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Louisa May Alcott. The Children’s Friend. Growing up as a woman in the 1800s seems impossible for a woman born in the 21st century. Her works have shown us what it meant to be a woman when being a woman felt two-dimensional and oppressive. Although this was true, and women were not afforded their own rights and dignities, Louisa May Alcott was still able to show the beauty and uniqueness of being a woman. Her works are a showcase of the light and dark of the feminine experience. The expectations, the drawbacks, the special feelings, and the intense relationships we have with one another. Her characters were made to be relatable, as that was what a novel was. Novels were made to highlight the everyday life of everyday people, the normal as opposed to the epic tales of heroes and adventurers.
Even though her stories were of ordinary people, the normalness of the stories made the tales much more intriguing. We could almost insert ourselves into the situations, making Alcott’s works endearing and special. Her work, her life, and her impact on American Literature deserve their own spotlights. In this blog, we wish to give proper time to each stage of her life and legacy. We’ll explore the avenues of Alcott’s life such as her:
Childhood & Beliefs
Early Writing
Notorious Works
Legacy
As we explore such an amazing woman in literature, it’s important to remember all that she, and many other women like her, have given the literary community. Not only women from the 1800s, but even modern women writers are making strides, discoveries, and changes within this community, for the better! Be sure to thank a woman writer in your life, even if you have to look in the mirror. With that being said, let’s get back to highlighting one of the best American female writers.
I. Childhood and Beliefs
In order to fully understand the brilliance of the mind, you must understand how one is raised. Alcott is no exception to this. We’ve already discussed that she was born in the 1800s–November 29th, 1832 to be exact, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was during the height of the transcendentalist movement, which greatly influenced her own thinking and values. Additionally, she studied under great authors Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne as well as notable philosopher, Henry David Thoreau.
She grew up impoverished, making her writing something to lean on for emotional support rather than financial support - at least in her early writing career. To keep her and her family above water, she would teach, wash laundry, and eventually become a nurse during the Civil War. After her short stint as a nurse, she began to gain a following for her many works.
Alcott was an abolitionist since her father, Bronson Alcott, founded an abolitionist society in 1850 within her childhood home. Alcott wrote during her time as a Civil War nurse, “My greatest pride is that I lived to know the brave men and women who did so much for the cause, and that I had a very small share in the war which put an end to a great wrong.” The “great wrong” Alcott refers to here is the cause of the war, the heinous act of slavery in America. With this quote alone, we can see where she stood in history and what she believed.
In addition to this, she was also one of the first American Feminists. She was the first woman registered to vote in Concord when women were finally given school, tax, and bond suffrage. Although her works would idealize and romanticize the Victorian woman as a wife and a mother, her own life proved to be unconventional and very “against the grain.” She upheld beliefs that all human beings were created equal and should be treated as such and even supported interracial marriage in a time period that was heavily against it.
It’s very clear that Alcott was a different kind of woman. One could even imagine that she “is not like other girls,” but in a good way. Within her time period, women were expected to be married and have kids of their own, a feat Alcott never went forward with. Instead, Alcott adopted her niece after the death of her sister, never getting married and never giving birth. In all seriousness, her early childhood and the way she grew up, as well as who she grew up around, greatly influenced the person she was. This can be seen in the way she wrote, especially in her early writing career.
II. Early Writing
Even before Alcott began to gain a following, she still produced many works that highlighted her individual thinking and values as well as the capturing of the essence of being a woman in the mid 1800s. Although these works may not be as known as Alcott’s other stories, they’re imperative in understanding who Alcott was and her unique contributions to American Literary History.
- Silver Pitchers
Today, the story Silver Pitchers can be found alongside a collection of Alcott’s works in book form. However, when she first wrote this story, it was a small newspaper sketch. This short story is filled with cultural significance and really highlights the power of women, even in a time when women systematically had little to none.
This story follows three young ladies, Pris, Polly, and Portia, as they devise a plan to go against the young boys in order to make them change their behavior. The ill behavior they speak of was the young men spiking the cider and the coffee at the Thanksgiving function, thus ruining the drinks and making all the young lads act like fools. The girls are aware of their status as well as their roles as women, but they don’t let that stop them. They come together as, what they call, a small society with a mission to prevent the men around them from succumbing to alcoholism.
Throughout the dialogue, we can see the strength of women, especially when they band together. They brainstorm ideas, share thoughts and feelings, and never once judge each other’s hardships or decisions. In fact, Pris’ determination and ambition to stop alcoholism from hurting any more men in her life is admired by her friends. The band of support and the unconditional love and support that these girls show in the span of a couple of chapters is beyond touching and shows the special and intense relationships that womanhood fosters.
- Flower Fables
This was Alcott’s first published book and encompasses a myriad of stories that Alcott wrote for Ralph Waldo Emerson’s daughter, Ella Emerson. This is a collection of fanciful, fairy-like tales which encompass the beauty of nature, of being alive, and, of course, the gloriousness of being a woman.
The imagery alone makes you feel like you’re living in a far-off, fantasy land. Reading about the beautiful flowers and the colorful lives these little fairies live makes you long for a place called “home” without knowing where “home” is. The fairy elves within the story are all sisters except for the Fairy Queen, who seems to symbolize a mother figure.
This theme is common in Alcott’s work, as she often wrote about the strong bonds between sisters and between daughters and their mothers. The one theme I want to point out in this story particularly is the want of the fairies to assist their mother, and being upset when they cannot offer much. For women with a strong relationship with their mothers, they know this feeling all too well. The want and inability to give your mother everything she gave you and more leaves a pit in your stomach and an ache in your chest. That’s a feeling that Alcott has perfectly portrayed in most of her works.
III. Notorious Works
When we talk about notorious works, it’s usually the books and stories that have received the most popularity and book sales. While that’s normally the case, there are also other aspects we can look at for notoriety that may not be as quantitative. In this case, we’ll be looking at those stories that have the most popularity of course, but we also want to shine light on what makes Alcott so special and what helped her gain the title of American Literature Legend.
- Little Women
The work that many know Alcott for today is Little Women, and there’s a reason it’s continued to be popular even in the 21st century. This book has officially adorned the title of a “classic” which, if you’re in the reading community at all, you know that’s a title that isn’t passed around lightly.
The way that Alcott follows the life of the main character, Jo March, as she navigates her life and the many changes is so painfully realistic. In the best way possible! The audience follows the March family - mainly Jo but her close relationship with her mother and sister allow us to experience their life as well - as these young women begin to grow and go through the many ups and downs that life throws at them. The way that, through thick and thin, these sisters fall back on one another is simply beautiful. No matter what may happen, they never let petty arguments, grudges, or ill treatment disrupt their love for one another. It’s wonderful to watch how their relationships change as they grow, but always keeping that strong love.
- A.M. Barnard
It would be a travesty to discuss Louisa May Alcott’s life and works without mentioning A.M. Barnard. If this name isn’t familiar to you, don’t worry, that was the whole point! A.M. Barnard was a pen name that Alcott used to publish different works that were more outwardly passionate and fiery compared to her other works.
If Alcott’s works were rather PG then Barnard’s books would be rated M. Her works such as Behind A Mask or A Woman’s Power were much more explicitly romantic and filled with sexual intrigue. The reason for the pen name? Well, Alcott was beginning to make a brand for her writing, making it very beautiful, girlish, and pleasantly normal. She was also beginning to write children’s books, causing her brand to be more family-oriented and friendly.
But, as with all normal individuals, this wasn’t the only side to Alcott. Barnard was Alcott’s way of writing more intense women characters who were outwardly manipulative and sought revenge for their wrongdoings. In modern media, this is typically called the “feminine rage” where women work towards what they want, no matter the cost. They got hurt and know they’re going to make whoever hurt them pay for that. It can be understood why she would want to keep this separated from her children’s books, right?
IV. Legacy
Through the examination of Alcott’s background, we can see why her works became to popular. Her unconventionalism and the way she pushed back against oppression for all peoples is admirable. She made a name for herself pretty early on in her career because of her abolitionist viewpoints. Within her works, whether overtly or covertly, she advocated for educational reform, dress reform, temperance, suffrage, and racial equality.
More than that, she also explored many writing styles and genres throughout her writing career, creating an impressive portfolio and creating a wide audience who loved her works. She explored the art of poetry, the novel, gothic writings, and many other genres throughout her life. This alone makes her an impressive creator, but combining her works with the progressive ideals she believed in makes her a legend. I mean come on - there’s a reason her name and works are still being talked about over a hundred years later.
Calling All Writers
Something that Louisa May Alcott celebrated more than writing was the diversity within the writing community. She didn’t look at our differences as something to hold us back, but something to bring us together. Despite class differences, gender, and race, she was able to acknowledge these differences and embrace them. These ideals and practices should also be brought into our community, even today. The writing community is filled with unique perspectives and its important that we take the practices and teachings of Alcott and many other diverse writers. Of course, it’s important to write about your own experiences, but it’s equally as important to listen to others. Keep an open mind as you continue your journey through life. It’ll make life more beautiful; I promise!
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