Abstract

Little Women is the representative work of Alcott, and it describes four sisters' 

growing-up story under their mother's teaching and accompanying.

Sisters March and their mother have different characters. Mrs. March moisturizes her daughters in silence as the spring rain; Meg is hardworking and thrifty at home; Joe is independent in her own things; Beth is good at piano; Amy is an artistic talent. In the end, everyone has a happy life and realizes her life goals. When chasing for their happiness, they try to break through and improve themselves, they hope to break free from the shackles of the world, and they will abandon old ideas, then they want to become the ones who can advance the Times step by step.

Many detailed representations are vivid and their characters are rich, but most of all, this work has epoch-making meaning-it indirectly makes the awareness of feminism and reminds of people thinking of the equality of women. Until now, there is still inequality between men and women in some places, but the guarantee of women’ rights depends on the realization of the equality between man and woman.

Key words: Little Women；New Women；Happiness；Equality

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction-1

2 Literature Review-3

2.1 The Definition of New Women (from the Writer and Others)-3

2.2 New Women’ Characteristics (the Research at Home and Abroad)-4

2.3 The Limitations about New Women in the Fiction-5

3 The Study on New Women-6

3.1 The Development of Women’ Awareness-6

3.2 The Requirement to New Women from Times-7

4 New Women’ Characteristics in the Fiction-10

4.1 The Untiring Seek to Independence and Freedom -10

4.2 The Continuous Effort to Happiness of and Equality of Status-12

4.3 The Reality about the Women' Negative Feeling -15

5 The Door to Get Happiness-How to be A Happy New Woman-18

6 Conclusion-22

Bibliography-23

Acknowledgements-24