LOUISA MAY ALCOTTAnd Her Portrayal of Strong Women in a Male Dominate Society

Created By Adrienne Joubert

Louisa May Alcott History

a female American Novelist born on November 29, 1832 in Germantown, Pennsylvania

She had three sisters, a philosopher/teacher for a father, and a loving Mother

Alcott’s Inspiration

Her family is said to be her primary inspiration for her success in literature and also served as the foundation for her most popular book, “Little Women”.

Women in Society in the 1800s In early 1800’s women

were still held to the stereotype of a gentle home supporter

War disrupted this structure providing a platform for woman to expand their influence on society

By mid 1800s Women's Rights had increased significantly across America, but not all woman progressed

Body of Works

Louisa May Alcott wrote: 56 poems 11 plays Over 200 short stories 18 Novels 24 collective works

Information obtained from: http://philandsusantolbert.com/alcott/lma_wrks.html

Alcott’s Literature

Her own personal insights and experiences have made all of the stories as real as it could be during a time when the society is dominated by men and women are expected to become mere supporters.

Alcott’s Educational History

Alcott was educated primarily by her father a well known abolitionist and transcendentalist.

Other influential writers and educators of her time such as Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Margaret Fuller also had a hand in her education.

Surrounded and educated by these progressive thinkers molded Alcott into a strong woman.

Work: A Story of Experience

This novel represents women who are able to work outside their houses and take on roles that are different from the ones they usually did inside the household.

The women portrayed in this particular novel of Alcott are shown to have the ability to work in different careers and are indeed allowed to do so.

It is a indication of their ability to break the common stereotype attached to women at that time, which is to remain inside the household and attend to the needs of the family members

Little Women

In this story Alcott placed emphasis on the different barriers that often limited the opportunities made available to women.

The obstacles detailed in the novel are the burden of finding a husband who can serve the needs of the female, restrictions with regard to the choices in terms of career, and problems with regard to access to college education.

Little Women Continued

The portrayal of the lives and struggles of the four women was successful and also appealed to the senses of the audience.

a sequel to the novel was published and showed a different phase in the lives of the four women.

In the second volume, the women are also shown to have their own individual struggles and the means they used to overcome the said struggles.

Little Women Continued

Alcott has also shown that despite the dominance of males in the society, the females are still able to succeed in their own professions through their own little ways.

Candy Country

The woman is shown as a person who is capable of acquiring knowledge for the sake of enhancing their own welfare

Alcott ensured that the main character portrays the strength of women regardless of the domination of men in the society.

My Personal Experience with Louisa

I was in the 5th grade when my school developed a program to encourage students to read. Each book in the school library was given points based on its level of difficulty. The goal was to gain as many points as possible to earn a reward of ice cream. Being an ambitious nine year old I decided to limit my selection to the books with the highest points. As a result my first selection was “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott.

My Personal Experience with Louisa cont.

I soon found myself relating to Miss Jo in the story, her ambitious and rambunctious ways inspired something in me. A need to excel and fight for what I wanted.

I didn’t know it at the time, but this story ultimately had a huge impact on my views of what we as women are capable of.

Conclusion

Alcott showed that women are able to enter aspects of society that are known to be dominated by male.

The access stems from their qualifications and abilities that prove they can also be at par with the rest of the population.