Little Big Women

At the end of Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women, the film cuts between the story of the March sisters and a meta-narrative that blurs the line between fiction and reality. In this final sequence, Jo March is shown sitting in an office, negotiating a contract for her book with a publisher, while simultaneously, in the story, she confesses her love for Professor Bhaer and prepares to marry him. However, this overlap isn’t just a straightforward depiction of the story; it also symbolizes Jo’s own journey toward independence and authorship. In the book, Jo does ultimately marry Bhaer, but Louisa May Alcott, who inspired Jo, was actually a lifelong single woman who favored independence over marriage. Gerwig’s addition of this meta-narrative suggests that Jo’s decision to marry Bhaer is both a real event within the story and a commentary on how women often compromise or reinvent their lives to achieve independence or success.

In the closing scenes, the film continues to cut between Jo’s joyful family celebration at her school and her excitement as she watches her first book come together, being bound by a printer. This moment, however, is a deviation from the original novel, where Alcott never depicted Jo as a published author. Instead, Gerwig highlights the real-life struggle and triumph of Alcott herself, creating a symbolic link between Jo’s fictional writing career and Alcott’s own journey. The film ends with a shot of Saoirse Ronan’s Jo—representing both the character and the author—beaming with pride and anticipation, capturing the feeling of a young writer’s dreams coming true.

This blending of fiction and reality invites viewers to reflect on the themes of women’s independence, authorship, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Gerwig’s decision to include this meta-narrative not only enriches the story but also leaves the audience pondering whether Jo’s marriage and professional success are literal or symbolic, emphasizing that the act of “authoring” one’s life can be an ongoing, deliberate process. Ultimately, Gerwig’s ending celebrates the idea that women, whether in fiction or real life, have the power to shape and retell their own stories, and that this act of storytelling is a form of liberation and self-creation.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58