Little Women characters

Also known as Jo

Appears from the start

The second of the four March sisters and the story's central figure, a spirited, impatient tomboy who chafes against the constraints placed on girls and dreams of being a writer. Blunt, warm-hearted, and quick-tempered, she resents her own faults and works to master them. Devoted to her family, especially her sister Beth, she prizes independence and imagination, and her ambitions and friendships drive much of the book.

Also known as Meg

Appears from the start

The eldest March sister, pretty, gentle, and mindful of the family's reduced circumstances. She remembers wealthier days and is tempted by fine things and social approval, but is fundamentally responsible and kind. She works as a governess to help support the household and takes a maternal role toward her younger sisters.

Also known as Beth

Appears from the start

The shy, gentle third March sister, devoted to music and content with quiet domestic life. Painfully timid with strangers, she is selfless and loving at home, keeping her small pets and dolls and caring for others. Her tenderness makes her the emotional heart of the family, and her fragile health is a quiet thread of concern.

Appears from the start

The youngest March sister, artistic, vain, and eager to be thought a proper lady. Somewhat spoiled and self-conscious about appearances, she has genuine talent for drawing and a determination to rise in the world. Over the course of the book she grows from a petted child into a more graceful and self-possessed young woman.

Also known as Marmee

Appears from the start

The mother of the four sisters, a warm, wise, and morally steady woman who holds the family together while her husband is away at war. She works among the poor, counsels her daughters through their faults and troubles, and gently guides them toward patience, generosity, and self-control. Her love and example are the family's anchor.

Appears from the start

The father of the March family, absent for much of the story as a chaplain serving the Union army during the Civil War. A learned, principled, and affectionate man who lost much of the family's money before the story begins, he is present chiefly through his letters home, which encourage his daughters to be good and brave. His eventual return is a longed-for family reunion.

Also known as Laurie

First appears in chapter 3

The lively, wealthy boy living next door to the Marches with his stern grandfather. Lonely and motherless, he is quickly drawn to the warmth of the March household and becomes an intimate friend, above all to Jo. Charming, generous, and a little idle, he shares the sisters' amusements and grows up alongside them, his affections deepening as the years pass.

First appears in chapter 6

Laurie's grandfather, a rich, gruff old gentleman who at first seems forbidding. Beneath his stern manner he is lonely and kind, softened especially by the shy sister Beth, who reminds him of a granddaughter he lost. He becomes a quiet benefactor and friend to the March family.

First appears in chapter 16

Laurie's tutor, a quiet, honorable, and hardworking young man of modest means. Steady and sincere, he grows attached to the eldest March sister and courts her earnestly despite having little money. His patient devotion and sense of duty mark him as a dependable suitor.

First appears in chapter 4

A wealthy, sharp-tongued elderly relative of the family, easily displeased and fond of pointing out proper behavior. Jo serves as her companion and reader, enduring her criticisms. Despite her difficult manner she takes real interest in the girls' futures, and her opinions and money carry weight in the family's affairs.

Also known as Professor Bhaer

First appears in chapter 33

A middle-aged German professor, poor but learned, whom Jo meets while boarding in New York. Kindly, unpretentious, and much respected for his character, he takes an interest in Jo's work and mind, offering honest guidance rather than flattery. His warmth and integrity draw the two together.

Appears from the start

The Marches' faithful servant, who has been with the family for years and is treated almost as one of them. Practical, blunt, and devoted, she runs the household through hard times and stands by the sisters and their mother in every crisis.