Somehow, when I was in elementary school, I stumbled on an anime video of Little Women. From that second on, I was obsessed with the story. I have seen every retelling and read all the versions (including the original). I have so many stories in my life that revolve around Little Women, and with the upswing of movie remakes recently, I’ve been thinking about why the story remains so popular after 150 years. Here’s what I’ve thought up:
– Sisterly Bonds: I don’t have any sisters, only a brother. And while he’s a cool guy, I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have sisters. Every time I read Little Women, or watch a movie version, I can feel just how important these sisters are in each other’s lives. And somehow, I feel like I’m a part of that.
– Wonderful Characters: So the characters can be a little one-dimensional at times. I get that. But it fits because each of the March girls represent a greater part of the personality. There are days I feel like a Meg or an Amy, days where I strive to be Beth, days where I want to be Jo. No matter how many times I read it, I always find something a little different to identify with. Not many books can do that.
– Coming of Age: Who doesn’t love a good coming of age tale? It’s so satisfying to see these four girls grow up and chase after their dreams, to watch them fall in love and handle both success and grief. No matter how many times I experience the story, it always touches my heart.
– Historical Fiction: Okay, so this is the nerdy part of me coming out. I love history, and I love historical fiction. I know that, when Little Women was written, it was not historical fiction, but it is to us now. It’s interesting to see what was going on on the “homefront” while the Civil War was taking place in the south. It’s a side of history we don’t hear often.
What story do you keep going back to?
