"Little Women" is a kind and useful book. Louisa May Alcottlittle women

Louisa May Alcott's book "Little Women" has captivated more than one generation of readers. She has become an example of children's literature that teaches morality and kindness. Children will be interested in reading about the adventures of girls living in one big family, they will watch with curiosity the antics of the main characters, experiencing a variety of feelings with them. At the same time, the writer talks about life values, about good manners, oh good deeds, which has a certain educational effect on children.

The March family once lived prosperously, but after the head of the family and the father of four girls went to war, they had to live in poverty. However, the women of this family are not going to give up in the face of difficulties, and difficult life does not prevent girls from enjoying life.

Meg's older sister is sixteen years old, she is very beautiful, romantic and feminine. She captivates with her modesty and good manners. However, Meg worries that she can't afford to wear new ones. beautiful dresses, like her friends, but she tries to help her family. Jo's second sister is nothing like Meg. She always dreamed of being born a boy; she prefers adventures and adventures. Jo has a bright, lively temperament, she loves to read and dreams of becoming a writer.

The third oldest sister Beth is very timid and quiet, she loves music and wants a new piano. Both externally and spiritual qualities she resembles an angel. Younger sister Amy is the most controversial personality. She knows that she can please anyone if it is in her interests. She is cunning and in a fit of emotion can commit an ugly act, but later she is able to repent.

Such different girls, each of which has its own inner world, your values and experiences. It’s interesting to watch how they grow up, change, learn to make decisions and draw conclusions, how they turn from little girls to become more and more like little women.

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Louisa Alcott

Little Women

Instead of a preface

Let this short story
It will raise everything secret from the bottom of the soul,
Will make you think and understand
That there is no valor greater than kindness.

Let this short story
It will seem like a pilgrim to you,
Who told you a lot of stories,
So that, having recognized them, you become wiser.

Let this short story
Will make you think about your neighbor
And, despite many obstacles,
Will teach you the science of mercy.

From John Bunyan

Pilgrim game

- Well, what kind of Christmas is it without gifts! – Jo, lying on the carpet, grumbled.

“It’s a terrible thing to be poor,” answered Meg, and looked down at her old dress with a sigh.

Amy even coughed in frustration.

- Well, we’re not so bad yet. With us, according to at least“, there is a father and mother, and we all live together,” Beth responded from her corner, and her voice sounded much more cheerful than the others.

Hearing these words, the girls perked up.

“Yes, but dad isn’t with us,” Jo seemed to remember. - When will we see each other now?

Here all four fell silent again, and each involuntarily thought about what Jo had not said: dad is now at war, which means he may not return at all.

The sisters were silent for some time.

“You know why Mom doesn’t want us to give each other presents this Christmas,” Meg finally said. - The winter is going to be difficult. And my mother believes that while men are at war, women have no right to spend money on pleasure. Of course, little depends on us. But it's only fair that we make small sacrifices. Mom says that such sacrifices should bring joy, but I... am not particularly happy.

And, remembering what wonderful things they usually give at Christmas, Meg sadly shook her head.

- Yes, we are of little use: each of us has no more than a dollar. It is unlikely that the army will get rich from such donations. However, I could do without gifts this year. But I really want to buy Ondine and Sintram,” said Jo, who loved books more than anything else in the world.

“I need sheet music,” Beth admitted and sighed so quietly that only the poker and the teapot heard her sigh.

“And I’ll buy a box of Faber colored pencils,” Amy said. - I really need them.

“But mom didn’t say anything about our money.” It is unlikely that she wants us to give up everything altogether. Can you at least allow yourself small joys? We didn’t get this money just like that! – Jo said passionately and immediately became embarrassed.

“I certainly didn’t get them for nothing,” Meg said. – Teach these terrible children all day long! It's much better to stay at home!

“It’s all nothing compared to what I’m going through,” said Jo. “I’d like to see how you would like to sit all day long with an eccentric old woman.” Listen to her grumbling, fulfill her whims, and she is always dissatisfied with everything! It is simply impossible to please her. She leeches me all the time. I just want to slap her across the cheeks. Or throw herself out the window, never to see this old hag again.

“It’s a sin, of course, to complain, but it seems to me that my work is even worse.” They should force you to wash the dishes and clean up! You know how tired I am! And my hands become rough, I can hardly play the piano anymore.

Beth looked sadly at her hands and sighed loudly.

– I’m still worse! - Amy exclaimed. -You don't have to go to school. These nasty girls are not making fun of you! If I don’t learn my lesson, they make fun of me! And over my old dresses, and over our dad, since he went broke. They will even make fun of your nose if they don’t like it.

“Amy,” Jo remarked with a laugh, “we shouldn’t say “mocked,” but “mocked.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Amy waved it off. “You understood me perfectly, so why be ironic?” In addition, - with important look she added, “new words expand one’s horizons.”

- Stop bickering! What is there to argue about? Of course, it would be better if dad didn’t go broke. When I was very little, we were rich. In those days, we didn’t think about any savings,” Meg sighed.

- Well, yes, but yesterday you said that we are happier than the royal children. And that the royal children, although rich, quarrel and fight every now and then.

- That's right, Beth. I don't go back on my words. Of course, it's difficult for us. But we also know how to have fun. No wonder Jo called us a cheerful bunch.

“That’s it,” Amy remarked disapprovingly. “Where did Jo get these words from?”

And she cast a reproachful glance at long-legged Jo, who still lay stretched out on the carpet.

Jo immediately sat down and began to whistle.

- Stop whistling, Joe! You're acting like a boy.

– And I want to behave like a boy.

– I can’t stand this!

“And I can’t stand well-bred bastards.”

“The chicks are cooing in the nest,” Beth sang and made such a funny face that the wranglers laughed merrily.

Beth always acted as a conciliator.

“I must note, my dears, that you are both wrong,” Meg said edifyingly. She was the oldest and felt the right to give advice to the others. “You, Josephine, are already big enough.” It's time to leave your boyish ways and learn to behave decently. While you were little, everything went well. Now look, you're already wearing your hair. And you look like a real girl.

- I'm not a girl! – Jo was stubborn. “And if it’s all about the hair, I’d rather wear pigtails until I’m twenty.” “She tore the net from her head, and her brown hair immediately flew out like a fan. “I hate to think that I will ever turn into the adult Miss March.” I'll put on a long dress and become as prim as a turkey. I'm already unlucky. How lucky I was to be born a girl when I love playing boyish games so much! All my life I regret that I am not a boy. And now even more. Otherwise I would have gone to fight with my dad. Now sit here and knit like an ancient old woman!

Jo shook the blue army sock she was knitting during the conversation so hard that the knitting needles clanked and the ball of wool rolled into the corner.

- Poor Jo! You're probably really unlucky. But there’s nothing you can do about it; you’ll have to be content with the nickname. However, if you want, we are ready to consider you an older brother,” Beth said.

At the same time, she affectionately stroked Joe’s thick hair, and she could make sure that despite washing the dishes, Beth’s hands remained as gentle as ever.

“I can’t praise you enough, Amy,” Meg continued. – You go to the other extreme. You're too prim and mannered. It's funny for now, but if you don't stop in time, you risk turning into a cutesy young lady. How pleasant a man is, well-mannered and able to express his thoughts gracefully! You can’t say a simple word! Believe me, pompous speech sounds no better than Joe's boyish slang.

- So, Joe is a “tomboy”, Amy is a “cute young lady”. Well, who do you think I am? – Beth asked, ready to listen to her share of instructions.

“You are a delight to us,” Meg answered affectionately.

None of the sisters objected. Beth, whose family name was Mouse, was everyone's favorite.

And now, my dear young readers, the time has come to at least general outline sketch portraits of four sisters. We found them knitting on a December evening. The wood is crackling cheerfully in the fireplace, and it’s snowing outside the window.

The room in which the sisters are located is furnished with the simplest furniture, and the pile on the carpet is fairly worn. And yet it is very cozy here. Hanging on the walls expensive paintings, there are bookshelves in the walls, the window sills are decorated with chrysanthemums and Christmas roses. In short, by all appearances, it’s a real family home.

The older sister, sixteen-year-old Margaret, is very pretty. Delicate oval face, huge eyes, beautifully contoured mouth, thick hat brown hair, beautiful hands... Now you can imagine that the March couple can be rightfully proud of their eldest daughter.

Joe, a year younger than Meg, is outwardly the complete opposite of her. Tall, thin, dark, she somewhat resembles a foal. She positively does not know what to do with her long arms and legs, and it seems that they are always getting in her way. The line of the mouth indicates a decisive character. A grey eyes as if they penetrate the interlocutor through and through. Jo's eyes reveal everything that is in her soul. And since her mood often changes, in her eyes you can read mockery, thoughtfulness, and sometimes even rage. Thick long hair- perhaps the only decoration of her appearance. But they bother Jo, and she takes them under the net.

Now Joe is at the most “unfortunate” age. Carelessness in clothes, clumsy movements - everything betrays her as a teenager who is about to turn into a girl, but for some reason resists nature with all her might.

Louisa May Alcott

Little Women

All rights reserved. No part of the electronic version of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including posting on the Internet or corporate networks, for private or public use without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Now, Book, the fruit of my labors, go
And show everyone what you keep
in your chest.
You entertain and instruct my friends,
May the right path to good
my verse will show them.
I flatter myself that my dreams will come true,
What is the meaning of life to understand
you will help them all.
You introduce them to Mercy; it
On life path should be the rule.
Let your voice be loud
will call upon young maidens
Appreciate the world that exists, and the one
what awaits us all.
Having the Lord in your soul, let him be with Him
The pilgrim will follow the safest path.

John Bunyan

Pilgrim game

“It’s not Christmas without gifts,” Jo grumbled dissatisfied, stretching out on the rug in front of the fireplace.

- How disgusting it is to be poor! – Meg sighed and looked down at her old dress.

“It’s just unfair that some girls have a lot of beautiful things, while others have nothing at all,” little Amy added, sniffling resentfully.

“But we have dad and mom, and we all have each other,” Bess responded with satisfaction from her corner.

At these encouraging words, the four young faces, illuminated by the firelight, brightened for a moment, but immediately darkened again, for Jo said sadly:

“We don’t have a dad and won’t have one for a long time.”

She did not say: “Perhaps never,” but each of them added these words to herself, thinking about her father, who is so far from them - where they are fighting.

Everyone was silent for a minute, then Meg spoke in a different tone:

“You know why mom suggested not giving each other gifts for Christmas.” The winter is going to be hard, and mom thinks that we shouldn’t spend money on pleasure while men bear all the hardships. front-line life. There is little we can do to help them, but we are still able to make our small sacrifices and should do so joyfully. But I'm afraid there is no such joy in my soul. - And Meg shook her head, sadly thinking about all the beautiful things that she wanted to have.

“But in my opinion, the little pocket money we have cannot bring any noticeable benefit.” Each of us has only a dollar, and it is unlikely that we will help the army that much if we donate this money to it. I agree not to expect any gifts from mom and from you, but I really want to buy myself “Ondine and Sintram.” I've dreamed about this for so long! said Jo, who was a famous book eater.

“I was going to spend my dollar on new sheet music,” Bess said with such a small sigh that it was heard only by the tea stand and fire brush standing nearby.

– I’ll buy myself a box of colored pencils. “I absolutely need them,” Amy said decisively.

“Mom didn’t say anything about our pocket money, and she, of course, won’t demand that we completely give up all pleasures.” Let each of us buy what we want, and we will be at least a little happy. I think we deserve it because we worked so hard! - exclaimed Jo, looking at the heels of her worn-out shoes like a man.

“I really had a hard time teaching these annoying children almost all day long when I really wanted to go home,” Meg began again in a plaintive tone.

“It wasn’t nearly as hard for you as it was for me,” Jo said. “How would you like to sit locked up for hours with a fussy and capricious old woman who doesn’t give you a minute of peace, is always dissatisfied and bores you to such an extent that you are ready to throw yourself out of the window or burst into tears?”

“It’s not nice, of course, to complain, but I think that washing dishes and keeping the house in order is the most unpleasant job in the world.” It makes me irritable, and my hands feel like wood, so I can’t even play scales properly. - And Bess looked at her calloused hands with a sigh, which this time everyone heard.

“And I think that none of you suffers as much as I do!” - Amy exclaimed. “After all, you don’t have to go to school and sit there with arrogant girls who tell on you if you don’t know your lesson, laugh at your dresses, insult you because you don’t have a very beautiful nose, and clean your father, since he is not rich.

- If you want to say honor, then say so, and don’t talk about your father as if he were a sooty kettle,” Jo advised with a laugh.

- I know perfectly well what I want to say, and there is no point in addressing me with such starcasm. It is very commendable to use Nice words and replenish your fox, – Amy retorted with dignity.

- Don't peck each other, kids. Don't you, Joe, wish we had the money now that Dad lost when we were little? - said Meg, who was the eldest and could remember better times. - My God! How happy and friendly we would be if we had no worries!

“And the other day you said that, in your opinion, we are much happier than the King children, despite all their wealth, because all they do is quarrel and fight.”

“Of course, Bess, I said that and I really think that we are happier than them, even if we have to work.” After all, we know how to have fun, and in general we are a “warm company,” as Jo would say.

“Joe always uses such vulgar expressions!” – Amy remarked, looking reproachfully at the long figure stretched out on the rug.

Jo immediately sat up, put her hands in her pockets and whistled.

- Stop it, Joe, it's so boyish!

“That’s why I whistle.”

– I can’t stand rude, ill-mannered girls!

– I hate cutesy and mannered touchy-feely ones!

“The birds in their nest are all chirping in harmony,” Bess sang with such a funny expression on her face that the irritated voices gave way to laughter and the “birds” stopped pecking each other for a while.

“Really, girls, you both deserve to be blamed,” Meg said judiciously, starting to teach like an older sister. “You, Josephine, are old enough to give up these boyish antics and behave like a girl.” Your manners had no of great importance while you were little. However, now that you are so tall and are giving yourself a “grown-up” hairstyle, you should remember that you are already a young lady, and not a tomboy.

In my friends' LiveJournal feed, I came across a post listing books that had a great influence on readers and shaped their views on life. It was a long time ago, I can’t find where the fuss started. But, in general, it was an average top (as in the recently released “The Great Equalizer” he masters “100 greatest books world literature" - this kind of list). I skimmed the top and my eyes caught on Little Women. When, as a schoolgirl, I went to English lessons with a tutor, we read adapted to the meager lexicon the first chapter, in which the girls use their pocket money to buy Christmas gifts for their mother. Even then, I mentally checked the box next to the title of the book and intended to finish reading it someday, preferably in the original. 15 years have passed, and I realized this intention. Moreover, I'm in Lately I read a lot about children.

Every chapter in Little Women is a lesson.

The heroines learn parting words from their parents or, by helping each other, learn to endure life’s difficulties. They work on their imperfect characters (for example, Jo is hot-tempered, Amy is rather materialistic), they are not afraid to admit their mistakes - and that’s how they grow up. I liked that the girls know for sure that they can be frank with their mother, confess everything to her and, in essence, receive absolution. Because such evening conversations with debriefing are called `fess, i.e. “confess”, “confess”. I think this is a very important lesson, both for children and parents. It is much easier to openly admit your mistakes if you are sure that you will find patience and understanding in the listener. Even if it seems that the offense is terrible and forgiveness is impossible. Wise Mrs. March, the girls' mother, knew how to listen so that the sisters had hope of fixing everything and making amends.
The book teaches that family is a common cause, everyone contributes, and as a result, a strong family gives a person more than money and position combined.

It is impossible not to notice that the author often uses a didactic tone. There is an episode in the novel in which Jo March (the literary embodiment of Louisa May Alcott) tries to publish her works, and the publisher asks to cut out the “moral”, they say, more events and less teaching are needed. At first, Joe, as a young and insecure author, works and even sells stories to the magazine, incl. purely entertaining crime-detective stories. And after a conversation with an older comrade, he burns this scribbling and decides that it is better to accumulate material for a serious and worthy book, because it is a shame to write dummies or stories about human baseness that are harmful to young people reading. And in the future, she does not agree to give up “morality.” This explains the position of Louisa May Alcott, who has any number of teachings. But I can’t say that they weigh down “Little Women” - no, it reads like quite a ladies’ and girls’ novel about getting yourself and your sisters married.

Despite the fact that the writer was known for her feminist views, and her heroines in “Little Women” more than once proudly called themselves struggling girls (in in this case- girls who do not disdain work in order to be able to support themselves), everyone, except for the sickly Beth, got married. Maybe because the only couple I was rooting for (Joe and Teddy) didn’t work out, or maybe because independent Joe was afraid of loneliness, gave in and wanted to end up like everyone else, I’m very disappointed with this development of events.

It's clear why it's a classic, but it's not entirely clear when to read it. It probably took me two weeks, and I wasn’t too keen. IN adolescence I would definitely prefer Jane Austen novels. But overall, "Little Women" is positive, good book, won't hurt.

Perhaps the name of the American writer Louisa May Alcott is not as widely known in Russia compared to the names and works of such famous women writers as Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte or Margaret Mitchell. However, in America, and then throughout the world, Alcott quickly won the love of readers, primarily thanks to her novel “Little Women,” which still remains one of the most popular “books for girls.”

Throughout the 20th century, the book underwent several film adaptations, the most successful and striking of which was the version directed by Gillian Armstrong, filmed in 1994 with the participation of talented young actresses such as Winona Ryder, Trini Alvarado, Kristen Dunst, Claire Danes, as well as Susan Sarandon and etc.

Little Women is the story of four sisters coming of age during and after the Civil War.

XIX century. Small American town. Christmas Eve. Mrs. March sits by the fireplace, surrounded by her four daughters, reading a letter... For Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy and their mother, this is the first Christmas they celebrate without their father - at this time he is fighting at the front. But, despite all the difficulties of the war period, constant lack of money, illness, the March family tries to maintain good spirits and support each other in everything. The sisters work, study, help their mother around the house, stage family plays, and write a literary newspaper. Soon they accept another member into their company - Lori - rich and bored young man, who lives next door and who becomes a close friend of the whole family.

Each of the March sisters has their own character, their own dreams, interests and ambitions. But let’s not idealize them - each has its own shortcomings, bad inclinations that they have to overcome.

Thus, the main vices of Meg, the eldest and prettiest of the sisters, are vanity and love of money. She dreams of getting into high society and suffers from her poverty. But, having once tried on the “dress” of a social coquette, which turned out to be completely unbecoming to her, and, having gone through the pangs of shame for her behavior, she learns a simple truth - “money does not buy happiness.”

The central character of the book and film is Jo's second-eldest sister, a real tomboy in a skirt. She is cramped within the stereotypical behavior of an ordinary girl. Her main passion is literature, and she dreams of becoming famous writer. Because of her hot temper and straightforwardness, she often finds herself in unpleasant situations, but thanks to her mother’s wise advice, she manages to soften her violent temperament.

Beth is quiet and timid, and of all the sisters she has the least drive and ambition. All her joys are within home and family hearth. “There are many such Bess in the world, timid, quiet, sitting in their corners and living for others so joyfully that no one notices their self-sacrifice until the little cricket behind the stove stops chirping and the presence of something sweet, sunny ends, leaving Behind me there is only shadow and silence.”

Younger Amy dreams of becoming an artist. She is the most spoiled, prone to selfishness and vanity, and she too has to learn some life lessons.

As the March sisters grow up, they become “little women” and each of them (except for Beth - a different fate is prepared for her) sooner or later faces one of the most important questions in the girl’s fate - the question of marriage. Everyone has a choice to make. Will it be correct? What will the March sisters choose - wealth and comfort or loyalty to their hearts and sincere love?

There are no big incidents or events in Little Women. sharp turns events. This is a film about small tragedies and small joys ordinary family. But behind the simple plot lie very valuable moral lessons.

The film, and even more so the book, would be excellent material for educating the younger generation, and adults could borrow some of Mrs. March's methods. A loving mother not only gives her children instructions and reads morals, she allows her daughters to learn from their own mistakes, but at the same time is always there to support, warn and give simple, but wise advice. It is through the wisdom of their mother that the March sisters learn the cardinal virtues. They learn to forgive and care for each other, to help and share the latter with others, despite their own poverty, to resist modern mores and not succumb to the temptations of the world, to see their own shortcomings and fight them (“..you must carefully monitor your “inner enemy” ",<…>otherwise this enemy may darken, if not ruin, your life." They learn that modesty is an adornment, not a drawback for a girl, and empty idleness is not the best pastime (“.. some entertainment without work is no better than one work without entertainment”).

From the book we learn that Mrs. March's source of wisdom is truly Christian, and she tries to teach this wisdom to her children: “If it seems that I don’t need help, it’s because I have another friend who consoles and supports me even better than dad. My child, worries and temptations are beginning to enter your life, there may be many of them, but you can overcome them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of our Heavenly Father, just as you feel the strength and tenderness of your earthly father. The more you love and trust Him, the closer to Him you feel and the less dependent you are on human strength and wisdom. His love and care will never dry up, change or be taken away from you; they can become a source of eternal peace, happiness and strength. Believe me with all your soul and turn to God with all your little worries, hopes, sins and sorrows, openly and trustingly, as you turn to your mother.”

“Little Women” is a very kind, family-friendly, warm and cozy movie. The film is beautifully and talentedly shot: beautiful costumes, landscapes, music, everyday details, funny moments - all this allows you to get real pleasure from watching.