After giving it a full class session and five minutes of thought, I’ve decided to say that all four girls are essential to the novel. Not because this is necessarily what I believe, but because I’m stubborn and contrary. On the whole, a rather excellent reason for doing something, in my opinion.
Youngest to oldest. (Saving best for last, obviously. Can you tell I’m an older sibling?)
Amy: Every family needs a whiny, misguided, pretentious, but occasionally adorable little girl. But she represents more than pure entertainment value. Jo is altogether too perfect, and like all perfect people, must therefore be tormented. Amy accomplishes this beautifully. Also, what better way to plague the occasional obsessive-compulsive reader than a character who consistently mispronounces every other word? Splendid.
Beth: While Jo’s personality represents absolute perfection (as proven by the number of readers dying to be her) (dying…hm…that’s not a bad idea for some of the creators of those online quizzes) (capital punishment seems fair for bad grammar and spelling), Beth’s temperament is ideal. You know why it’s ideal? Because she doesn’t have one, to speak of. She is shy, quiet, compliant, and well-behaved. She might as well be a chair. Or one of her beloved dolls. Not the one without arms, legs, and half its head though. Really, Beth doesn’t exist. She is therefore an ideal part of the scenery. Just think how empty the March house would look without Beth sitting silent and motionless in the corner. And that’s why we need Beth.
Jo: Because this book needed a cult following of rabid, giggly preteen girls. Instigating, feminist book-giving mothers optional.
Meg: Eye candy! Just kidding. She’s not that pretty. Her ultra-feminine, conformist personality is too distracting for that. However, she is a rather important plot device. Just think–Meg takes away Mr. Brooke so that Laurie has more time on his hands than he knows what to do with, and ends up making passes at Jo, causing widespread emotional turmoil. Excellent. Meg is The Eternal Source of Conflict. This also occurs when she sprains her ankle at the dance, forcing Jo to cease happily cavorting around with Laurie. In fact, it can be traced even further than this. Meg is the reason that Jo meets Laurie in the first place, due to her insistence that Jo stays on the side and doesn’t dance at the party. Jo meets fellow lurker, he falls in love with her eventually, she breaks his heart. Therefore, Meg is indirectly responsible for the complete emotional destruction of a fellow character! And who was the first one to refuse going to the Hummels’ in chapter 17? That’s right. Beth DIES because of Meg. Pure (accidental) evil. And the best part is, Meg has kids! Screwing up a whole new generation of the family is a definite plus. She appears sweet, highly domesticated, and easily pleased, but leaves chaos and misery in her wake. This novel badly needed a villain, and I think we’ve found a spectacular one in Meg.
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Fin.