May 10, 2008 09:48 AM
3621 Views
(Updated May 11, 2008 08:03 AM)
* Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents, grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.
The minute I read this line I get goosebumps. I guess I was about 15 when I chanced upon this book in my house. It was a beautiful old edition with a picture of four lovely girls on the cover. I was hooked from the first line and read through the entire book in no time. Later I discovered the sequels in my school library and swam through the entire series. These are Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys.
The series trace the life and adventures of four March sisters, Margarat(Meg), Josephine(Jo), Amelia(Amy), and Elizabeth(Beth). The story is set during the american civil war of 1880's when times were hard. The March girls belong to a genteel family fallen upon hard times. Their father is a Chaplain who has gone to serve in the War. Their mother is a housewife who is trying to make ends meet in these trying times. She also has to deal with four beautiful, intelligent and spirited girls growing up fast.
Though the girls are good in general, they have several personal demons that they need to overcome before they can reach the standards set by their parents, and become what their father calls - Little Women. Meg is vain and wishes too much for pretty things and is seduced too easily by riches. Jo is too tomboyish and has a fierce temper that often gets her into trouble. Amy is lazy, conceited about her talents(drawing) and cannot abide poverty. She is also lazy. Beth is extremely shy and finds it difficult to talk to people.
Jo makes friends with their shy but very rich next door neighbour, Theodore Laurence, or Laurie. Laurie is hungry for affection, being an orphan raised by a strict father. He integrates excellently into the family and becomes a perfect companion to the girls. He brings cheer into their lives and becomes cheerful himself in turn. The old Mr. Laurence, Laurie's grandfather, too benefits from the comings and goings between their family as he becomes less crochety and more neighbourly and affectionate.
The story never flags for falters for even a bit, through the entire series. The characters in the novel are quite Dickensian, quirky and charming. And also plentiful enough to give you the feel of the whole society in which the March sisters moved.
Alas, the novels have a flaw too. They can be insufferably preachy at times. Marmee(the mother of the girls) is strict and exacting, and preachs mercilessly most times. Maybe parents were like that during the 1880's, but in modern times, it seems too harsh. When I re-read the books sometime back, I was alternatively sniffling away and feeling irritated at the preachiness, but by the time, I put down the books, I had to admit that the story was very engrossing and it was not possible to censure it too much.
It is, however, an excellent read for young people in their teens. Its emphasis on virtue over reward, ability to cope with difficult times with humility and patience, is useful in incultating the right values among children. They can learn the importance of simple things like industry, honesty, humility and truthfulness.
More importantly, the story is so well told, in such a simple manner, and is such a wonderful tale, that it will stay in your memory forever! I am tempted to pick up the books once again, I think I will!
