Little Women

***Spoiler Alert***  

Even though Little Women is considered a classic by many, some people have not read the book or seen the movies so I would like to warn you that I do give away little bits of the story.  So now you know you've been warned.  Let's proceed. 😊

In keeping with this month's theme on Maidens for Mary, to love one another, I would like to look at the timeless tale of family, growth, friendship, and love that is Little Women and its new movie.

First, some thoughts on the film itself.  Louisa May Alcott's most popular novel has been adapted for the screen so many times so it was hard to imagine how this new one wouldn't slip back into the mold of a previous make, but I had faith.  I guess I'm just very optimistic like Meg or Beth.  Knowing the story, it was easy enough to follow the plot with its many flashbacks although I was confused once or twice.  It was a new approach to the story; relating the parallels and keeping relative events fresh in your mind.  However, the flashbacks spoiled some of the plots such as Meg and John's marriage.  But if you can keep up with the flashbacks, the new approach is just fine.

The costumes were beautiful, the scenes were beautiful, the sets were beautiful.  Sorry... so much beauty.  The only thing the movie was really missing were some of the songs from the Broadway musical! 😊 I just needed Jo and Beth to sing "Some Things Are Meant To Be" on the beach. 😭

All of the actors were talented enough.  I enjoyed Meg and Jo the best.  Wasn't Meg just so sweet with John and her children?!  *sigh*  Laurie was cute but not very deep.  (I know he's not a very deep character really, but there were some sensitive moments missing.)  Scenes with Professor Baher seemed rather lacking.  He was handsome and very kind.  In this narrative, he's certainly under-appreciated.  Instead of actually being able to help and encourage Jo, we only see one meeting between the two concerning her writings and in that scene, Jo shuns his advice.  She's proud and refuses to even listen to him. So this lack of development in their relationship leaves a poor foundation for their romance which is probably my favorite in the story.

The argument between Jo and Professor Baher is just one of a few very feminist scenes.  The other two key ones, however, sort of seem to resolve themselves rather quickly.  Jo and Amy each have their self-worth and sufficiency monologues claiming that women are more than just objects for love. Here are the two quotes that got me:

“Women — they have minds and they have souls as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition and they’ve got talent as well as just beauty. And I’m so sick of people saying that love is all that women are fit for. I’m just so sick of it... but I’m so lonely!” ~Jo March

Jo's quote starts true but certainly rings of feminist liberation.  Yet she admits in the end (as the movie trailer leaves out) that she is lonely.  She realizes the age-old truth that we are made for each other and we are made for love.

"And if I had my own money, which I don't, that money would belong to my husband the moment we got married. And if we had any children they would be his not mine. They would be his property. So don't sit there and tell me that marriage isn't an economic proposition because it is. It may not be for you but it most certainly is for me." ~Amy March

Amy too states a truth of the time.  A woman who did not have an inheritance had to marry for money because she could not make it on her own.  She seemed to have resigned herself to the feminist idea that women have to be able to support themselves and make lots of money to be successful, but later she realizes that money is not guaranteed happiness.  She too discovers that we are made to love and we can love even on a smaller income.

The movie's most shining feature, however, is its real-life honesty.  Each of the March girls is tangible on the screen with their emotions, virtues, victories, and shortcomings.  Having grown up with just one sister and no brothers, the dynamics between the March sisters were so very relatable.  Even though this story takes place in the 19th century, sisters never change; not really.  We argue, but one of my favorite scenes, was just after Jo tried to beat Amy up for destroying her work.  Jo was crying on the floor next to her bed when Marmee came in.  Jo was so sorry that she got mad at Amy.  She didn't really hate Amy, but anger can be a powerfully possessive thing.  And just like Jo, I often let it get the best of me.  Human nature reacts before we stop and think.  At the end of the day though, we love our sisters like no one in the world.  We are best friends, each others' biggest fans, mentors, and supporters.  This dynamic is the one that made me cry during the movie.  (I'm not a movie crier by any means so when I say cry, I mean I shed a few tears.  Powerful stuff for me.)

I know this post has covered many different veins in the movie but the reason I chose to get it published this month was that my most favorite theme in this movie was that of family love.  The sisters, the love for their mother, father, and friends.  The sacrificial love of Beth, Jo, Meg, Laurie...  The love that unites families through thick and thin and brings them to reconciliation after a fight is so beautifully displayed.  May this be a reminder for me and you to follow Christ's sacrificial love each day of our lives.  Let us love one another, family and friends, as He loves us.

God bless you,

Sarah