Wrote an English essay on the film Little Women analyzing it through the lens of feminist theory. The requirements were to analyze it through a lens of critical theory. I chose feminist theory I need
Olga Parrales Kennia Lopez ENGL 1 120-006 April 17, 2023 Gender Expectations In “Little W omen” Little W omen is an 1868 novel written by Louisa May Alcott that was later adapted into a film in 2019. The story is set in 1860 Massachusetts during the Civil war and it follows the story of the four March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy through the perspective of Jo the protagonist. Early on in the film it becomes apparent the rhetorical theme that gender plays in the lives of the March sisters, primarily the obligation to marry young and create a family . This is where we see Jo finding the restrictions of being a woman in her time unbearable. In contrast to what her other sisters think about womanhood, Jo does not want to grow up to be a wife devoted to her husband like every woman in that time is expected to be. She has dreams about becoming a writer and the thought of not being able to be so because of her sexuality is terrifying to her . While the film does not suggest that one model of womanhood is more desirable than the other , it does recognize that one is more realistic than the other . The film begins with introducing us to the protagonist Jo, one of the four March sisters. She hesitates before entering a building where she of fers a story she wrote to an editor so he can publish it. W e learn through this scene that Jo is an aspiring writer . The publisher skims over it and tells her he will take it as long as she makes altercations to it. She has to shorten it and for future references if there are any female characters present in her story she has to make sure that by the end of it they are either married or dead. W ith this very short but critical scene it is already showing to the viewers that there is only one expectation of a woman to either be married or dead. It is linking a woman’ s worth to how well she can conform to society’ s expectations in just a minute into the introduction. W e see Jo accept the conditions and run of f back to work with the money she just collected. It’ s here we learn that she is in New Y ork working as a governess in a boarding house alongside her colleague Professor Friedrich Bhaer . Upon her return we see Friedrich comment on how hard she works when there is no need to, Jo responds to him by explaining that money is the whole of her existence and that until her sister Amy gets married to a man who is obscenely wealthy it’ s up to her to keep her family afloat. This once again touches on the previous point mentioned earlier regarding marriage. Either Jo or her sister have to get married or Jo has to work herself to death in the small chance that she'll be able to provide for her family while also pursuing her dreams. The reality that Friedrich fails to see is that the amount of labor she endures is essential for her survival; it's not that she wants to but she has to; she has no other options available to her unlike him. She has to work harder than him in every aspect just to have a slim chance of succeeding. It's either that or have to give up her dream of being a writer and settle down with a man that has money . Here we see how her gender is interfering with her goals and overall lifestyle. Jo is later informed of her sister Beth’ s health condition and how it has seriously deteriorated, she leaves New Y ork and decides to devote her time to care for her dying sister . The film then begins to alternate from the present to the past through Jo's lens. She begins to reminisce and we are taken back to a time when she was younger and was surrounded by her sisters and mother . W e see them celebrating Christmas together . It’ s here we are introduced to the rest of the March sisters. Meg who is the oldest and wants to be an actress, Beth who wants to be a famous musician, Amy who desires to be a professional artist one day , and of course Jo who aspires to be a writer . W e are able to get a huge sense of how much Jo’ s family means to her with the time they spend together . Jo continues to reminisce to the past and we see her develop a friendship with her wealthy neighbor Laurie. Laurie is a young boy around the same age as Jo who dreams of being a musician. The two instantly connect and become best friends. They joke together , they jab at each other , and they support each other . They know each other , and they know each other well. They both enjoy one another's company and they prefer it over other people's. The two even wear each other ’s clothes emphasizing on the strong bond they share together . Through the time they spend together we learn more about Jo. Her behavior is often unladylike; she swears (mildly), is a huge tomboy who uses a lot of slang, is incredibly blunt, and very clumsy . Her full name is also Josephine which is a much more feminine name but she decides to go by the more masculine-sounding Jo. Her actions can be interpreted as a subconscious desire of possessing the same freedom that men enjoy as well as the fear of losing her own identity once she begins to embrace her femininity . Something that is a very recurring issue throughout the movie. Eventually she starts growing up alongside Laurie and they continue to spend all their time together but one day Laurie ends up confessing his love for Jo. He goes on claiming how he has loved her since the first day they've met and how he has been waiting for her in hopes she reciprocates the same feelings. It’ s here Jo with a heavy heart rejects him. She doesn’ t believe she will ever marry; she loves her liberty too much to give it up. She goes on to comfort him and assure him that he will find an amazing woman that will love him. Jo later moves to New Y ork in the hopes to get away from Laurie which brings us back to the present. Jo returns home to take care of her sister who eventually passes away . Indulged in her grief Jo realizes how lonely she is. All her sisters are married and moving on with their lives while she’ s still here chasing after a dream that has yet to even come true. Her mother approaches her to console her . It’ s here Jo repents on rejecting Laurie so hastily , her mother then questions if she actually loves him. Jo responds that she cares more about being loved to which her mother replies is not the same as loving. Jo begins to cry and attempts to explain herself: “W omen have minds and souls as well as hearts, ambition and talent as well as beauty and I’m sick of being told that love is all a woman is fit for . But... I am so lonely .” Her mother hugs her and Jo falls asleep. She is later woken up by Laurie who has stopped by to give his condolences. Jo's face immediately lights up and they begin to talk and before Jo can express her feelings for him Laurie thanks her for rejecting him when they were younger because he found true love with her sister Amy . In that moment Jo simultaneously put a smile on her face and congratulated him while her heart completely shattered inside. He leaves to go downstairs to reunite with Amy and Jo is left all alone again. Jo never loved Laurie. The love she had for Laurie was strictly platonic she believed that they were always going to be kids that would grow old together but then everyone around her started seeking romantic love instead and in order to fit in with no options left Jo desperately cried for romantic love and she cried for Laurie only because she couldn’ t have what she truly desired. This is what women have and continue to experience today . The pressure to settle down with someone because you see those around you do so and because this is what society continues to deem the solution to all your problems. The only answer that will give you happiness because anything is better than ending up alone. Jo later goes on to marry her boarding housemate Professor Bhaer and they have children. W ith that the film later comes to an end.Jo ultimately gives up her dream and freedom she fought so hard for and ends up conforming to society's expectations by marrying into a more customary lifestyle just like her sisters.
