Women in the Nineteenth Century

As I already referenced feminism in my last post, I only merely touched on the subject. As Little Women takes place in the late nineteenth century when the duties of women were strictly to develop the traits that make a good, well-behaved wife, it is most fitting that this post would have to compare women’s place in the nineteenth century and women’s place in Little Women.

While researching my novel I came across reoccurring controversy over whether or not Little Women is a feminist novel. Certainly one could read this novel and see that it enforces separation of gender roles, that Jo was a tomboy in her youth but that she gradually grows into the motherly role at the end, forced to tame her wild behaviour. Mr. March praises Meg for her housewifely skills and Amy learns not to be selfish or vain. Beth, who is called the “true angel of the house” who had no other desire than to stay at home and do the housework. In the late 1800’s women’s opportunities were mostly confined to the household, where keeping a nice home and bringing honour to the husband is of utmost priority. “My husband should always feel free to bring a friend home whenever he likes. I shall always be prepared; there shall be no flurry, no scolding, no discomfort, but a neat house, cheerful wife, and a good dinner.”(324) This dialogue from Meg March reinforces the qualities in in her character where pleasing her husband is most important.

In the nineteenth century men were the dominant figures in the “public” life and women were in the background “private” life of the home. What I believed Alcott did was almost eliminate the outside world aspect of the March girls and concentrate on the home lives of the women. Within this, Alcott creates the male characters more of a plot function then character use. For example, Mr. Brooke is there to assist Meg in dealing with her materialism. Mr. Laurence help Beth with her timidness. Laurie is the exception to this as he is a fully developed male character. However, that makes sense, as I view Laurie somewhat as a March girl himself. He even has a girls name.

Alcott also generates the notion that women are somehow just naturally better than men, naturally more moral, sweeter and kinder. Which I can only assume was progressive thinking. It is this thinking that is evident in the end. When all the girls are married off and have families of their own (except Beth, being dead and all), they return and Marmee reminds them that their bond, their sisterly bond, is was what’s most important in life. More important than pleasing a husband ever would be. While Little Women does have this endorsement of separate gender role ideology, it can also be perceived as valuing women’s relationships and experiences in a way that, in history, they weren’t valued or appreciated.