Amy herself must deal with breaking the rules when she is caught with a bag of pickled limes at school and is humiliated and punished. Beth works to set aside her shyness, and in the end, she enters the graces of Mr. Jo takes control of her temper after her anger almost results in Amy’s death. John Brooke, a man with a modest lifestyle. Meg is led into a false fantasy by her desire to live the decadent life, only to later marry the tutor Mr. Almost the same in age, the two become close, and the relationship between the two families blossoms through the years, despite their socioeconomic differences.Īs the story unfolds, each of the girls is challenged by their internal struggles their mother, whom they call Marmee, is their moral compass. Laurence, a wealthy neighbor, gives them delicacies, and Jo decides to become acquainted with his grandson, Laurie, who lives alone with his grandfather.

Upon hearing the stories of their good deeds, Mr. On Christmas morning, they sacrifice their breakfast and time to take care of the Hummels, their neighbors who have nothing. On Christmas, Marmee gives each of her daughters, most of whom are in their teens, a guidebook that assists them in overcoming their follies and staying true to their values-such as faithfully conducting one’s work and showing compassion to others-which the girls take to heart. March’s absence takes a heavy toll on the family, who are left to take care of each other while he serves as a chaplain for the Union Army. They reference it heavily in the first part of the book, and it sets the stage until the end, as they grow into the women they are meant to become. The novel begins with John Bunyan’s Christian allegory, The Pilgrim’s Progress, which influences the March girls-Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy-throughout their journey.

Little women book louisa may alcott