Little Women Reflection

It is easy to see why "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott has been coined as an American classic novel. Although the language and the daily occurrences seem antiquated, the morals and values of the characters, such as family life, health, and happiness, are still prevalent in today's society, making this a timeless novel. The main characters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, all represent a different part of the proper (or in Jo's case, not so proper) woman of the time. It is interesting to reflect on how the role of women in America has changed since the time of the Civil War when the novel was written; however, many of the same values instilled in American women have remained the same. 

What I loved most about reading Little Women was the innocence reflected in the characters. In a time before television, Internet, cell phones, and blackberry's it was easy to stay young without contact from the outside world. It was like these girls (and Laurie) lived in their own little innocent bubble away from the violence and sex that we are exposed to in the media today. Instead, they created secret societies, and painted and read to pass the time. They took pride in pleasing Marmee and father.

I think that the technology of the Information Age of today has forced us to mature much faster than the children in the novel did. Without being exposed to such forms of technology, it was easy to stay innocent. Most of all, I thought it was relieving to read a novel like this.