Improving on their Faults

One way Little Women I feel is different than today's young adult fiction today is in the respect that even though the sisters are young there is lots of pressure on themselves to change their faults by themselves. Usually today is young adult fiction there is more of a focus on the characters to change as a reaction to the trials they've gone through in the story. 

In chapter nine, for example, after Meg returns from the Moffat's she tells her mother than she will "not be sentimental or dissatisfied, mother; I know I'm a silly little girl, and I'll stay with you until I'm fit to take care of myself" (96). Here it represents how while she is under Marmee's care she is able to work on her own flaws herself to prepare for the day that she will eventually leave the family and grow into a woman rather than a "silly little girl." 

Jo's attempts to make changes to her own personality and to change her flaws through personal perseverance is also made obvious by Alcott (probably because since Joe was based off of Alcott the author knew more about those flaws she herself had). In her conversation about controlling her temper Jo responds to Marmee's advice by saying "I will try, mother, I truly will. But you must help me, remind me, and keep me from flying out" (80).  Here Marmee is again shown as a guiding force to help the sisters learn to become real women and overcome their faults mostly on their own but will some help from her. 

Later in the story, when each chapter is not so much moralistic are the girls learning lessons from their mother as much as from their own real experiences.  Without Marmee to reign in her spending and help her with modest ideals Meg spends enough money on silk for her husband John to not have enough money for his new great-coat giving  the excuse that "I try to be contented, but it is hard, and I'm tired of being poor" (283). No longer can Meg go to Marmee to learn her lessons in a sheltered way now she has real consequences she has to go through and risks real aspects of her life with her behavior like her relationship with her husband. 

Jo also receives real consequences for her faults of being too out spoken with the Carols choosing to take Amy to Europe with them, who compared to Jo seems to have much more appropriate tastes for traveling, for she is artistic and can speak some French, rather than Jo. 

Overall Little Women seems to be different that today's young adult fiction more out of the respect that there is more focus on the girls learning lessons in a sheltered way as a child and then growing up and learning them through experiences. This is a more realistic way to look at adulthood because it deals with realistic issues these girls might face rather than today's young adult fiction where characters often undergo changes based upon the adventures they go on and the events they experiences rather than any personal effort to change themselves and get over their faults. It also demonstrates how the girls will eventually grow out of Marmee, for even though she attempted to have them get over their faults when they were young in the sheltered environment of their own home once they are adults they will no longer have that option.