Whispers in the Dark: The Fiction of Louisa May Alcott.

Carpenter, Mary Wilson; Keyser, Elizabeth Lennox

doi:10.2307/2928253

Cited by 18 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As Marmee is an unquestionable authority figure for her daughters, Meg puts her advice into practice, much to the delight of her husband. Therefore, the argument of this paper does not go in line with Keyser's (1993) claim that "Meg's initiation into womanhood coincides with a retreat into childhood" (p. 68). Although the marital union of Meg and John is the most conservative example of companionship in the novel, it also implies that for some women the greatest happiness is indeed to be good wives and mothers.…”

Section: The Romantic Union Of Meg and John Brookementioning

confidence: 61%

“…As Keyser (1993) aptly remarks, Meg is arguably the most conventional March sister (p. 64). As a result, she internalises the stifling patriarchal values of Victorian America according to which the endpoint of a woman's life is to become a wife and a mother.…”

Section: The Romantic Union Of Meg and John Brookementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Marmee advocates the position that "there is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing it and using it well should satisfy one" (Alcott, 2008, p. 82). Although Keyser (1993) notices that Amy is "the most eager to venture out into the world" (p. 75), it seems that life in an enclosed family space has not been the best preparation for such a bold endeavour. During Amy's much-anticipated travel to Europe, where she sets on to see art, she is so fascinated by the works of great artists that she relinquishes her castle in the air.…”

Section: Amy and Lauriementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Louisa May Alcott’s Vision of Marriage in Little Women

V. Ninčetović

2024

SIJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper aims to demonstrate that beneath the apparently conventional plot of Little Women (1868) lurks a rather progressive concept of marriage. The initial hypothesis is that the role model for the March girls is their unconventional mother, whose ideas they eventually adopt and put into practice. Marmee is an ardent opponent of the marriage of convenience. In her view, the chief prerequisite for choosing a life companion is love. Mrs March’s vision of marriage is seemingly contradictory – she concurrently considers marriage a sacred relation and adopts the position that it should not be the only and ultimate end of a woman’s life. The coveted aim should be self-actualisation, whereas matrimony is an integral and significant, but not absolutely necessary stage of a girl’s blossoming into womanhood. Each of the sisters, in her way and to a certain extent, fulfils her mother’s high expectations. All the sisters but Beth (who dies prematurely) learn how to conquer their greatest flaws and choose husbands who match both their virtues and weaknesses. Contrary to the views of certain critics that the marriage of the March sisters testifies to their conformity and submission, both to society and their husbands, this paper argues that marriage is an important aspect of their maturation. During their development, the sisters realise that they ought to renounce their childish dreams, the so-called “castles in the air” to strike a balance between individualism and the family’s (in particular, their mother’s) expectations. Admittedly, the marriages of Meg, Jo, and Amy do imply a compromise, but compromise, mutual helpfulness, and self-sacrifice are prerequisites necessary for the creation of the proper marital union in the fictional world of Louisa May Alcott. Moreover, this paper argues that concessions are expected not only from the March girls but also from their husbands, who likewise compromise and mature in marriage.

show abstract

Section: The Romantic Union Of Meg and John Brookementioning

confidence: 61%

Section: The Romantic Union Of Meg and John Brookementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Amy and Lauriementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation