“They were very happy, even after they discovered that they couldn't live on love alone” (pg. 213). This quote was from the Little Women, the narrator was speaking about Meg and John and about how even if things are not perfect, you should still think and act positively. It is hard to find a book that appeals to the youth and teachers, since styles constantly changing. Adolescence enjoy stories about kind companions, nice families, and appealing objects; teachers like reading about faithful morals, good responsibly, and life lesson. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott (takes place in: 1860; total number of pages: 472) , is better than A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett (takes place in: 1888; total number of pages: 294), because it …show more content…
Good friendships were always important to a child from the 1860s, like in the book Little Women. All of the sisters were great friends with one and other and with the boy next door, Laurie Laurence. Despite all of Laurie‘s money he did not look down on the March’s, instead he was one of their closest friends. On the other hand, A Little Princess shows no true friendships among the girls at the boarding school. One of the girls, Sara, said that her only real and trustworthy friend was her doll “named Emily” (pg. 6). Adolescence also take joy in hearing about a happy household and family. The March’s always treasured their time with loved ones. Throughout the book, whenever someone was in need, the characters would try their hardest to help and fix the situation. The youth of 1860 are definitely going to choose that over the depressing situations in A Little Princess. The girls, at the boarding school, are never home and their families rarely bother to come see them. Finally, children dislike uncommon and obscure objects. In A Little Princess the main character, Sara, was a beggar and a maid who had almost nothing. She was living in a attic and she only had one article of clothing, a ragged black dress. On the contrary, characters from Little Women owned many cool things, for example, Amy had a pretty and expensive …show more content…
Throughout the book, characters were being sweet and considerate to one and other; helping each other with different situations. A specific character, named Jo, always did everything possible to allow her three sisters and mother to feel safe and happy. Nevertheless, in A Little Princess, Miss Minchin, the headmistress of the seminary, had young children work as her maids, and Lavinia, a girl from the school, bullied many of her fellow classmates. A Little Princess implies that it is ok to be mean and rude to other human beings. In Little Women the characters were always ready and prepared for what might happen. When Mr. March was sick, but Mama couldn’t afford to see him in Washington. Jo knew that she had to find some money to fly Mama to Mr. March. Jo sold her hair and made twenty-five dollars, enough to fly Mama to see her beloved husband. Unlike Little Women, A Little Princess’s characters had no sense of responsibility, in that book even children had their own maids and parents would leave their children at far away places. Teachers dislike when a book teaches their students a bad message, like in A Little Princess. In the book, saying that it is ok to call people dumb is one of the many harmful messages of the book. Kids like Ermengarde were called stupid and “the biggest dunce in school” (pg. 12). On the other hand, Little
In each short story the character(s) the author highlights are young girls. This is first evident in the title alone in “Girl” where the title already gives the impression of a universally known stereotype as being young, and naïve. Although the title “A&P” does not suggest the same implication, within the story the reader learns quickly that the girls described in the story are in fact young, and innocent and lacking instruction just as the character in “Girl.” Understanding the characters is important because it sheds light on the reasons why they do what they do, and give reason to the plot. In which case, the characters even become the plot, such as the two short stories referenced. The girls described by Sammy in “A&P,” consume much of the story just by description, making it unmistakable their character. “...And then the third one, that wasn’t quite so tall. She was the queen. She kind of led them...” (Updike). Momentarily the reader is able to develop an image of these girls because everybody, young or old, most probably has been witness to this type of entourage throughout middle/high school. The girl being referred to by Sammy, Queenie, is oblivious to the fact she is stirring up the scene in the store, showing her naivety. Similarly, in “Girl” the fact that the young girl is being given instructions on how to behave as an adolescent girl by her mother, is reason to believe she is so inexperienced that her mother felt the instructions were necessary. The girls both have not realized the expectations society has upon the female population, nor the conseque...
Orenstein explores the rise of Girl Power in the 1990s and the differences that are in today’s society. The rise and fast spreading message that girls receive from the Disney Princesses is one of her biggest issues. Not only does she disagree, but other mothers from Daisy’s preschool do as well. In the second chapter Orenstein invites all the mothers with daughters that are obsessed with Princesses to discuss the subject, one mother states that she sees no problem with encouraging being feminine and then states, “On the other hand, I a...
According to the Internet Movie Database's exhaustive records, Louisa May Alcott's novel "Little Women" has seen itself recreated in four TV series, four made for TV movies and five feature length movies since 1918. The most recent version appeared in 1994 and features Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Kirsten Dunst, Samantha Mathis, Eric Stoltz, Susan Sarandon, and Gabriel Byrne. As a long time fan of the novel, who has happily carted her large leather bound gold-gilded unabridged edition whenever she has moved, I find that I was disappointed in this newest movie version. As a movie lover, however, I found the movie to be an enjoyable experience.
In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," the main character is a woman who has been controlled and conformed to the norms of society. Louise Mallard has apparently given her entire life to assuring her husband's happiness while forfeiting her own. This truth is also apparent in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. In this story, Nora Helmer has also given her life to a man who has very little concern for her feelings or beliefs. Both of these characters live very lonely lives, and both have a desire to find out who they really are and also what they are capable of becoming. Although the characters of Nora and Louise are very much alike in many ways, their personalities differ greatly when it comes to making decisions regarding the direction of their lives.
In “Escape from Wonderland” by Deborah Ross, the writer explains how the fictional characters are admired. Although they seem to be sending a bigger message to young girls. The writer talks about drawing a line between fantasy and reality. In the end Ross’s objective is to show how some Disney characters break the femininity and imagination tradition. Which can have an effect in children and how they value their own ability to have unique visions. By comparing Alice in Wonderland (1951), The Little Mermaid (1989) and Beauty and the Beast (1991) to heroines like Arabella from The female Quixote. “Charlotte Lennox’s (The Female Quixote illustrates both these conservative and progressive plot patterns, for it both draws upon and criticizes earlier romances, which themselves often both celebrate and punished female imagination and expressiveness. Therefore, like Disney’s movies today, which also use material from romance and fairy-tale tradition”, (pg. 473, Escape from Wonderland). Young women may not only begin to fantasize about a grandeur life more exciting than reality but to be disappointed with society in the workplace and relationships. For example, Meredith from Brave she is a princess that wishes to have a different life than what her mother has planned for her. She refuses to get married and have the duties of a princess. She wants to have adventures and be
...hough she was brutally mistreated, Cinderella was able to find a solution for her problems and children can to. All they have to do is make the effort, try hard enough and success is possible. Adults should pay attention to this and see if Cinderella can help their children keep a positive attitude toward whatever situation they may be in - exaggerated as it may be. Cinderella doesn't only help show one how to overcome adversity it points out good morals, and sends the message that good always prevails. Both of these messages are crucial in a society that is slowly crumbling. All we can do is watch and hope the messages learned from Cinderella make a difference in the lives of Children all around the world.
Love caused his logic and sensibility to fail him, and provoked him to commit monstrous acts that destroyed many lives. Through analysis of “Happy Endings” by Margaret Atwood, it can be concluded that one of her many intended lessons was to show the value and the powerful effects of love. Atwood successfully proved this lesson by using powerful examples of both successful and disastrous relationships to illustrate the positive and negative effects of love. Atwood truly demonstrated what it is like to follow your heart.
Both of these stories served as mile markers in the history of children's literature, and marked turning points in our Society. For the first time, children were allowed to think freely, and learn. They independently formed their own thoughts on life, God, and many of the other highly regulated aspects of their society. Until this time most of the children were taught to think as their parents or feel the wrath of vengeful and often cruel God.
When my parents read to me, they enjoyed reading Dr. Suess books, which became popular with the publication of The Cat In The Hat. I was only interested in looking at books with color. When the books were colorful they grabbed my attention quickly. I couldn’t wait for my parents to come in my room at night and read to me from The Cat in the Hat. I think that this is one of the popular books that parents should read to their children.
He goes on to say, “this book still has a lot to say to all kinds of preschool, junior and middle-school girls -- and there are legions of high school and college women who'd benefit as well.” Obviously written for a younger reading audience, the author is a retired pre-school teacher, this story appeals to readers of all ages. A witty story about a sassy princess and her independence The Paper Princess is absolutely a must read in children’s literature.
People that grow up watching the classic Disney Princess movies, which give us false hope that every simple quiet girl will end up marrying a prince. The Beauty and the Beast being one of those movies, teaching us that if you fall in love with a hairy like creature he will turn into Mr. McDreamy. The bubbly Disney version of the Beauty and the Beast usually does not allow scholars to find a deeper meaning. Believe it or not, Disney did not create this classic tale. In fact, Charles Perrault wrote a darker version of it almost three centuries before. Perrault’s twisted feminist version has hidden messages and meanings still puzzling scholars today. Some say that at the end of every fairy tale he would put a rhyme that would be a hidden message to little girls. The messages presented caution about not trusting strangers or to stay true to who you are. Unlike Disney’s anti- feminist version, often characterizing girls as the damsel’s in distress, Perrault’s gives girls the look of independence. He shows young girls that they do not always need a prince charming by giving Beauty the decision that could change her life.
In both Hans Christian Andersons “The Little Mermaid,” and Disney’s version of the story, the main character— a young and beautiful mermaid— waits anxiously for her fifteenth birthday to venture from her father’s underwater castle to the world above the water. As the story carries on the mermaids priorities change; her modest and selfless nature is revealed towards the end in Andersen’s version. However, Disney’s version encompasses a rather shallow ending and plot throughout. The theme found in comparing the two versions reveal that Andersen’s substance trumps Disney’s entertainment factor in fairy tales.
Once given birth to a beautiful baby girl, often parents refer to her as their little princess; when having a newborn girl, that baby girl will often get all the attention from her surroundings, she will be showered in the most adorable dresses; cute shoes , baby clothes that say “princess” on it and either a bow or a bedazzled head band, perhaps a room that is nothing but pink, letters on her wall over looking her crib saying “Mommy’s little Princess”. There is nothing wrong with spoiling your baby girl. But as time goes her idea of her gender role begins to develop. Buying her princess toys, surrounding her with pink, and watching the Disney movies about how princesses are beautiful, always gets her prince charming, and lives an enchanted life for ever after, is a dangerous “reality” to create for young girls. Eventually, while growing up from child years to young adults, girls in this type of environment can develop a gender constructed identity that, they are superior and deserve an enchanted life. It’s a dangerous reality for these young girls because they will grow up to believe that, they’re entitled to the fairy tale life, having pure beauty , marry her dream man, conceive beautiful children and live happily ever after, but sometimes life is not a fairy tale and you don’t always end up getting what you want.
Children’s literature is a crucial part in aiding the development of children. The stories, along with fairy tales, in this type of literature have an impact on how children perceive their world. Fairy tales such as ‘Shrek’, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’, ‘Cinderella’, and ‘The Little Mermaid’ all increase this impact. Also, “adding to the impact is the fact that children often listen to the same story over and over again, internalizing the message more with each hearing.” (Girls Will Be Girls ... and So On.) Written in the pages of these books are a plethora of commonly known themes. Gender roles is a theme that is widely used in this type of literature. Gender roles are recognized early in a child’s life as they start to become exposed to literature. In children’s literature, gender roles are present as men are assigned to dominant roles, possess strong leadership abilities, and display toughness.
The story teaches us that society expects women to be passive. Cinderella’s abuse by her stepsisters and stepmother cause her to live in grief silently without expressing her emotions. She does nothing to fight for her freedom except sing about all the dreams of happiness that she hopes will come true someday. She only wishes for things to change rather than attempt to do anything to change it for herself. Cinderella waits to be rescued by Prince Charming instead of fighting for her own freedom. This teaches women that they should suffer in silence without doing anything for themselves.