Little Women

In the final scenes of Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, the film cuts between the story of the March sisters and a meta-narrative showing Jo in the process of publishing her first book. As the camera shifts between these scenes, it becomes clear that the story of Jo’s romance with Professor Bhaer and her eventual success in publishing is not just part of the plot, but also reflects Alcott’s own life and her journey as a writer. This blurring of fiction and reality suggests that Jo’s romantic and artistic victories are intertwined; her victory in love, shown by her choosing to marry Bhaer, and her triumph as a writer, symbolized by her holding her published book, reinforce each other as part of her journey towards independence and self-ownership. The film’s climax, which portrays Jo’s excitement over her first published novel, is modeled after Louisa May Alcott’s real-life achievement—a subtle but significant departure from the original novel, where Alcott’s success as a writer wasn’t yet complete at the story’s conclusion.

The ending poses a thought-provoking question: did Jo’s embracing of her love and success happen truly, or is it a narrative she is constructing for her publisher’s approval? Gerwig leaves this ambiguous, encouraging viewers to think about the nature of storytelling and the act of authorship—both in the fictional world of the March sisters, and in real life, where Alcott and other women writers had to craft and assert their identities. By embedding a meta-narrative, Gerwig elevates the story from a simple coming-of-age tale to a meditation on women’s independence, creativity, and the importance of owning one’s story. The film ultimately celebrates the lasting power of female authorship and the ongoing process of shaping one’s own life story, making it a contemporary and relevant reflection of Alcott’s pioneering spirit.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:59