Little Women 2020

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Little Women 2020

2/3/2020

Rather than a Teaching Discussion this week . . .

If you were going to update Little Women, how might you do it? Post to CLASS DISCUSSION BOARD (link is live). In 300 words, provide a synopsis of your 2020 version of the classic Little Women. RESPOND in 200 words to at least one of your colleagues by either building on their update idea and/or suggesting why you think, as a reader or a teacher, this would work as an update (or wouldn’t).

39 Comments

Savannah Resendes

2/6/2020 01:57:16 pm

This week we all have finished reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and I am certain that all of us would agree it is dated for this modern society we are living in. The year 2020 has different gender roles, technology, and societal norms than the March sisters encounter in the 19th century as Alcott has imagined for them. In order to give this book a modern update, I would have the girls focus less on their domestic duties and more on their future careers. Modern times do not call for women to be governesses or stay-at-home wives anymore. I would have the sisters go off to college, or a trade school even to show the people that are reading that these are options for their own future, not just hoping for a man to marry you and take care of everything. I would also have to incorporate lessons on technology and social media. Both of these tools are extremely helpful but, they can also create negative impacts on self-esteem, and encounter cyber bullying. I would include some of these in order to show the power of modern technology with its benefits and its disadvantages and advise people to use them wisely. The trials and tribulations of high school would definitely be included in a modern version of Little Women as the girls are aged 12-16 in the beginning of the novel and would be enrolled in school rather than being at home all day and learning from their mother. The girl would deal with building and maintaining a social group, relationships and education and extracurricular activities and part-time jobs as many teenagers have to figure out for themselves in real life. There are many different ways to put a modern twist on this classic, but these are some of the few ways I would do it.

Justin Carpender

2/7/2020 07:24:44 pm

Hey Savannah!

I really enjoyed your post! I mainly focused on the gender aspect in modernizing this novel, but your suggestion of incorporating technology makes so much sense it amazes me that I did not even consider it. Expanding upon your idea of bringing up cyberbullying, it would be interesting to consider the effects that cyberbullying would have on Amy in particular. Amy throughout the novel pursued art and it would be an interesting character dynamic to have her post some of her art on the internet, only to have it harshly criticized. This would obviously heavily affect her, and she could even confide in Mrs. March that she is thinking about giving up on her artistic dreams forever. Cyberbullying being pretty new could have Mrs. March speak to Amy that she should focus on improving herself and not taking general hate from others as an indicator of her self worth. I know that is a common problem for new artists online to have a lack of support as they develop their own style, and I think it would be inspiring to see the growth for Amy as she finds a community online that helps her develop. I think that would be the best direction to take the cyber bullying plot, as I feel it would be incredibly natural for Amy’s character with artwork and wanting to be welcomed and validated by her peers.

Thank you!
Justin Carpender

Caroline Keenan

2/8/2020 12:40:41 pm

Hi Savannah!

I really like the update you recommended to make to the novel Little Women. It would make much more sense for the girls to go off to college or into a trade in todays world. Instead of them struggling to have money and being dependent on men they would be able to fend for themselves and make their own money. I also really like how you pointed out the technology aspect. I never even thought to incorporate technology meanwhile the world we live in today we are dependent on technology. The girls would need technology if they were attending college or even a trade school. I think it would be very interesting to see what their social media accounts would look like such as their instagram and facebook. We would be able to get a greater understand through social media about these girls and what they post.

Shaun Ramsay

2/6/2020 04:12:37 pm

In a modern retelling of Alcott’s Little Women I would set the March Sisters in a small town going to high school with the familiar characters set up in the book: Laurie, the Vaughns, the Moffats, and the Hummels. Instead of Mr. March becoming sick while a chaplain in the civil war, he could be wounded by an IED in Afghanistan as an army chaplain. As the girls grow up they can go off to college to prepare for careers, and they may find significant others, but it’s not a necessity that they all be married with kids by the end of the book as so many 1800’s novels are wont to do. Perhaps one of them is gay as well for a change. I’d love to see Jo start off her writing career by writing short stories in her school newspaper and then onto local newspapers, then finding success as a novelist. I think I’d keep the vignette style of storytelling, especially in the first volume how it felt very much like a “slice of life” that one could enjoy without juggling the conflicts of previous chapters. The idea of the Marches having a servant in a modern telling seems somewhat wrong, I’d have Hannah as either a neighbor or dear friend of Mrs. March that wouldn’t mind looking after the girls when Mrs. March goes to see her husband after the IED incident. Other than that specific moment, I think Hannah could offer good advice to the girls, but I wouldn’t want to see her working for the Marches. Amy would still go away to Europe, either on a study abroad program or to study her Master’s degree at a fancy college like Oxford. Mrs. March could be a nurse, as she always has ample room to care for those around her and those in need. If Beth were to die, it would have to be from an illness we have not been able to deal with, and still slow enough that her family could get some sense of closure in her final days; so if she were to die she would have an untreatable form of cancer. While I feel this version would give the March sisters a lot more power over their own lives, I think I have demoted the family, making them all work, removing their servants and turning their sicknesses into modern day problems just feels grim. I think it’s reflective of the shrinking middle class, and the March family was never closer to the upper crust of that hierarchy anyways.

Ethan Child

2/8/2020 06:31:58 pm

Shaun,
I appreciate many of the components of your update on Little Women. Your update presents the type of retelling that I struggled to conceptualizing while creating my own update on the novel--that is, you suggest transplanting the plot into the 21st century. The way I see it, there were two ways to approach this assignment: either to update the novel by setting it in the present day or to update it by telling the same story in the same time period with the benefit of a 21st-century reflective perspective. See my response below to see my update using the latter approach. I enjoyed reading your update that explores how this novel would need to change to fit in a modern-day setting. This raised a few questions for me. You suggest that Mr. March fight in Afghanistan, as opposed to the Civil War. How might differing popular attitudes toward these two very different wars affect how the daughters feel about their father being away? Might this be an added conflict? Additionally, you note that your update gives the March sisters more power over their own lives. Yet isn't that struggle for independence a central conflict in Little Women? How would such a modern update maintain the same tension that Alcott's original novel provides through its challenging of customary gender roles?

Gabrielle Sleeper

2/7/2020 11:06:28 am

If I were to create a modern retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women the main change that I would make would be with Jo’s story line. I adored her character at the start of the novel. Having a character who does not fit the conventions of what a lady should be and constantly proclaims that she does not need romantic love to be happy was very fun to read. However, I did not enjoy how she ends up with a man and children at the end of the novel, as it seemed to undermine everything she says prior to this. Instead, I would keep Jo single and emphasize how she is content with her friends and family. As for her career path, I think it would be interesting to have Jo become a nurse rather than own a school. In the aftermath of Beth’s death (perhaps in this version, it would be cancer), I would put Jo through nursing school as a way to honor her sister and explore how she struggles with this academic challenge. Nursing especially seems to fit as she constantly expresses her desire to take care of others. Another major change I would make is putting more of a focus on Amy’s struggles in school due to her differing social class. Her story with the limes is quite relatable, as children are constantly indulging in various fads. How she handles attempting to keep up with these trends and fit in at school in relation to her lower economic class would make for a relatable story. Finally, I would address Meg’s marital situation. As she and Brooke both do not have a lot of money, I think it would be more realistic in this day and age for her to be working as well. Dealing with work, household chores, and children would certainly allow for a conversation on sharing various responsibilities between both parties.

Olivia Leonard

2/9/2020 07:44:06 am

Hi Gabrielle! I found your response to be really interesting! I too love Jo; her passion and refusal to completely conform to society is empowering. I also really love her and Beth’s close relationship. It is interesting to consider the idea of Jo becoming a nurse to honor Beth. However, would you have Jo remain a writer as well? I feel like one of the things that makes Jo so powerful is her desire to be different. I feel as though making her a nurse would alter the way this novel is taught which is another really interesting thing to consider. Writing was something she took great pride in and eventually opening up the school was a way to make sure others had an opportunity to get an education. I think it would have been really great if the school included girls too. I think it would be interesting to see Jo do both! It could be possible that she would see Beth in each patient and want to make a difference in their lives as Beth did for her. She could keep a journal writing to Beth about her patients and what is happening at home.

Caroline Keenan

2/7/2020 02:47:38 pm

If I were in charge of updating the novel Little Women I wouldn’t make any major changes but I would make some. The female power in this novel just wasn’t present enough for me and I feel that the girls were always trying to please other people and not worry about themselves. I know it took place during and after the civil war when women’s choices were coming into play so there weren’t any major breakthroughs but now that we are ahead of the time in the 21st century I think we are able to incorporate more women power and less relying on male figures and pleasing others. The four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, rely heavily on their father and then the other male figurines in their lives. When making changes I would have allow the girls to be more free when they were younger. They were always so worked up and worried about money that they would do anything to help such as Jo selling her hair so Marmee could go be with Mr. March in Washington. These girls at such a young age should not have to be in such financial burdens. That’s why if I were to change this book today they wouldn’t be represented with these struggles. As the girls grow older and begin to marry and fall in love they do what their lover wants and always obeys their rules. For example, when Jo meets Professor Bharer he tells Jo to stop writing sensationalist stories and to find a simper writing style. She responds with doing what he says and finds a simpler writing style instead of following after her dreams. Its small changes like these that I would make throughout this novel. I would allow the women to have much stronger voices, attitudes, and beliefs. There is no one to blame in this novel for the way it was written and the way the women act because of the time century it was based in but if it was written today it would most likely be written much differently.

Gabby Sleeper

2/8/2020 03:38:56 pm

Hi Caroline!
I definitely agree that the girls need more opportunities to shine on their own as opposed to trying to please others and having to rely on men. I think an updated version of the story should definitely allow the sisters to explore their own identities and figure out what they want in life, separate from what society wants from them. However, I disagree with taking away the financial burden. The fact of the matter is, children in poverty do very often (if not always) feel the burden of poverty. Additionally, not having money and dealing with the class barrier is so important to the character development of these girls (particularly Meg) that I think removing it would remove several key lessons of the story. Further, I think that there are some really important modern lessons that could be spread with having these girls struggle with money. How might they deal with paying for college, for example? What kind of additional strain would be put on the family to pay for Beth’s medical bills? That said, I definitely would like to see an updated version where Jo does not simply listen to Bhaer. She has wonderful potential to provide a strong female voice, and I would love to see that further utilized.

Jessica Rinker

2/7/2020 03:23:46 pm

In my adaptation of Little Women, I would alternate chapters by the first-person point of view of each sisters, like Virginia Kantra does in her modern retellings Meg and Jo. I think it’s important that every sister gets their own chapters, since everyone has their own unique conflicts and coming of age arcs. I would focus on early years of Little Women, placing Meg, Jo, and Beth in high school and Amy in middle school. The themes would remain the same but the cultural influences and social pressures would be more relevant to modern readers.
For example:
Meg:
Sallie invited me over to get ready for senior prom. She insists I wear her red dress from junior prom. It’s a shimmery two-piece. Dad wouldn’t be thrilled, but it’s kind of nice to feel sexy for once. We’re going off to college soon, and I’ll focus on my early childhood major then, avoid parties, and be totally good. I just want a little fun tonight.
Jo:
Tonight sucks. Meg went to that over-rated, sweaty-fest dance with Sallie. I bet John’s gonna make those dumb eyes at her, even if he isn’t a total d-bag like the rest of her class. I would hang out with Laurie, but he won’t return my texts after I turned down his prom-posal. Like I’m sorry, but a freaking proposal for prom? Anyways, it’s fine. I like being alone, and I need to finish my application for the Oxford summer program. One essay away from getting out of this small town and learning about writing in England!
Beth:
I know Marmie’s worried about me, but I’m really fine. I am just looking forward to school being over. Music class is the only place everyone leaves me alone. I don’t even mind eating lunch there, because Mr. Lawrence lets me play the piano. I’ll have to ask Marmie if she’ll let me volunteer with the music therapy program at the children’s hospital over the summer. I hope she lets me!
Amy:
Amy March, if you can win a Scholastic Art Award for your painting, you can freaking handle an eye look that can compete with the other girls’ make-up at school. I bet James Charles could recreate Starry Night on his eyes. If only I could afford the James CharlesxMorphe pallet. I have to step up my game. I have to be the best—at everything. I know Marmie’s right that the most important beauty lies within, but is it really such a crime to be pretty on the outside too?

Savannah Resendes

2/9/2020 07:26:45 am

Hi Jessica!
I really liked hearing your ideas about how to update Little Women. I loved that you had suggested the stories be told in first-person. I feel like it would bring a whole new feel to the story as we can have a full understanding of what is going on in each of the March sister’s heads as they encounter some 21st century struggles. I also agreed that the girls should be in school in my own version of Little Women as well. I really liked how you gave examples of how you would change each of the sister’s own personalities and values into modern context, such as going to prom, doing makeup, getting ready for college, etc. It makes it way more relatable to the little women of this century, as it probably did for the children who read it when it was first published. I would definitely like to read this version of Little Women and see how the girls react to and overcome the many obstacles of high school, drama, college, relationships, etc. I just have a question about your version, how would you incorporate the family dynamic that is so strong in the original version of Little Women? Overall, I adore your idea!
Great Job!

Justin Carpender

2/7/2020 06:04:34 pm

Hello Everyone!

While I was reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott there was one point I hung onto the entire time I read this novel; in thinking about modernizing this novel I wold update the novel to have Jo be either a lesbian or transgender. That is fundamentally the biggest change I would like to see in the novel. So, an overview synopsis of the 2020 version of Little Women would be that the family is still the same, a young Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy. I would have Mrs. March be a single mother. I understand that the words of Mr. March shaped how the girls grew up to behave, but I would say that they still strived to be best versions of themselves because of his parting words before passing away at the start of the novel. That way, there is still an overlying influence from him, but I think having Mrs. March be a single mother would be inspiring for young girls who are growing up in single parent households, but also make her character seem a tad more inspired to want to raise her girls up to be the best they can be, she is alone in doing it. In a 2020 version of this novel, I would want Jo to be a lesbian or transgender as it could be inspiring for young readers ton have that LGBT+ representation. I feel that this would be a natural transition because it would explain Jo’s gender struggles with not being a prim and proper as Meg wants throughout the novel, but also because she does not fall in love with a boy until the end of the novel. In my version we would remove the marriage with Mr. Bhaer, but we would have her either realize that she does not need to be with someone in her life, and can be a successful writer alone, or have her come to the revelation that the reason she cannot love Mr. Bhaer is because she cannot love any man. I just believe taking her character in this direction would be natural and a good case of LGBT+ representation.

Thank you,
Justin Carpender

Shauna

2/8/2020 08:36:30 am

Hi Justin!
Love the idea of LGBTQ representation because it is so prominent in our society today. This would help to defy gender roles all together and help young readers to understand that they can do anything as long as they believe in themselves, which sounds super cheesy but you DONT need a spouse to make yourself complete or successful. Even looking at the perspective of Laurie, he felt he needed to have someone in order to provide for them and fulfill that male gender role. Instead of becoming a famous musician after college he only concentrates on finding someone to help. Men should be concentrating on their goals as well and becoming whatever they'd like to. Stay at home dads, male nurses, male designers etc are all capable of doing that and should not be seen as im-masculine because of it. Gender roles take a control over peoples lives but why do we even have them? Logically it makes no sense. I think Laurie couldn't end up with Jo because she doesn't need any help being her own person and creating her own happiness and she knows that. So her not marrying Bhaer would make a statement in that way as well. I don't think he needs to marry either and pursue his dream wether he finds love along the way or not. Wow you really made me think about the novel in a different way thank you!

Jailyn Tavares

2/8/2020 11:30:58 am

Hi Justin! I really like how you would place a lot of attention on Jo being either lesbian or transgender in this novel. I also wrote in my synopsis that I would make Jo have the "tomboy" personality and want nothing to do with girls but rather focus on sports. I think your idea of making Jo into that character can really help a modern reader feel comfortable that its okay if you feel like you were born the wrong gender or that its okay if your sexual preference is the same sex as you. Mrs. March being a single mother is also something a lot of children growing up can relate to in the 21st century since it is something that is common. I really love your 2020 version! Great job!

Lauren Melchionda

2/8/2020 05:23:43 pm

HI Justin!
I really enjoyed reading what you version of “Little Women” would be like in today’s society and I loved your ideas. The idea of the LGBTQ community being incorporated in a novel like this today is an amazing idea because it is so important in today’s society to just be who you are and I feel like a lot of younger adults struggle or have struggled with that aspect of life, so putting it in writing for those to read, will definitely boost their confidence to be who they want to be. Laurie also is a great representation of how you do not always need to be with someone in order to be happy or successful. Everyone is perfectly capable of making themselves happy, and not stand in the norm of society which tells you that you have to be in a relationship. Laurie’s male gender role is so important to this story and could definitely have a breaking point in a 2020 version where he does not end up with JO but betters himself by focusing on himself for now. Mental health is so important especially today when society puts so much pressure on the younger teens to grow up and pick a career path at the age of 14. It is very stressful and it is a lot of pressure on kids today so I feel like your version is definitely an inspiring version that could speak to young adults today.

Shauna Ridley

2/8/2020 08:26:14 am

Little Women is a novel that exposes the duties genders were expected to fill but came off as more modernist because it includes the struggles of gender roles that exist today. It is completely old fashioned in it’s expressions but is still a major piece of literature today because of its pertinence in society now. All of the March girls were expected to stay home cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the family while their father goes out to fight and provide. Yes this is a prehistoric belief but women, like Jo, are still fighting to get equal opportunities that men more easily obtain, such as pay and economic advancement. Appearance is a central theme in the novel as well that the girls are often insecure about when going to fancy parties or trying to impress their friends. Women are still exemplified as “looking the part” of what society deems beautiful which adds a lot of pressure to insecurities. We have just begun incorporating plus sized models and accepting people for how they want to express themselves and it is still a struggle for society to accept. The theme of work, especially self work, is highlighted thoroughly throughout the novel in each of the girls. Self care is an extremely big concept today. Although its context is ancient, the concepts are very prominent in today’s life. If I could change the novel it’d be to make the concept of work more progressive for the women of the novel. The girls are expected to stay at home, cooking, cleaning, sewing, and taking care of eachother. Although Jo defies stereotypes by being more of a tom boy rather than fulfilling her womanly duties she still succumbs to filling the stereotype anyways. Instead of the narrator being third person, the narrator would be Jo. The reader can travel through each of her experiences with her getting the full view of all the other characters and her thoughts of societal norms. As we know, Jo does not like to conform to her gender role, so to have her perspective and explanation why would be extremely empowering. Also if the novel were set in a more modern setting such as the girls in school would make it easier for young adults to understand and relate to. Jo would promote the fact that your gender cannot define who you are. Men do not always have to be tough or the breadwinners and women do not have to be housewives or fulfill the societal mold of what beautiful looks like. Jo would be an independent woman who doesn’t feel like she has to be married to be happy and fulfills her own goals in life while empowering both men and women to do the same. All these factors are already in the book as I’ve explained but they could be highlighted in a more modern way so the central themes are understood.

Megan Shaughnessy

2/8/2020 11:16:52 am

Well, times have certainly changed, which calls for an updated perspective of Little Women. While the responsibilities in Alcott's work fit perfectly to the customs of 19th-century gender roles for both the men and the women, we mostly see within the four March sisters have changed immensely. The sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, being housewives, growing up learning household duties and being responsible for care-taking, cooking, cleaning, etc., they also grew up learning to pursue their individual interests/talents. If I were to write a 2020 version of this play, the characters' interest and family dynamic would be much different, and here is how. I would have Mrs. March be a single mother instead of a mother with her husband fighting in the war. In modern times sadly, divorce is roughly the outcome for 50% of marriages. Nowadays, having a servant is only seen in wealthy families, so not having Hannah would also be a way to modernize the story because, in most cases, a single mother would not be able to afford it. All of the March girls are taught how to be good wives, whether they marry rich or poor. Marmee, however, shows her daughters to pursue their careers in case they do not marry rich or not marry at all; they can have an income of their own. But in modern times, being a housewife is not the reality for most women. While I would still have the girls well aware of the help their mother needs, they would take over the chores and duties of their servant while also pursuing their dreams of college. In modern times most children go to high-school and college which is an experience within itself so I think adding this aspect to modern would still give the same message but just in a different situation. Instead of Jo going off to find herself to write she would go off to college and become a published author. However, another way to modernize Little Women would be to add technology whenever possible because it is such a big part of life today. Jo would be writing on an Apple Laptop. Amy would learn how to sketch on a computer then travel with her college/college friends to further her artistic ability. Beth's illness would be watched over by doctors in a hospital, which would then create stress on Marmee to pay the hospital bills, but Jo, Meg, and Amy doing anything they can to help out. Meg could instead of marrying a man marry a woman. One could bring in many LGBTQ components relating to the sexuality of all adolescents and adults. I might be all over the place, but there are so many ways to modernize this story while still keeping its purpose. Monderzing this play would give the March girls even more independence and depth to their characters.

Natasha Cardin

2/8/2020 12:18:58 pm

Hi Megan, I like how you thought about how Mrs. March's role could change in an updated version. I myself forgot all about updating her. I think that your point about 50% of marriages end in divorce is a great one. I think teaching the novel with a divorced set of parents would be very relatable to students. I am sure most will have some knowledge and experience with that. In the novel the March family did not have a lot of money, but they made do with what they had. I think leaving that in the updated version would fit given that they are a family with only one income, and it could help tie into the character development of the four girls. They learn to be resourceful and have an understanding of their financial situation, which the girls in the novel possess. Instead of using a new Apple laptop like you mentioned, using an old laptop that is slow and outdated, and they wish to have the nice, new laptop that their friends have.
Great post, I really liked reading it!!!

Jailyn Tavares

2/8/2020 11:39:48 am

In my 2020 version of Little Women I would have the lifestyles of the four sisters going through struggles that teenage years may bring nowadays. The girls wont struggle to run a household and worry about financial burdens at young ages. Meg would be the typical good girl who has a desire to find the perfect boy to crush on and marry and have children with. She likes to take the traditional route of life. As a 16-year-old, she turns to placing herself in a group of the popular girls and finds herself falling into their bullying and deceiving ways but learns though family, having a kind heart matters more than having a big group of friends. Jo would be a tomboy, which in the original book, would be considered very wrong. She would be a major basketball player for her high school team. She is nowhere near being the girly type and often surrounds herself with groups of boys more than girls. She aspires to be a professional basketball player and choose her love for it over worrying about a relationship; she may struggle to find her sexuality. Amy is extremely talented and has a passion for the art of dance and is completely involved in the study of it at a young age. At only 12, she has the opportunity to travel to LA and study dance and train at top notch schools. She takes this opportunity and leaves the family for a year with her aunt chaperoning her. Beth is a shy young girl in middle school who loves to spend time with her family through game and movie nights, she thinks about the simple things in life and doesn’t take anything for granted. Unfortunately, she is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The family work together and with the community to creature fundraisers to make it through this journey and in the end, Beth becomes a survivor and the family learns that it is love that conquers all. Love is so important, and it hold such a strong power that can never be destroyed. Both parents are present at all times and work together to raise their girls. The sisters learn to face the unfairness and awkwardness in life but learn that the love from your family is what can help you get through it all. With modern twists the story, my version makes it more relatable to a 21st century reader while keep some of the same traits as the classic version.

Gabrielle Boutin

2/8/2020 01:09:52 pm

Hi Jailyn!
I really like your modern version of Little Women. In my edition, I would have also included modern issues that the girls would face (boy problems, sexuality problems, etc). I also wouldn't have put emphasis on domestic duties, however, I probably still would've added some financial struggles in there. Especially with Meg being in high school, I would've maybe had her get a job to help pay for her social life or extracurriculars. I also really like how you emphasized that love can hold people together. I like how you included both parents in the story, but I feel as though there would be times where they bump heads and disagree. I feel like in a family this big there would be more conflict between them and not just in the individual lives of the girls. I think it would be really cool if your version alternated the characters' points of views. For example, if each character had a different chapter that they told their stories in.

Natasha Cardin

2/8/2020 12:04:00 pm

After reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, I have noticed that while some of the themes are still relevant, the sisters are entrenched in their domestic abilities. The girls spend a great deal of time working on being a proper lady, with the ultimate goal of marriage and building a home. With the exception of Jo, who throughout the novel talks about how she won’t get married, that she’ll be an old maid and write. Jo’s storyline is the only one that significantly emphasizes her desire to not follow the typical path for a woman in that time period. I think if I was to update Little Women, I would build off of Jo’s story, where the women crave a career and are working towards creating that. It is not uncommon now for a women to choose to build a career for herself and not to marry. I also think it would be interesting to utilize and alter Meg’s storyline. Changing her story to one where she wishes to be a wife and mother, but also longs to have a meaningful career. Updating her story by making her a working mother, who is struggling to have it all. I think that is a common issue that women face in today’s society.

Gabrielle Boutin

2/8/2020 12:48:39 pm

I think one of the biggest changes I would make in the novel is the ending. I wouldn’t have married off the remaining daughters, especially Jo. Throughout the novel, Jo was the most outspoken daughter and it seemed like she always fought against what society envisioned for her. Her nicest clothes were usually always dirty or ruined, she hated dressing up, and she was wild compared to what society expected a girl to be. If I were to modernize Little Women I would’ve changed Jo’s outcome. I probably would not have a romantic aspect to Jo’s life at all. She would be the one sister who would be considered successful without having any romance in her life at all. The other aspect of the novel I would change is how the girls live. They all live their lives for other people. They constantly feel the need to make their mother and father happy, which is nice but to an extent. It feels as though they go over the edge and they act as though their life is over if they make their parents unhappy. I would’ve written them to stand up for themselves a little bit more; to be independent. The March family has such a strong bond, but I would’ve tweaked that a little bit. I would’ve kept that bond but challenged it by maybe having one of the March girls challenge the family and give a little pushback. Especially in today's time where there is so much emphasis on women independence.

Olivia Sweeney

2/8/2020 04:10:36 pm

I totally love your ideas here! Especially since I too agree the ending would be a great starting point to modernize the text. Jo truly should not have been married off, as she embodied the rebellious side of not being extremely feminine to her family. I like how you focus on mainly changing Jo's character, as I definitely feel as if she deserved better. They tried too hard to have Jo be what society expected of her, but that is just simply not what she wanted nor what she is. Jo's character would definitely be a great place to start, as in today's society she could be how she wants, and not have to worry about her clothes being dirty to simply pleasing others by being more feminine. I also like what you mentioned about changing how the girls live. I wrote in my post that they would now be able to have the option to break free from the gender norm of having to marry a man and stay home and raise children, and could now have their own career and even further their education if that is what they desired. The advantage of today's society is that this would all be possible. They would now be in control of their destiny in life, and would simply no longer have to listen to what others told them to do or expected from them, as you pointed out about today's emphasis on women and their independence.

Olivia Sweeney

2/8/2020 04:02:25 pm

After reading Alcott’s Little Women, given the task to modernize this text in my own perspective, I know exactly how I would do that. Based off of today’s society, we are far more welcoming and open to allowing others to simply identify and perceive themselves however they want. This would directly change Jo and Laurie in Alcott’s novel, as they simply would no longer have to long for being their own unique selves. Instead, they would simply be able to walk out of their house and be exactly how they want to be, and not have to change themselves for anyone around them. Yes, their families may still be a little uncertain about them at times, but as a family, you should love your loved ones for exactly how they are. For girls, they would simply no longer have to follow the stereotype of finding a husband and staying home with the children. They now would have the option to go off to college and further their education if they so desired, and then they could settle down and start a family if that is what they wanted. The decision for their path of life would now be entirely up to them and would no longer be decided by their families or society as a whole. One could also add the basics of being a “normal” teen in high school. One could do this by simply adding the difficulties one may face in relationships, friendships, classes, their social life, and also balancing their family. This updated version of Little Women could also incorporate the modern ups and downs of siblings, especially sisters. In today’s world, having a sister is awesome at times, but also difficult at times. This updated version could tackle these ideas head on and incorporate how sisters for instance can simply argue over take one another’s shirt, to how sisters are always there for each other and will never let anyone hurt their sister. Overall, I think this updated modernization of Little Women would be helpful to today’s society, but also important to compare and contrast the timeline of when Alcott published her original version to the version that would be written in 2020.

Hannah Brodeur

2/9/2020 02:37:31 am

Hi Olivia! I really enjoyed your thoughts on how you would change the outcome of both Jo and Laurie’s stories. I believe in a 2020 version it would extremely beneficial for the reader to see these individuals be themselves. I also believe that this would lend itself into another important aspect which would be their relationships with their families. It is evident that many individuals have situations where their parents will no longer speak to them because they don’t believe in their “life decisions”. This is a very real thing that continues to be a struggle for so many when they are openly themselves. Therefore, I don’t think it would be enough to just have the family accept them with loving arms. It would be beneficial for a reader to see the interactions and issues because they are real. I also really enjoyed your updated version on the focus of identity and choice. It seems that so many times the girls lost their identity through different situations. Therefore, if they were able to have a choice, they could always hold their identity for themselves. Lastly, I also really enjoyed your view on presenting the relationship of sisters. As someone who has a sister, I know that it can be extremely tough as there are always differing opinions. I think the text does a good job of showing that at times, but I do believe it would further be effective if it was presented in a real raw way where the reader could feel that emotion. I think a way to also build off of this would be to possibly include a brother in the text. It would further create different bonds that the reader could relate to and understand. The relationships we have with sisters and brothers are extremely different. Therefore, by including this it would add another element of connection and family to the text.

Maddie Butkus

2/8/2020 04:41:50 pm

When it comes to modernizing the classic novel of Little Women, the main thing that I would want to change is the stereotypes that are held to not only the women in this novel but also throughout our everyday world. In many cases, Little Women puts into perspective the stereotypes of both male and females, specifically through Jo and Laurie. Both Jo and Laurie, a number of times, do not want to be the classic female or male versions of themselves that everyone expects them to be. They are tired of putting on a brave face when walking out the door to be socially excepted by the people around them. Additionally, even when they do try to break the stereotypes put against them, it is so unusual for people to accept or even see this type of atrocity before them. Now while this fits the social norms of the nineteenth century, the twenty-first century we live in today is much more excepting of however men and women want to portray themselves. Due to this aspect, I would want my updated version of Little Women to get rid of all inclinations of stereotypes and just except the characters for exactly who they want to be. This would definitely end up changing the story line of the novel, but it is very important to do so. I truly believe that in this day-in-age, there needs to be an end to stories telling young adults of how they need to “fit in” or change to become something they are not. That ultimately sends the wrong message to readers and no one should have to feel as if they are not good enough. If young adults are reading this type of message, say at the beginning of high school, they are going to think that they must dress, act, or be different in order to make friends/fit in. That type of message should no longer be expressed in young adult literature for all stereotypes are doing are bringing people down and making people feel as if they need to change in order to be fully accepted by society. Continually, in my 2020 version of Little Women, I want to express a strong sense of female empowerment. This is not to say that I want women to feel better than men or vice versa, but just as the movement in our society is growing today, I feel a great importance in trying to produce strong women in our world. For centuries, women have been told they are not as strong as men, they should not get paid as much as men, and they are not as smart as men thus not qualifying for better positions in their work field. By having novels that express a sense of women empowerment, we are giving hope to young women everywhere that they can make a difference in this world just by being who they are. This would then allow Jo to get a job and make an honest living for herself like she had always wanted to do. It would also then allow Laurie to pursue his passion of music instead of getting a job as expected of him to do and fully identify as Laurie instead of Theodore, making him feel like himself at all times with little to no backlash.

Lauren Melchionda

2/8/2020 05:10:01 pm

If “Little Women” were moderated into a 2020 version, it would be set up very similar to the novel itself. I feel like I could see the March sisters all living in a small town and going to the same schools as all of the other characters and other families involved in the novel as well, like the Vaughns and the Hummels. Once done with school, the girls would graduate and go off to college on their separate ways. Here, they will start to meet some of the boys that they fell in love with and soon married to. However, there could also be the case of some of them maybe struggling to find love as well as some younger adults seem to bond over social media about how much more difficult it is to be in a relationship nowadays compared to how it was back then. When it comes to future careers after college graduation, I can definitely see Jo fulfilling her writing passion with a career of journalism or writing her own book. She might be one of the only girls who does not get married either. I think that telling it in her point of view might change it up a bit and maybe take us on the Journey of Jo and maybe in the end her novel that she writes is all about her journey in life and the ups and does she's faced, especially when it comes to Beth’s death and how her and her family coped with it. Beth could have died from maybe being sick with cancer or maybe an accident. Amy is also a character that could be played of more of a main character in this 2020 version as she is trying to fit in with all of the other kids due t her different social class that she comes from so I feel as though there are many younger adults who may be able to relate to a situation very similar to Amy’s.

Ethan Child

2/8/2020 06:10:59 pm

Historical context is an important factor in determining the merit of a classic work of literature. Often, the views or values that a work represents need to be stacked against the paradigmatic morals and customs of the time in which the work was written. This makes the modern-day appreciation of literature that was once revolutionary a complex process in which readers must balance the weight of the themes the author conveys with the contemporaneous customs that the author might be dissenting from. With this in mind, my way of updating Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women seeks to underscore how Alcott, as an author, was a champion for social progress. My first thought was to set Little Women in 2020, as this would make the themes more relevant to contemporary young adult readers. It is evident, however, that, despite the antiquity of the novel’s setting, this story still resonates with people, as shown by the success of several film adaptations over time, including just last year. Additionally, to change the time period of the novel would make many of the struggles that the characters overcome obsolete. My updates to Little Women would, therefore, not consist of an overhaul of the plot but rather would shift the point of view from which the novel is told. In its current form, Alcott presents Little Women from an objective third-person perspective, with only occasional insight into the characters’ internal thoughts. For example, Alcott repeatedly describes Jo’s internal struggle to suppress her anger and control her temper, yet always returns to the outward manifestations of Jo’s behavior. This novel might be more engaging to today’s young adult readers if told from a first-person perspective through the eyes of Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, each in different sections of the book. This would not only heighten the emotions in the novel but also emphasize how the novel was revolutionary in its time. Alcott’s characters are radical. For example, Jo’s decision to focus on her independent life instead of marrying Laurie is notable in a social context where women are granted minimal independence. A first-person perspective would provide more insight into how these characters internally struggle to balance personal ambitions with societal expectations and norms.

Nicole Costa

2/9/2020 11:38:48 am

Hi Ethan,
I love your idea on changing the point of view for the novel. You are right, we get some insight from the third person point of view but we only get first hand account through mainly dialogue. I wonder how the outcome of Laurie and Jo's relationship would alter if we knew Jo's internal conflict with rejecting the romantic aspect of the relationship. It's interesting that you note Jo's struggle with anger as well. I think a first hand perspective would allow readers to understand her internal process when she struggles to bite her tongue.

Hannah Brodeur

2/9/2020 02:37:02 am

The novel “Little Women” presents itself with many key issues that are still extremely important today. However, it is also evident that some aspects of the novel could be updated to a 2020 version. One important change I would make to the novel is the concept of love. At times it seems as though the young women feel as though they have to settle down and get married. The girls feel this pressure from some around them, for instance their Aunt. She does not only want the girls to get married she wants them to be financial secured. This creates a stigma in a young girls’ mind that she cannot be independent and take care of herself. Women can be so much more than simply housewives. It is apparent that some daughters such as Jo rejected the roles put on her. She never felt as though she fit in or that anyone understood her. However, her ending deemed disappointing as she does marry and have children when it never seemed like they ending she wanted. Another change I believe would be interesting for a 2020 version would be to have a single dad. The reader sees the mother experience so much trauma attempting to raise four daughters as her husband is fighting a war. Today it seems as though there is a stigma with fathers raising their children. The father is supposed to be at work focusing on being the breadwinner. However, recently I feel as though we are seeing more and more dads being present for their children in all aspects of their lives. Therefore, I feel as though that would be an insightful addition to a 2020 version. Lastly, an update I would make would be to add a different location of the novel. This could be done through where the young girls grow up with their mothers or where they take their lives after, for instance college or etc. However, it needs to include more culture in the text. It is an extremely narrow view to read the struggles of only a certain type of woman. Therefore, if the young girls saw other women who experienced other struggles, they could learn so much more.

Shaun Ramsay

2/9/2020 09:55:43 am

Hi Hannah! I like your choice to make the novel representative of more families and women. I feel single fathers in books are often under-represented, and it is a nice idea to have a broader appeal than featuring the "struggles of only a certain type of woman." I liked Little Women, but I also felt Jo shouldn't have been put in that box of marrying and having kids just for the sake of a tidy ending where all the kids are married living that expected life. I thought Jo could support herself and become a successful writer. I understand she went against social norms declining Laurie's proposal, but it would be nice to see even more independence in her. I also decided to set the novel in a different place, high school/college, as you proposed. I know there are adaptations of the novel in modern times, and after reading the novel, it would be cool to explore how other authors would adapt it to a modern audience.

Olivia Leonard

2/9/2020 06:28:36 am

One of my favorite parts of "Little Women" is how each sister is starkly different. If I had to create my own retelling of the tale I would not necessarily want to alter what makes each one unique. However, I think it would be interesting to consider what their lives may look like if they were to grow up in the 21st century. Meg is so sure of her place as a wife and mother however, would the present push on feminism inspire her to work part-time? I especially love a happy ending but it is interesting to consider adding in modern day challenges that could impact the girls’ lives. For example, autism is a modern day epidemic. What if Meg’s twins were both diagnosed with autism and it impacted her marriage to the point of divorce. Her plan that she was so confident about would drastically change. This is a struggle we see more presently in modern times than in Alcott’s days. In my retelling, Jo, Beth, and Amy (and Marmee) would help to support Meg and her children as family would do. I would keep Jo’s passion for writing however, I would place her during a time where she may be applying to colleges. After not being accepted to her top writing programs, Jo would question her career path (as most of us today seem to do). Yet Beth, as she proves to do in the novel, would inspire Jo to continue writing because it is what brings her joy. Jo would get an internship with a local paper and reapply the following semester (try and try again!). Rather than have Beth fall ill to Scarlett Fever, I would modernize her illness to something like an aggressive form of cancer. As far as Amy is concerned, I would start her off in an all-girls school yet include a situation similar to the novel that forces her to leave. Bullying is so prevalent today that I would include the girls turning on her rather than her being reprimanded by the teacher. Rather than having her sisters teach her, Amy would enroll in a public school where someone notices her artwork and requests that she create pieces for the school. This would boost her confidence and inspire her to apply to art programs after her four years are completed. If I had to create my own retelling, I would just create modern day struggles that readers today could more easily relate to. One of the articles we read in the first week mentioned how Young Adult readers enjoy YA literature because it discusses things they are familiar with. I feel that in modernizing what Alcott already created this story would resonate with more readers.

Molly Drain

2/9/2020 08:10:28 am

Olivia- I think your idea about Meg is really interesting and I didn’t even think to mention if she would get a part time job or find herself still at home. I think that feminism would be prevalent in this book if it were to be produced in the 21st century, just as it is present in our day to day lives. It would be interesting to see a feminist lens on Meg if not all of the sisters to see what if any it changes the text. Also, the idea that the twins could have autism- brilliant. That is something that real life people experience and I feel like doesn’t get addressed much in literature, or at least in the literature I have been exposed to. I think that the family stepping up to support Meg is great and shows a family dynamic that is slightly different from its current state. Jo’s character definitely has room to expand as she retains so many talents. I think her questioning her own path is key to connecting with YA readers today, as it is something many of us have gone through on our own journeys. I also felt that Beth’s illness is key and that it should remain, however you are right that it should be something more prevalent like a cancer.

Molly Drain

2/9/2020 08:00:27 am

After reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, although it is hard to imagine any changes to this text, there are some that would allow for more readers to interact into today’s age. Since this story was written or at least published in 1868, certain norms have been changed. Women are not always completing domestic duties anymore and are now venturing out and getting careers of their own. I would start with a change to the attitude of the text, at least towards gender and their role in society. Jo’s character could remain searching for her own identity and struggling between feminine and masculine qualities, however her focus could be outside of the house and qualifying what her role in society is. I would have the girls focus on their future and perhaps experience college or the struggle that college brings about especially with financial issues. This again could connect to the everyday YA reader as everyone is faced with the choice of what they will do for the future. Jo’s character here could be interesting if she decided perhaps to go into the working world instead of college. The novel focusses on clothing, and it comes up a lot. This could still be key as it can display the same effect of the girls not having the best of the best because of their financial situation. To play into the issues with finances, the girls could go through issues involving their friends and technology, perhaps the lack of if they were not able to afford it. The mother could even have a career of her own and not be at home having to wait for the father to provide the money they need to survive as a family. I would retain the real-life experiences that Alcott has implanted into the story and alter them ever so slightly to fit the crazy dynamic society that is 2020.

Samantha Colon

2/9/2020 08:02:33 am

If I was to update Little Women I would probably change the traditional roles up in the book as well as Jos story line. Throughout the book the March sisters are focused and primarily expected to do the cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the family while their father goes out to fight and provide for them financially. This idea of women caring for the house and taking care of the family and cleaning is a pretty old fashion and stereotypical idea of women and I would definitely change this part to a more modern view. However, I am debating between changing the story to have the mother fighting at war while the father stays at home to make a statement about gender roles today or if the mother should just be a single mom working and supporting herself instead to show independence. Especially today’s day and age women are looking for equality and representation that doesn’t depict us as being just a housewife. Also, since I brought up independence I would probably change Jo’s storyline because her character alone showed and established her ground on individuality and breaking norms and I didn’t like how that’s ruined as she ends up with a man in the end like any other story. To me anyways I felt it to be so stereotypical for her to end up with someone in the end and I would change it to where she decides to travel or something in that sense where she focuses on her independence. Overall, I think a 2020 version of Little Women would focus away from traditional roles and lean toward focusing on issues women today struggle with and will focus on living to be equal rather than living to be a wife along with better representation.

Colby Nilsen

2/9/2020 08:56:50 am

Hey Sam, I agree. The part about the mother going off to war is very interesting and would change the whole dynamic of the story. Jo being independent and not having any man was what I thought was going to happen, and to be honest her ending kind of disappointed me as a reader. However, I like to believe the stereotypes and gender norms such as Meg and Amy show traditinal values, and Jo (Alcott) is trying to break these through her words (the book and its effect on readers). I also have a question: Do you believe that essentially all men being away at war while the sisters are young symbolizes the juxtapositions of childhood and adulthood? NO men at all seemed to be symbolic of their growth until their dad came, and by that time they seemed to be getting ready to be romanitcally interested. Just a thought.

Colby Nilsen

2/9/2020 08:48:31 am

While the original adaptation of Little Women is great in its everlasting themes such as family, socioeconomic status, love, and transitioning into adulthood, some of the content is just not very relatable now as it is portrayed here. In my retelling, instead of their father being at War, perhaps he is in Iraq or Afghanistan, and instead of writing letters between each other, they would face time or even just have a phone call on speaker. Amy could be worried about not looking like Kim Kardashian and not having a big enough social media presence, and like many young girls today, it is actually a big deal to them such as Amy wanting to be regarded in high society. Beth, instead of Scarlett Fever, which many young people do not immediately understand the ramifications of due to it being basically nonexistent, could be replaced with cancer and the second time around it came back after being in remission for years. Perhaps the most significant changes I would make though involves Jo and her story. In the very beginning of the book she is known as “boyish” and is said to resent being a boy. While topics such as transgender or lesbian love could not be spoken about in books openly (especially of this genre) at the time, the society we live in today would embrace this. This is a coming of age story that involves a lot of self acceptance, and I believe Jo coming to terms with being either lesbian or transgender could potentially help a lot of younger people in the LGBTQ+ community accept themselves and have a character that is strong and ambitious be their representation. This would be brilliant and I could see her relationship with Laurie being more complex and meaningful if it were with a woman rather than her old German professor. Furthermore, I know many women were not getting a proper education during this time, but the biggest thing I would change is the all boys school. She is going to run a private institution, even if this is a realist piece, the ramifications of opening an all girls school, or even mixed one would be far better for the feeling of the end of the book. Jo is an accomplished writer who is a woman, her teaching young girls to be smart, ambitious, and unrelenting intellectuals is a key opportunity Alcott missed, and her teaching all of these “Little Women” what she knows about writing and helping a future generation of smart independent literate women to not need anyone to support themselves would have been the ideal ending.

Samantha Colon

2/9/2020 10:38:30 am

Hi Justin,

I totally agree with the idea of adding LGBT representation but I don’t agree with the part of having Jo being transgender or lesbian. I say this because Jo is criticized for not being feminine as other girls and doesn’t try so hard like the others. I feel maker her lesbian or transgender is stereotypical since she doesn’t want to be feminine, why can’t she just be straight and not as feminine. I get that would explain why she acts the way she does but I feel it makes it stereotypical that lesbians aren’t as feminine when that’s not the case. I feel adding in another character would be best or possibly have the mother be lesbian and the March sisters are adopted. This way LGBT representation is still in the story and adapts to our generation. This way there’s a stronger message on female empowerment with two moms raising a family of girls and can be relatable as well. However, I do like idea of making Mrs. March a single mother that you said that sends a strong message as well to the readers. Both of these work for a 2020 version. The only other thing I feel should be added is more problems that would fit and are controversial today like immigration, poverty, etc. Otherwise great job!

Nicole Costa

2/9/2020 11:27:43 am

Although many themes in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women are applicable to modern society, a few changes could be made to make the text more relevant to problems/ issues in 2020. To start, the March family’s poverty-stricken status creates an environment where all the girls must work to keep thriving. Mr. March does play a huge role in the girls lives but his physical presence is absent for most of the novel. If I were to update Little Women, I would have a loving father suffering from addiction, therefore, the father figure remains but his absence is due to another cause. I would keep the March’s economic status the same because I feel Alcott’s message was largely that being rich doesn’t make you happy. With that, the bond between the sisters is crucial to the family structure. Even though they bicker like siblings often do, their mother has instilled great family value. In a 2020 version of Little Women, I’d explore Jo’s struggles with being a placed in a female body when she often quotes preferring masculinity. For example, earlier on Jo exclaims “ I’m man of the family now that Papa is away” (5); or the fact that “Jo played male parts to her heart’s content” (15). Alcott’s novel demonstrates Meg adjusting to married life and domestic duties. There seems to be an undertone of her husbands strong male presence in the novel. For example, he gets upset over the money she spends on a dress, about the jam and some instances with disciplining the child. I think there could be signs of a possessive relationship, therefore, I would portray Meg’s relationship as one suffering from abuse. In my novel, I would give more page space to Beth. I feel Beth truly struggled with figuring out who she was and, in the end, she was very lonely as her sisters found out who they were. Beth’s character would suffer from depression and the 2020 Little Women would illustrate how difficult Beth struggled with identity.

Little Women 2020

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