Abstract: Little Women, written by the American novelist Louisa May Alcott in the 19th century, is based on the author’s experience with her three sisters. While this novel has been analyzed from the perspective of Puritanism, Education, and Feminism and so on, this paper tends to explore the meaning of this novel from the perspective of Transcendentalism. Through a detailed analysis of the novel, this paper points out that Alcott is under the great effect of transcendentalist thoughts, and the causes of her transcendentalist thoughts’ formation are also explored. Meanwhile, explains her transcendentalist thoughts in her novel from the two main ideas of the transcendentalist thoughts, which are called views of nature and life. 

Key words: transcendentalist thoughts; views of nature; views of life; Little Women

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction of Transcendentalism and Its Main Principles-1

1.1 Transcendentalist Ideas about Nature-1

1.2 Transcendentalist Views of Life-2

2. Review on Louisa and Little Women-3

2.1 Brief Account of Louisa’s Life-3

2.2 Introduction of Little women-4

2.2.1 The Plot of Little Women-4

2.2.2 Comments on Little women-6

3. Transcendentalist Thoughts Revealed in Little Women-7

3.1 Transcendentalist Views of Nature in Little Women-7

3.1.1 Description of Nature’s Beauty in Little Women-8

3.1.2 Nature as Symbol of Spirit or God in Little Women-9

3.1.3 Nature as a Restorative Role on Human Mind in Little Women-11

3.2 Transcendentalist Views of Life in Little Women-13

3.2.1 Self-Reliance and Individualism Shown in Jo’s Pursuit and Marriage-13

3.2.2 Spiritual Perfection Revealed in the March Sister’s Grow-up-15

4. Causes of Louisa’s Transcendentalist Thoughts-17

4.1 Influence of Puritanism-17

4.2 Influence of Louisa’s Father and Emerson-18

5. Conclusion-19

References-21