Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Essay Example

? IDEOLOGICAL AMBIVALENCE IN LITTLE WOMEN By Location Little Women by Louisa May Alcott follows the lives of four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March. It carefully details their passage from childhood to womanhood. The idea of ‘ideological ambivalence’ in Little Women starts even from the way the novel receives public attention. For example, the novel itself has gained diverse and contradicting perceptions from its readers (Alcott, Blaisdell & Steadman, 2007, p. 46). That aspect of uncertainty as some of the readers read it as a romance or others take it as a quest creates the ideological ambivalence. This novel is a unique model as Alcott has successfully blended many conventions of the sentimental novel with crucial ingredients of romantic children’s fiction. On another level, the character basis of Alcott’s novel insinuates the same idea (Francis & Alcott, 2007, p. 55). Alcott allows the illusion of having her true sister as imagined characters in the novel to continue in real life. She creates ambivalent feelings as she portrays her family, not in the exact rendition, but rather an idealized one. It is at this level where the novel comes as a hybrid combination of domestic realism, romance, and female endeavours (Alcott, 2008, p. 74). The blending and clashing of these genres form the initial reference to the term ideological ambivalence thus producing ideological tensions. In the attempt to teach the importance of being genuine, Alcott’s novel Little Women takes those great pains. The driving propensity is that of ideological ambivalence as seen in the motives of these girls (Francis & Alcott, 2007, p. 62).For example, Alcott’s contrasts the Marches with more well mould women in the like of Amy Moffat. Transcendentalists stressed the significance of paying inner spiritual self than to heavy reliance on temporal, earthly conditions such as a wealth, and impressive appearances.Alcott fuses this philosophy in the novel Little Women. For example, there is an overt ideological strain in the way Meg and Amy constantly struggle with vanity, in which eventually they overcome all that. Amy cannot be at peace with her own perception as at one point she turns down a hand of marriage from Vaughn. Amy cannot see the riches of this man simply because she does not love him back. What Alcott tries to incorporate here is the idea of spiritual self-consciousness rather the lure of earthly possessions (Eiselein & Phillips, 2001, p. 49). The sisters exhibit some sought of ideals as they all learn to contend with the respective lots in life rather than yearning for meaningless riches or possessions (Alcott, 2008, p. 60). It is the ideological perspective of one in remaining genuine that seems to drive the sisters to like and want only what they deserve and the belief is the things of their desire should come out of hard work they put in place.This is the reason behind their house in New England been portrayed as more enviable than the mansions in Paris. The novel also centres on the struggle between two emphases in a young woman's life. This ideological crossroads help to highlight woman’s struggle between family duties and the notion of personal growth. There is this uneasiness as to where one should put much concern that which one places on herself or that which concerns one’s family (Francis & Alcott, 2007, p. 40). Throughout the novel, much concentration on domestic responsibilities detracts the girls from attending to their personal growth. For example, Jo and Amy seem tied and oscillating in a fix. There is a big challenge in the attempt of fully fitting in their professional artistic forms and having full pledged time to be dutiful women in their family. This creates conflicts of ideas as largely one cannot make out, which preference to abide by or which one lag behind (Eiselein & Phillips, 2001, p. 57). At this time, Alcott’s novel aimed to capture the slowly growing culture of women's development, not as merely family objects but also actively involved in personal growth like in professional life. The four different sisters highlight how the women’s status and equality was slowly increasing. This then brings the fight of giving priority to the right ideology. These girls knew what they were capable of doing outside their matrimonial homes yet actualizing that decision remains the nightmare. They have to battle with the choice of what they believe and what they want to become. In this response, Alcott then helps to show the possible ways of being a woman bound by constraints of social expectations such as marrying young and giving forth a family, just like Meg found herself doing, or be respectful and subservient to one’s parents like the case of Beth (Alcott, 2008, p. 88). These are all ideological conflicts the girls have to deal with through their growth. They face the choice of pursuing one’s art, pleasure, and personality as in the mode of Amy or Joe’s unending dilemma of trying to live both a meaningful professional life as well struggling to fit in as a dutiful familylady.Ideological ambivalence thus plays a big influence in the lives of these girls as one can actually see that Meg and Beth try to conform to society’s expectations of the woman’s place in the society and family as Amy and Jo at first rebel to conjure up their own personality away from such inhibiting ideological constraints (Watson, 2009, p. 14). The fact that these girls have to deal with the compact truth of determining the right thing in relation to what they believe as true and valuable to them espouses the challenge there in of dealing with ideological hurdles. For example, the decision for Amy and Jo to eventually marry and settle in a more customary life proves the real deal (Francis & Alcott, 2007, p. 81). Alcott does not at any given time suggest that one model of life is more feasible as to another but she has in several covert ways insinuated there is an ideological choice one can make, which is more realistic than the others. Alcott’s novel attempt to highlight the dangers of gender stereotyping helps to some extent elaborate instances of ideological ambivalence.The Novel, Little Women questions the validity of gender stereotype in both males and females. For instance, Jo seems, to defy the conventions that the society places upon women (Eiselein & Phillips, 2001, p. 60). At such a time, she struggles to reconcile herself into making the right decision. This is an ideological challenge she faces. She has either to toil the ways dictated by the society or to conjure up her own perception towards her life. Jo, in her wishes and actions she ends up frustrating the stipulated typical gender expectations (Alcott, 2008, p. 49). The girl is faced with the idea of making her own living through earning, and the challenge in this is she wants, to pursue a perspective or field purely reserved for men. On another instance, out of what seems like a decision to nurture her own ways of life, Jo, wears a dress with a burn mark to a party. This is an overt proof that she does not possess tremendous social grace, a quality that the society during the nineteenth century attached to women.What Alcott tries to highlight in these women is the labyrinth of ideological choices, which at times mandated these grown up girls to choose their preference, or the way the society moulded its norms or even remain in a dilemma of not knowing what is that best choice one should make. Another evidence of ideological ambivalence comes clearly through the actions and choices of Laurie. He does not want to be a conventional man. He seems to be in a corner with what the society stipulates for men and the choice he sees as the best for him (Alcott, 2008, p. 90). For example, he wants to pursue music; something at the time, the culture ascribed it to women. The choice of society concerning men’s involvement was to pursue business but the ideological inclinations of a person like Laurie do not desire to attempt such moves. The point of light in this scene and choices made by Laurie and Jo is what Alcott describes as their ideological preferences to decline or embody gender stereotypes and the two seem willing and ready to expose themselves to particular obstacles (Watson, 2009, p. 15). To them this is much better than hiding and battling with constraints. Throughout the course of the novel, Alcott characters try to find happiness in their daily involvements. What comes as a surprise is that a little abstinence or lack of any activity to do results in changing of their moods or even feeling remorseful. The necessity to work has been an instance Alcott uses to highlight ideological ambivalence. The dreams of these girls and their ambitions seem to tie up with what they choose to engage in as they grow (Alcott, 2008, p. 87). For example, there is a conflict of interest in this scene, where one cannot become a practicing professional and tangle well with the matrimonial duties ascribed by the society. The conflict of choice as to which sect one would involve himself in is a dilemma that would define the girls’ source of joy, happiness, or remorsefulness. In a mere twist of event and affirming the necessity of work, when the girls indulge in their own selfishness by dressing up in fine loins, hoarding limes, avoidance of chores or drive to attain revenge, they end up being unhappy. The ambivalent issue here is that sometimes the choices, which the make may be out of one’s ideological inclination but the choice does not derive the intended results (Eiselein & Phillips, 2001, p. 82). The girls therefore may be in a limbo, not knowing which preference one ought to undertake to attain self-fulfillment. At this level, the only option that derives joy and happiness for these girls is when engaged into a working environment, be it for the family chores or the drive for one to coin up her living professionally (Alcott, 2008, p. 50). If it was holy to do work, as per the Puritan work ethic, then what about the personal endeavours, which an individual prefers to engage in order to gain a particular result. The girls’ choice to seek for revenge may be out to fulfil a certain modality but at the end of the day, their emotions depend on worker involvement.In this situation, Alcott seems to highlight and recommend that work is not the only process to material end but it should come as a means of expressing of one’s inner goodness. In addition, Little Women belongs to the species of conduct literature, which concerns itself with the rhetorical activity of women.The idea of conduct ideology and the rhetorical life of Jo March provide a good instance to highlight the sense of ideological ambivalence (Alcott, 2008, p. 48). First, in her fully developed and complete character of Jo March, this helps to depict the imaginative embodiment of the author’s experience of her own world.She helps to expound on her struggles with the inner self, her true desires, and the ascribed code of conduct she had to make a decision on in order to fit as a woman at a time when the place of woman was limited.Just like Alcott’s in diverse ways, Jo’s maturing process is unbearable and painful for lack of straight cut decisions. She has to deal with constraints and stipulated codes before she full claims to be a woman in that context. This conflicting process dominates the story line of the poem (Eiselein & Phillips, 2001, p. 41). A good example of ideological ambivalence is the case where one can see that Jo has a considerable prowess but this is coupled by conflicted ambitions.Thus, her representation in the novel as a rhetorical woman lines up with prevalent meta-tension within the novel. Therefore, Alcott’s idea was to create a novel of multiple faces. At one end, it helps to revise conventionality and respect undercuts as well as remaining fundamentally reflective of dominant discourses and traditional belief. This ideological tension in the art of Little Women made the novel a popular niche in children's literature (Alcott, 2008, p. 66). Hence, the novel largely concerns itself mostly with the rhetorical activity of women and girls, and the understanding of ideologies shaping the lives of young women of the period. In conclusion, Jo’s fate, as a woman and a rhetor is stemming out of negotiation and a compromise just like Alcott’s life from childhood to womanhood (Alcott, Blaisdell & Steadman, 2007, p. 67). Even though Alcott does not present the girls as perfect due to the seemingly inherent ideological ambivalences, in their receptivity and their willingness to conquer themselves, help to synchronize them as real women. This is because despite the constraints present, these girls try to come into terms with what is going on and even they attempt to rectify them. Bibliography Alcott, LM 2008, Little Women. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Alcott, LM, Blaisdell, B & Steadman, B 2007, Little women: coloring book. Mineola, N.Y., Dover Publications. Eiselein, G & Phillips, AK 2001, The Louisa May Alcott encyclopedia. Westport, Conn, Greenwood Press. Francis, P & Alcott, LM 2007, Little women. London, Evans. Watson, NJ 2009, ‘Louisa May Alcott, Little Women: Introduction’ in Montgomery, H. and Watson, N. J. (eds) Children’s Literature: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 13-17. Read More