Static and Dynamic Characters

My favorite aspect of Little Women was its characters and getting to see each of the girls grow up and learn valuable life lessons. While a lot of the conflict in the novel can be attributed to being a product of the time period the novel was published in, a lot of the messages the novel delivers are relatable and relevant to our present society. Alcott clearly directed Little Women towards woman readers, and I am curious to see how the target audiences and messages of the rest of the novels we read in class shift as we read more recent examples of young adult fiction. As each of the March sisters goes on their own journey to young adulthood and becoming what a true “little woman” should be they learn to appreciate their family and put aside their selfish desires. The March sisters are very dynamic characters and because of this what they value changes as they grow up and eventually marry. Most of the adults and other minor characters in the novel are quite static and their personalities don’t change much over the course of the novel. This character structure places emphasis on the girl’s personal growth and helps to differentiates them from other, often wealthier, young women. The two most notable exceptions to this rule are Beth and Laurie. Laurie is like a brother to the girls and slowly changes as he become more mature. Beth has a smaller journey of personal development and her character parallels Marmee as she provides comfort to her siblings and inspires their growth.

Beth changes the least compared to her sisters but still has a major impact in the story and her selflessness is a primary theme of the novel. In the first part of the novel the girls are motivated by the absence of their father, and later mother, to work hard at home and achieve their goals. In the second part Beth assumes this role from her parents and her good nature inspires her family to become closer. Jo dedicates herself to her family following her sister’s death, “imitating Beth’s orderly ways, and giving the little touches here and there that kept everything fresh and cozy, which was the first step toward making home happy, though she didn’t know it” (Alcott 279). Beth’s love for her family broke her heart as her siblings began to move away but in her absence many of her best qualities are inherited by her loved ones and her presence is still felt from her portrait on the mantle. The husbands that Amy, Jo, and Meg end up with each represent a part of their personal growth. Amy chooses love over money by picking Laurie over Fred, Jo changes her definition of what it means to be independent and thrives with Mr. Bhaer, and Meg gives up her vain desires and cherishes her poor husband. Beth’s lack of a husband parallels her most defining characteristic, which is her childlike innocence. Her early death is symbolic of how she didn’t need a full journey and was already ready for the Celestial City.