THE TIMELESSNESS OF CLASSICS. Review on Little Women - Louisa Alcott May

When I pick up a Dickens, A Hardy or a Bronte, the first thought that comes to my mind is why are the classics called classics? Is it because of the theme, the plot, the narrative? Or the characters which are just immortal? Or the message that the stories have? What is it?

To find the answer I pick up another classic. This time it is Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women”. Not for the first time. I have read “Little Women” in its abridged and unabridged forms in school. A few of the chapters graced our text books. We have not only read the novel but swooned over the characters – Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy. Their (Meg and Jo’s) romantic alliances with John Brooke and Lawrie!! Everything, from the beginning till the end, is old and known, but still when I re-read the book today, it is new!

We all know “Little Women” is the story of the four March sisters – Margaret (Meg), Josephine (Jo), Elizabeth (Beth) and Amy Curtis (Amy). Mrs. March, their mother, is not only their guardian but also a friend. Mr. March is mostly absent (from scenes) in the book because he is fighting the Civil Wars. Marches are a well educated, cultured family who have seen better days but now lead an unpretentious life due to sudden misfortunes and consequent impoverishment. The family is the picture of simple living and high thinking. But that does not mean that they don’t have fun. Going through their difficult days, they learn the facts of life the hard way. But at the same time they have their moments of happiness, their sisterly squabbles, their picnics and outings, fun and frolic, even a secret society and individual creative ventures (Beth sings, Jo writes and Amy paints and sculpts and they all cook and knit and sew). Though poles apart in nature, the sisters share a strong bond built of love and care. As they grow up to become four independent and strong willed women, they realize growing up can be hard but at the same time a great joyful learning experience. Here I take a pause and look back at my teens and see an uncanny similarity – my moments of “joyful learning.”

The narrative is like a quiet flow of a serene river. The language is rich and beautiful in its simplicity giving inkling of a sedentary pace of life which my younger friends may find lacking in adventure and therefore less exciting. But for people like me who have enjoyed days of “peaceful growing up” will find it wistful and nostalgic and reminiscent of olden times.

The characters are easily relatable. The beautiful and homely Meg who has a liking for the good things in life; the tomboy, book loving Joe who does not care two fig about lady like manners and accomplishments ( here I see my mirror image in so far as love of books and unladylike manners are concerned) and rather spend time outdoor “sky larking”; the sweet, shy, soft hearted Beth, with her love for music, who is an epitome of love and concern and the youngest and willful Amy, who are so lovable. Mrs. March is the most loving and caring mother who does not preach but imparts valuable advice to her daughters through little stories and anecdotes. Mr. March, though is a soldier, has a philosophical approach towards life and his concern for his family gets reflected in the regular letters that he writes to them. The helpful and concerned neighbour, the elderly Mr. Lawrence (Lawrie’s grandfather), the romantic Mr. Brooke (Lawrie’s tutor) who falls for Meg, the devoted maid Hannah and the playful Lawrie himself who finds a set of true friends in March sisters, are so adorable that you feel that you have met them in real life sometime or the other.

Little Women is said to be semi-autobiographical. Ms Alcott had her first share of overwhelming success through this book. It is also believed that Jo’s character in the book is sketched in the shadow of the authoress herself. Little Women is the story of the growing America, the independent minded American women, slightly looked down upon by the orthodox English (the Vaughns) but who in the long run grudgingly acknowledge their spirit.

What is the message of the book? Grace is more becoming than glitter. Poverty can be more bearable if accompanied by contentment and patience. Hard earned happiness is more precious than easily accessible riches. Richness of mind is longer lasting than all the treasures of the world put together. The ideals of Good Samaritan (In spite of their own unassuming life, March family is ever ready to help the downtrodden and less fortunate ones). Endless, priceless gems! At this point I find my mother’s voice echoing the lines delivered by Mrs. March. Didn’t our parents teach the same things again an again when we were small? Of course! Given today’s ruling consumerism these invaluable advices may fall on deaf ears of those whose plump and fleshy hands flash Gold and Platinum VISA/Master Cards, whose rotund bellies gloat on excesses of life, whose well adorned girth may never be able to differentiate between the richness of mind and the riches stuffed in the bank vaults. These are the life mantras of people like us who have lost and learnt and not for those whose dreams and aspirations are staked on their next acquisitions and holdings.

Having deeply gone through the various aspect of this novel, I come back to the same question asked in the beginning of the review. Why classics are called classics? The answer stares at my face. These are called classics because they are slices of life itself; because they speak of eternal truths and values which never become obsolete with time; because they bring to life immortal characters who are no more restricted to the printed pages of the novel and come alive as the story progresses; because there is no pretension about the narratives; because these do not speak of a particular nation, society, people – these transcend time, era and geographical bounds and speak of human travails and triumphs, hardships and happiness, conquests and defeats, ambitions and apathy, endeavours and emancipation and successes and failures of all times – these tell tales of mankind, how civilizations were built and rebuilt. They speak about us – we, the people.

It is said that Ms. Alcott wanted to fight the Civil Wars which she could not and went on to become a nurse. But she soon contacted typhoid and pneumonia for which she was treated with mercury which, in turn, gave her mercury poisoning. As a result, remainder of her life was a story of pain and ill health. But in spite of her poor health conditions she continued to write till the end of her life. She was also a staunch feminist and a fervent supporter of woman’s suffrage. She was the first woman to register to vote in Concord (America) where she lived. This little biography of the authoress is given here to show that all timeless creations of art are born out of human suffering and grit.

Ms. Alcott went on to write three more sequels to Little Women – “Good Wives”, “Little Men” and “Jo’s Boys”, on which I am yet to lay my hands upon.

Until then!

Cheerio!