Re-interpreting Little Women From The Perspective Of Transcendentalism

As a novel once rated ahead of Bible for its influence upon high school students, Little Women finds its important place in American literature and American history. The author is Louisa May Alcott, a famous American woman writer, a lady educated and growing up among transcendentalists. This New England life based novel contains complex cultural contexts and thus, can be read from many perspectives, from realism to modern feminism, from domestic novel to children's literature.This thesis is intended to re-interpret it from the perspective of Transcendentalism and tries to spade out the transcendentalist thoughts reflected in the novel so as to broaden the horizon of reading the novel. Transcendentalists preach the spiritual unity of God, man and nature. Transcendentalism puts emphasis on spirit, individual and self-reliance. Such doctrines are reflected in the personalities and the growing up process of the March sisters in Little Women. The four sisters are different in talent and temperament, but they all pay attention to their spiritual improvement and perfection, try to be self-reliant and keep their individualism. Transcendentalist thoughts endow the sisters with personal charm which help the novel win the love of the readers. In addition, Alcott extends Transcendentalism in feminine reality which also adds the readability of the novel. Besides, Alcott also presents her transcendentalist thoughts in other aspects of the novel.