Greta Gerwig's Adaptation of Little Women
Since its release in 1868, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott has remained an influential piece of literature all across the world. Considered radical by many at the time of its release, it revolutionized the way women perceived the limitations placed on them by society. Undoubtedly, it challenged the patriarchy by demolishing the stereotypes of how women “should” behave.
This iconic novel has left a major impact on society as a whole as it has continued to remain culturally significant for decades. Not only is it an inspiring literary classic, it has also become re-established in the world of cinema. Greta Gerwig's 2019 film adaptation of the novel yet again drew people back into the fictional world of the March sisters. But, surely the question remains: was yet another film adaptation of Little Women necessary?
With themes of women's rights, female independence, gender equality, and the breaking of traditional gender roles Little Women will always remain relevant. At the time of publication, such themes transcended society's rules and expectations of women. Needless to say, the novel was a cultural shock and countless individuals grew upset at Alcotts successful attempt to rise above patriarchal standards. Such a bold move on Alcotts part truly paved the way for women at the time as well as future generations of women. Strong, self-sufficient, female leads encouraged female readers to challenge the limits put on them by society. The release of this novel was eye opening for women everywhere as it showed them that they do not have to sit still and allow patriarchy to confine them.
Of course, Gerwig's version is not the only film adaptation of Little Women. There are many other retellings of the story, however, this version in particular was able to bring something new to the table. Alcott had originally wanted to leave the main character, Jo, unmarried. However, in order to please her audience, she gave them what she thought they desired; a marriage between Jo and a man named Friedrich Bhaer. Because obviously, the main goal of a woman's life is to become someone's wife. Gerwig, however, wanting to fulfill the wishes of Alcott, decided to make a revolutionary change. She doesn't have Jo get married to anyone and instead she flourishes, achieving the life of independence that she always wanted. By including an ending that would have been judged by many and unfortunately deemed unconventional when the novel was written, this adaptation stands out from the rest. Why did Gerwig feel that it was necessary to re-make this movie in the first place? One can surmise that this is because the novel's themes are still relevant to this day. While times have certainly changed since 1868 and women's rights have increased exponentially; women's choices and lack thereof are still an applicable topic of discussion. By making this movie it's clear that Gerwig's goal is similar to that of Alcotts: instill the idea of female empowerment within women.
So, was yet another adaptation of Little Women necessary? I think—yes, absolutely. The book, to say the least, revolutionized society’s representation of women. By depicting strong, independent female characters, Alcott was able to challenge stereotypes of the time by going against traditional gender roles and expectations placed upon women. Gerwigs movie adaptation honored all of Alcotts original themes and even went a step further by changing the ending. With the popularity of this film, more and more people are being introduced to Alcott and her work. Thus, thanks to the success of Gerwig's adaptation of the novel, I believe that Little Womens significance will surely be long-lived. And I highly recommend reading Alcott's novel and watching Gerwig's film adaptation of it.
Submitted by Megan Kohler
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