg weighs in, siding with Amy that Jo should "'remember that [she is] a young lady'" now, as well as with Jo, suggesting that Amy is "'too particular and prim.'" Her airs might be funny now that she is a child, but as she grows up, her attempts to be elegant could seriously backfire. Clearly, Jo disagrees with Meg, as does Amy.

Soon, Beth suggests that all the girls use their money to buy something for their mother, Marmee, rather than something for themselves. Meg and Jo agree wholeheartedly, but Amy decides to buy her mother only a small bottle of cologne because, as she says, "it won't cost much, so I'll have some left to buy my pencils." She does not really understand the point of what the others are trying to do and still feels that buying herself the thing she wants is important.

Later, we learn that Jo

[...] and Amy had had many lively skirmishes in the course of their lives, for both had quick tempers and were apt to be violent when fairly roused. Amy teased Jo, and Jo irritated Amy, and semi-occasional explosions occurred, of which both were much ashamed afterward.

When Meg and Jo are getting ready to go to the theater with Laurie, Amy insists that she be allowed to accompany them because she's been cooped up with a cold for so long. Jo, however, believes that this would "be very rude" considering that Amy was not invited and she isn't wanted there either. Amy begins to cry when Jo insists that she will spoil the fun for the rest of them, and she threatens to make Jo "sorry." While her sisters are out, Amy burns up Jo's manuscript, sparking Jo's anger in a big way. Jo is furious, though Amy believes her action was at least a bit justified by Jo's meanness before the theater.