A good word from Marmee
No matter how old I am, or how many times I’ve read it, Little Women will never lose its first charm for me. I’m indulging in it all over again this summer and rekindling my girlhood friendships with Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Indeed, I really do feel like I grew up with those dear girls. Reading it now, with the perspective of years, I appreciate perhaps as never before the personal struggles and little daily battles the March family faces. That’s exactly why it’s still a relevant book, why, over a hundred years after its publication, girls and young women all over the world still call it their favorite. Louisa May Alcott gave us real girls, just like people we know. Just like ourselves.
This precious bit of wisdom from Marmee brought tears to my eyes last week, as I’m sure it did when I was 15. But now, all these years later, I can personally vouch for the value of her counsel:
I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished and good; to be admired, loved and respected; to have a happy youth, to be well and wisely married, and to lead useful, pleasant lives, with as little care and sorrow to try them as God sees fit to send. To be loved and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman; and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience. It is natural to think of it, Meg; right to hope and wait for it, wise to prepare for it; so that, when the happy time comes, you may feel ready for the duties and worthy of the joy. My dear girls, I am ambitious for you, but not to have you make a dash in the world,–marry rich men merely because they are rich, or have splendid houses, which are not homes because love is wanting…I’d rather see you poor men’s wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace…Better be happy old maids than unhappy wives, or unmaidenly girls, running about to find husbands.
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Oh, yes…Little Women! I love Louisa Mae Alcott as well! I’m assuming you’ve read the rest in the “series” about the March family? Good Wives (sometimes included in some versions of Little Women), Little Men and Jo’s Boys…they’re all wonderful reads as well! I really want to re-re-re-(etc.)read the March family books this summer…hopefully I will have time with everything else on the “to read” list for this summer! Books that you can read and re-read over and again are definitely the best ones…
I think I read Little Women when I was about 10 years old. Louisa May Alcott became one of my favorite authors. Another favorite by her was Hospital Sketches!
Lanier, I enjoy your posts so much! Your website has been a blessings and encouragement to me. I had tried posting on it, but kept getting an error message. So I thought I’d just type that note here. 🙂
Blessings,
Heather
Ooohh…I *have* read the Besty-Tacy books. More than once! 🙂 I definitely count Betsy among my friends!
if you haven’t, read the betsy-tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The books are similiar in that you “befriend” the characters 🙂 🙂
Thank you, Lanier…I have always loved Little Women. There are so many nuggets tucked in its pages, aren’t there?
Blessings,
Kiersti
I have long loved Alcott’s works and this quote is one of my favourites. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face, Lanier! 🙂
God bless you,
Maria
I just finished reading this book about 3 days ago. It is truly a gem! One of my favorite quotes is from page 101: (I have a couple page numbers at the beginning of the book marking my favorites ;)) “Make this home happy, so that you may be fit for homes of yur own, if they are offered you, and contented her if they are not.” What profound and gentle knowledge Marmee has. I also like this particular line: “It is natural to think of it, Meg; right to hope and wait for it, wise to prepare for it; so that, when the happy time comes, you may feel ready for the duties and worthy of the joy.” Oh, so many good quotes!