Family Relationships through Still Frames: Little Women

(1994)Presentation By,

Alison Melkonian

Brief Background

• The following images are taken from the film Little Women. The film is based of the book Little Women written by Louisa May Alcott. In the film/book the family is called the March family, with its protagonist and narrator Josephine (Jo) March an avid writer. The film follows these 4 sisters and their mother in the midst of Civil War poverty and accounts for their social and emotional events of growing up. This is a film that I grew up with and watched with my mother and aunts. Whether woman or man, Little Woman is a tale as old as time and is a fact based story that all can enjoy. Now, on to the presentation!

Family Functions: Level of Cohesion and Adaptability

Functions of Stories

“Stories construct bridges connecting generations, creating a sense of historythat gives younger members a place in the world. Family stories instructmembers in the family values, or themes, and what is expected of them”

Brommel, Bylund, and Galvin p.p.97

Sibling Relational Maintenance

“Although siblings are involuntarily linked, most report having a commitmentTo this relationship beyond obligatory ties.”

Brommel, Bylund, and Galvin p.p. 110

Family Ceremonials and Celebrations

“ Ceremonial rituals provide unique opportunities for family members to bondwith each other and significant others in their communities.”

- Brommel, Bylund, and Galvin p.p. 118

Roles

“role performance, is the actual interactive behavior that defines how the role is enacted. As with role expectations, role performance is influenced by the individual’s capacity for enacting the role.”

- Brommel, Bylund, and Galvin p.p. 165

Roles

Meg March-- The oldest sister

Roles

Beth is the third sister and functions as the role of peacekeeper. She is gentleand always sickly. Too frail to be active, Beth plays the role of friend and nurturerto her sisters and mother.

Roles

Pictured above is 12 year old Amy and adult Amy. Her role is that of youth and vanity. Although she loves her sisters, Amy is the sister that gets out of the house early in pursuit of fortuneand her art.

RolesThe role of Marmee (mother)in this film is that of ultimatenurturer, provider, and confidant. All her daughtersdraw upon her for strengthand comfort. Marmee isalso the head of the March family household in herhusband’s absence.

Decision Making

“ Decision making, like power, is a process that belongs to The family system, not to an individual.”

-- Brommel, Bylund and Galvin p.p 195

Gender Influences

The dominate female presence in the March household is atypical as farAs financial decisions are concerned. The girls must balance themselvesBetween being proper ladies and breadwinners. Also, it is up to Marmee And her older daughters to maintain decision making for the maintenance ofThe household in the prolonged absence of a male dominant figure.

Conflict

Throughout the 15 years of film’s portrayal of the March family, many moments ofconflict naturally arise. There is often competition among the 4 sisters for affection,opportunity, and freedom. Most of these conflicts are worked out by the family bymeans of collaboration and compromise.

Famous March Family Moments

Works Cited

• Galvin, Kathleen M., Carma L. Bylund, and Bernard J. Brommel. Family Communication Cohesion and Change. 8th ed. Glenville, IL: Pearson Education,Inc, 2004,2008,2012. Print.

• All photos from Google Images. I do not claim to own any of the used images.