Meg and Beth’s Little Women: The Adaptation of the Domestic Woman in Modern Times
Summary
The aim of this thesis is to analyze the prominence and characteristics of two of Louisa May Alcott’s more traditional feminine heroines in Little Women, Meg March and Beth March, and to analyse whether or not more traditional female characters have become less prominent over time. To understand how traditional feminine heroines could have become less popular over time, and therefore lose prominence, a brief and general history about the evolution of feminism will be provided in the thesis. Next, certain chapters in the novel will have been close-read, and compared to the respective scenes in the adaptation, and will illustrate if and how the prominence and characterisation of both characters has changed over time. These chapters discuss both characterisation and symbolism of the characters. Lastly, the analyses of all chapters and scenes will be thoroughly summarized to answer the questions at the beginning of the thesis.