Little Women Notes (1st edition)

Louisa May Alcott´s favourite writer was the German poet Goethe and not only did Louisa use Goethe´s plot devices in her novels such as Little Women, but Goethe also seemed to have been one of the main models for professor Bhaer´s character. There was a real-life Friedrich Bhaer. In fact, Louisa May Alcott wanted to marry him and even start a school with him. This man appears in literal disguises in all of her novels. He is Friedrich in Little Women, Mac in Rose in Bloom, David in Work, an...

A deep dive into Louisa May Alcott´s views on wealth and the transcendentalist thoughts on money. Why self-reliance is such an important aspect of Jo´s and Friedrich´s relationship and why Amy does not want a lazy husband. Join the Little Women podcast to get answers to all these questions. There was a real-life Friedrich Bhaer. In fact, Louisa May Alcott wanted to marry him and even start a school with him. This man appears in literal disguises in all of her novels. He is Friedrich in Lit...

This time Christina and I are chatting about the fact that Friedrich Bhaer has never been played by an actual German actor in a major Little Women film adaptation, even though Louisa May Alcott was nuts about Germany. We are chatting about Daniel Brühl and the presentation of Germans in the modern media.

Louisa May Alcott always wanted to become a mother and she always seemed to have grieved that she didn´t have children of her own. Like many other things, she gave what she wanted to her literal counterpart. Join Christina and me in our discussion about Jo´s and Friedrich´s desire to become parents.

In this collaboration with Emiloid, we explore why film makers put Jo and Amy against one another in Little Women. Do they have more in common than we think? Amy and Jo, not so different after all. Why on earth the filmmakers think it is a good idea to have the two sisters fight over a guy when in the novel they both find Laurie lazy and unproductive (and Amy eventually becomes the one who helps him to shape up his act). Little Women is a coming of age story, both Amy and Jo grow as people.

Friedrich Bhaer is based on philosopher Henry David Thoreau. Louisa was in love with him and he appears in literal disguise in all of her novels. He is also based on Alcott's favourite writer, the German poet Goethe. Unlike Greta Gerwig that lies to millions of people, Jo and Friedrich never argue in the book, and Friedrich is the one who helps her to become a writer. He literally gives the same advice to Jo, as Goethe inspired LMA to improve as a writer. Laurie is partially based on Alcott's ...

This time Emily and I are discussing the portrayal of strong female characters in the media, and when did loneliness become a mark of being strong. Also discussing Louisa May Alcott´s own loneliness and her search for love and acceptance.

3334 word literature essay discussing the theme of diverse women in literature overcoming and defying different disadvantages such as poverty, lack of education in Middle Eastern countries, difficulties being an orphan in the Victorian era, and other disadvantages experienced by women. Discussed are Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte), Anne of Green Gables (LM Montgomery), I am Malala (Malala Yousafzai), Little Women (LM Alcott), and film My Fair Lady (G Cukor). Full reference list included, Chicago-St...