Yes, I’m defending Little Women’s Amy March –and you should too

Set in post-Civil War America, this story follows the March sisters – Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth – as they go through the trials of growing up. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (2019) adaptation brings new life to a timeless tale of family, ambition, and love.

This film pays homage to the original book and is a modern reinterpretation that really resonates with audiences. Gerwig’s choice to show the narrative in a non-linear format is different from previous adaptations but the pacing of it works.

Alcott’s novel follows a linear timeline that starts with the March sisters as teenagers and progresses into their adult lives. The timeline in the book makes sense because it can get confusing for a reader to switch from past to present often and keep up with the plot.

In Gerwig’s adaptation, it’s easy to differentiate the timeline because of how young the characters look, but also, the overall aesthetic of the film changes. In the flashbacks, the March household typically looks warmer and more inviting than at the present time.

The structure of the movie allows viewers to see how characters’ past decisions shape their futures and makes them feel more relatable. Jo’s struggle with societal expectations, Amy’s ambition to balance love and independence, Meg’s desire for a traditional family life and Beth’s quiet strength all feel deeply human.

The cast’s chemistry is the film’s greatest strength. Each actor brings his or her character to life with authenticity, creating a family dynamic that feels real and heartfelt. The interactions between the sisters showcase their love, rivalry, and deep bonds that define their relationships.

I will die on this hill, but my favorite character is Amy March. I know that’s a controversial take, but Greta Gerwig really made me like her character.

Amy is one of the more complex and well-developed characters in Little Women, and that’s why I love her. She starts as an impulsive child but grows into a self-aware, ambitious woman who understands the realities of her world. Unlike Jo, who resists societal expectations, Amy finds a way to work within them without losing her independence.

In Alcott’s novel, Amy is often viewed as vain and selfish as a child, but as she grows more mature, she turns out to be a refined woman who marries Laurie.

While this same plot happens for Amy in the movie, Florence Pugh gives the character more life and depth. My favorite part of the movie is Amy’s speech about women’s lack of economic freedom in marriage. She perfectly describes what it was like to be a woman during that time and marriage being viewed as a transaction rather than an act of love.

A lot of viewers dislike Amy because of her actions throughout the film- burning Jo’s manuscript, competing for Laurie’s affection, and being considered an antagonist.

Jo and Meg attend an event with their neighbors and leave Amy behind. Amy ends up feeling rejected and upset and retaliates by burning Jo’s manuscript, something she knows Jo values deeply. While this is cruel, it’s important to remember that she is a child acting out of jealousy and hurt. I don’t think she fully understood what she had done until after she saw Jo’s reaction. The film makes a point to show her instant regret and begs for Jo’s forgiveness.

Many fans struggle to accept Amy as Laurie's partner at the end of the movie. After Laurie’s love confession to Jo, fans seem like Amy was a backup for Laurie and that their love wasn’t genuine. Amy has always had a crush on Laurie, even as a child. Despite criticisms, I believe that Amy and Laurie’s romance is more balanced. I don’t think Jo ever loved Laurie romantically while Amy challenged him to grow.

Gerwig incorporates feminist undertones into the film, emphasizing themes of independence, ambition, and the societal pressures women encounter. Jo’s declaration that women have “minds and souls as well as hearts” feels just as urgent today as it did in Alcott’s time. The film’s focus on economic struggles, creativity and the importance of personal choice resonates strongly with modern audiences.

Greta stays true to the original themes of the book, but with her adaptation, she emphasizes the economic struggles women faced in the 19th century. Jo negotiating payment for her stories focuses on the value of women’s labor, while Amy openly discusses marriage simply as a transaction.

Neva Wodochek poses for photoPhoto by Neva Wodochek