While on the surface a simple story about the four March girls' journey from childhood to adulthood, Little Women , directed by Greta Gerwig, focuses on the conflict between two phases in a young woman's life — the one she imposes on herself, the one she imposes on her family. In the novel, the emphasis on domestic and family tasks harms various women's ability to attend to their own personal growth. For Jo and, in some cases, Amy, the issue of being both a knowledgeable artist and a devoted wife creates conflict and pushes the boundaries set by 19th-century American society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In Little Women, the characters and setting generally contrast between feminine women and a male-dominated society. The first is the protagonist of the film, and therefore March's second older sister, Jo, who wants to become a writer. Jo has a short temper and a quick tongue, although she works hard to manage both. She could be a tomboy and reacts impatiently to the many limitations placed on women and girls. She hates romance in her reality and doesn't need anything to bring her family together. Next comes March's older sister. Responsible and kind, Meg raises her younger sisters. She has a weakness for luxury and leisure, but the greater part of her is gentle, loving, and morally vigorous. Then there is the girl from the third of March. Beth is extremely calm and extremely virtuous, and she only tries to please others. She loves music and plays the piano well. Finally, she is the youngest daughter of March. Amy is an artist who loves visual beauty and has a soft spot for pretty goods. She is prone to pouting, outbursts of anger and vanity; but she is trying to improve. When the film begins, the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth, travel to a rural area during the war. The town's name is Plumfield, but the setting is likely in Concord, Massachusetts, the historic town in which Louisa May Alcott, the author of the book from which this film is originally adapted, lived when she grew up. The March girls' father works as a chaplain during the war, so the year is likely 1862 or 1863. The film opens at Christmas as the ladies mourn the loss of their family's wealth, but they end up giving their gifts to the poor. Later, Amy visits Europe with her wealthy aunt, and Laurie, their neighbor, also goes to Europe with her grandfather. Jo goes to work as a nanny for a long time in the Big Apple, where she also tries to become a writer. At the end of the film, Jo returns to the family home. The title of Little Women alone became a cornerstone of Yankee culture, giving rise to an entire industry of "books for girls" and literature for and about young women. But all this femininity is not only softness and lightness. In fact, the title Little Women is commonly criticized as suggesting the gender stereotypes that this book advocates. After all, if you interpret "little women" to mean "girls", the implication is that the girls appear not to be free-spirited children, but miniature versions of their adult counterparts. Alternatively, if “little women” describes the women these girls grow up to be, it seems rather demeaning – literally downplaying the importance of women. The film ends with a celebration for Marmee. All the different families come together for a picnic, with the boys from Jo's private school, and for this occasion,..