Last winter, Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s famous novel Little Women was released on screen. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen as the March sisters, the movie was praised as ‘a feminist retelling of a classic’. Let us introduce you to these powerful women.
Little Women tells the story of four sisters in XIXth century Massachusetts. From the start, we learn that Jo March (Saoirse Ronan), the eldest of the sisters, is a teacher in New York City striving to get her work published. Her sister Amy March (Florence Pugh) is in Paris with her aunt and Meg March (Emma Watson) is married and struggling financially. As for the youngest, Beth March (Eliza Scanlen), she is seriously ill, and her health seems to be deteriorating by the day.
The timeline of the story might get you a tiny bit confused. It is through flashbacks, ellipses, and endless tossing and turning that the spectator is led to witness the sisters' evolution, lives, struggles and ambitions, throughout a period of seven years. All the while, it is the relationship and complicity which they share that remains the central element of the story, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last moment.
After her directorial debut with Lady Bird (2017) and its astonishing five oscar nominations, Greta Gerwig's rendition of Alcott's 1868 novel, (previously adapted to the big screen six times) didn't disappoint. In little over a couple hours, the spectator takes a deep dive into a lovely XIXth century atmosphere, made-up of oscar-winning costumes, and beautiful decor and music. Beyond the scenario's set-up, the quality of both the acting and the script is sure to catch your eye. The four sisters are gifted with extraordinary qualities: they are brave, passionate, creative and - each in her own way - powerful: all of which are incarnated beautifully by the actresses. The movie's personalities and character focus on one main point: that a woman's worth goes beyond smiles and looks: women take up space.
Josephine 'Jo' March
Saoirse Ronan as Jo March in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of “Little Women”
As Aunt March - remarkably played by Meryl Streep - would say: ‘Jo is a lost cause’. But is she? It is shown right from the beginning that the character played by Saoirse Ronan doesn’t fit into what was expected of a woman at the time. She is not interested in being the ideal daughter nor spouse and her narrative arc is mainly about being a writer: to this extent, she is the character that represents Louisa Alcott the best, in a subtle mise en abyme. Her ambition is incarned in one of the most powerful lines of the movie:
‘Women, they have minds and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. And I’m so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for, I’m so sick of it!’
However, Jo's character is far from apathetic emotionally, she also expresses loneliness and a desire to be loved. In order to be herself, she has to endure hardships and to face her fears which concern her interpersonal relationships, her fear of losing her sister Meg when she marries or the feelings that her friend Laurie has for her. Her strength lies in her ability to move on after any difficulty. ‘I intend to make my own way in this world’.
Margaret 'Meg' March
Emma Watson as Meg March in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of “Little Women”
Emma Watson being Meg March might come as a little bit of a shock in the beginning, since the role falls far from the coming-of-age independent spirit her previous ones incarnated. Though we are used to seeing Watson in the skin of an incredibly determined Hermione, or an astonishingly progressive Belle, in Little Women we see her give life to Meg, the sister who yearns for a domestic life with the man she loves, even if this comes with financial struggles. Facing her sister Jo’s misunderstanding before her wedding, she strongly affirms:
‘Just because my dreams are different than yours it doesn’t make them unimportant.’
While no other actress could fit more perfectly into Greta Gerwig’s feminist adaptation of Little Women, Watson proves to be an incredibly diverse actress, whom is able to apprehend and perfectly incarnate a wide range of characters.
First impressions can be deceiving, and we can say with certainty that Meg March is as much of an empowered woman as her sisters. She is determined, freely expresses her thoughts and firmly sticks with her desires, even when the consequences are not so pleasant. We see her character engage in an argument with her husband, at which point she demonstrates that marriage is also made up of hardships, and does not always go with an easy and romantic daily life. Meg’s character serves as a reminder that being a feminist and an empowered woman doesn’t always mean rejecting traditions. It is more a question of getting the life that one wants without being restricted by one’s gender.
Amy March
Florence Pugh as Amy March in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of “Little Women”
‘I want to be great, or nothing’.
Amy March is well aware of the obstacles a woman faces, but she is also very much aware of her talent and potential, which fills her with a distinctive will to persevere to achieve her goals.
She is the bubbliest of all sisters and has a joyful and extrovert nature which sometimes puts her to the test. Amy also has an undeniable talent for the visual arts, a trait the spectator discovers at the beginning of the movie through her painting in Paris. Although the focus lies more so on her sister Jo, she doesn’t appreciate being overshadowed and has a cynical view of her condition as a woman, which she expressed in a memorable monologue.
‘I’m just a woman. And as a woman, I have no way to make money, not enough to earn a living and support my family. Even if I had my own money, which I don’t, it would belong to my husband the minute we were married. If we had children they would belong to him, not me. They would be his property. So don’t sit there and tell me that marriage isn’t an economic proposition, because it is.’
Despite all the constraints, Amy never loses sight of her hopes and her joy to live. She travels, remains active and creative and, most importantly, never gives up - a resilience she passes onto her younger sister Beth, as she wisely advises her to ‘‘not limit yourself’.
Elizabeth 'Beth' March
Eliza Scanlen as Beth March in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of “Little Women”
Although very discreet, the sweet Beth March cannot be forgotten. Her wonderful talent in music leads her to build a strong connection to her neighbour, as she regularly comes to his house to play the piano. In the midst of the unfolding of a vibrant sisterhood, her calm and shyness contrast with the others’ personality, and constitutes a perfect balance. Beth is generous, and never hesitates to provide help to others. Unfortunately, she is weakened day after day by a serious illness.
‘I’ll be homesick for you. Even in heaven’.
Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women has been often been qualified as a ‘feminist retelling’ of a classic. In an interview with Rebecca Solnit, Emma Watson talked about her pride ‘to be part of a re-telling of the story that I hope if Louisa could hear us, is an honoring of maybe part of it that she maybe didn’t get to say’. Indeed, the publisher’s injonction to Jo - ‘If the main character is a girl, make sure she is married by the end. Or dead.’ - embodies the creation pressure Louisa Alcott had to handle at the time. She later expressed regrets about having to marry her main character by the end of the story. To this extent, Greta Gerwig intended to be loyal to Louisa Alcott first intentions.
And as the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, one must never forget the tremedously important role that Marmee March, the mother of the four sisters, plays. As she would say, and to put it in a nutshell, ‘Girls have to go out into the world and make up their own minds about things.’ So have a look at Little Women and make up your own mind about it.
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