March family | March family | Little Women, Meg, Jo, Beth & Amy (2024)

fictional characters

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March family, fictional characters in a series of novels by Louisa May Alcott beginning with Little Women (1868–69).

The four March sisters are enduring characters in children’s literature. Meg, the oldest, beautiful and rather vain but sweet; Jo, the main focus of the books, a spirited tomboy; Beth, a sickly, gentle musician who dies in the first novel; and Amy, pampered and artistic. Their mother, called Marmee, runs a frugal but happy home while their father is away serving as a chaplain in the American Civil War.

March family | March family | Little Women, Meg, Jo, Beth & Amy (1)

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This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.

March family | March family | Little Women, Meg, Jo, Beth & Amy (2024)

FAQs

How would you describe each of the four girls Meg Jo Amy and Beth? ›

Meg is beautiful and traditional, Jo is a tomboy who writes, Beth is a peacemaker and a pianist, and Amy is an artist who longs for elegance and fine society. The sisters strive to help their family and improve their characters as Meg is vain, Jo is hotheaded, Beth is cripplingly shy, and Amy is materialistic.

What do Meg Jo Beth and Amy in Little Women call their mother? ›

With Mother's Day on the horizon, we wanted to commemorate this iconic, semi-autobiographical story by Louisa May Alcott by styling a rose that perfectly embodies each of the five core characters: Meg, Amy, Jo, Beth and of course their mother, who is referred to as Marmee throughout the story.

What are the names of the March family in Little Women? ›

Meet the March Family
  • Amy March. The artistic and impulsive youngest daughter, Amy March has always been a character that is either loved or hated. ...
  • Beth March. ...
  • Jo March. ...
  • Meg March. ...
  • Aunt March. ...
  • Laurie Laurence. ...
  • "Marmee" March. ...
  • James Laurence.

What was the contribution of Meg Amy and Beth when Jo went over to make friends with Laurie? ›

Meg: Meg is the eldest sister, and her contribution is to provide moral support and encouragement to Jo. She supports Jo's efforts to befriend Laurie and offers advice on how to approach him. 2. Amy: Amy is the artistic and ambitious sister.

How is Beth March described? ›

Beth is a sweet, loving and gentle girl whose traits keep her family close. She never complains about not having everything and is grateful for what she has: her sisters, her kittens, her dolls and her music.

What is the theme of Meg Jo Beth and Amy? ›

The creators of this text, Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo, have retained the original theme of class differences and poverty, as well as exploring issues of race (the March family is blended and mulitracial) and sexuality (Jo struggles with telling her family she is gay).

How old is Beth when she dies? ›

Because she helped the Hummels and got scarlet fever from their baby and scarlet fever is what ultimately kills her. The total inner peace that Beth displayed is also what made her an angel on Earth. Even though Beth was so morally pure and innocent she didn't live her full life. She died at age 23 in her mom's arms.

What is Amy March's full name? ›

Amy Curtis March is the youngest March sister in Louisa May Alcott's classic Little Women, herself based on Alcott's own youngest sister, May.

What is Jo March's real name? ›

Josephine "Jo" March

The protagonist of the novel, and the second-oldest March sister. Jo, who wants to be a writer, is based on Louisa May Alcott herself, which makes the story semi-autobiographical.

How old is Amy March? ›

Jo (stage age 15) Beth (stage age 13) Amy (stage age 12) There is a distinct difference in ages for Amy as the show progresses. She needs to look age 12 at the beginning and closer to 17 by the end of the show.

How old is Meg when she gets married? ›

At the start of the story, Meg is 16 years old. At age 21 she marries John Brooke and one year later gives birth to twins. Emma Watson is 29.

What happened to Meg March? ›

Meg marries a man as virtuous as herself – hard-working poor John Brooke. They have two children and create a loving home; Meg lives the life of the quintessential 19th century Victorian woman.

What does Jo call Beth? ›

Jo called Beth “her conscience” and couldn't bear the thought of being parted from her. It makes me wonder if Beth was one of the reasons why Jo was strong.

Was Beth in love with Laurie? ›

There's a scene in the book where Jo sees Beth admiring Laurie. Beth is actually just envying Laurie's vitality because she's sick, but Jo thinks Beth is in love. Does Jo refuse Laurie to protect her favorite sister's feelings?

Does Meg get married before Beth dies? ›

Years go by, the sisters grow up — Meg gets married and has children, Jo is living and working in New York, the youngest sibling Amy (Florence Pugh) is in Paris working on her art — and Beth gets really sick again. This time, she's suffering from the fever's complications.

How are the four March sisters described? ›

The four March sisters are enduring characters in children's literature. Meg, the oldest, beautiful and rather vain but sweet; Jo, the main focus of the books, a spirited tomboy; Beth, a sickly, gentle musician who dies in the first novel; and Amy, pampered and artistic.

How is Meg different from Jo? ›

Expert-Verified Answer

Meg is proper and refined, yearns after wealth and exquisite garments, and features a sweet, romantic nature. In contrast, Jo is awkward and tomboyish, doesn't care about wealth or garments in the slightest degree, and gets herself into all types of hassles because she's so blunt.

What are the differences between Amy and Jo? ›

Jo is a free spirit, so she does not long or wish to settle down. Her goal is to become self-sufficient with her own talent. Amy, on the other hand, is too young to remember a time before the family became poor. Like Meg, she sees what other girls have and longs for those things too.

What is Beth and Amy about? ›

In this modern retelling, Amy March is a fashion designer in New York and Beth. a talented singer and song writer, is touring with a country music super star. The family reunites for Jo's wedding and the March sisters once again appreciate the love and support of family as well as the strong bonds of sisterhood.

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