Little Women: How Each Character Is Supposed To Look

Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is the latest adaptation of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. The story of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy has been told so many times that many wondered if the 2019 adaptation was even necessary. The answer, as proven by the movie’s strong box office revenue and the critical acclaim it received, was a resounding yes.

By now most people are familiar with the cast of Gerwig’s Little Women and its most notable predecessor, the Oscar-nominated 1994 classic starring Winona Ryder. But what were the characters supposed to look like? Read on to find out how Louisa May Alcott envisioned each of the March sisters and the people who guided them into adulthood.

10 Jo March

The protagonist and Alcott’s stand-in, Jo was fifteen at the beginning of the story. She was very “tall, thin, and brown” and prone to getting into scrapes with her outspokenness. She was also extremely awkward, never knowing what to do with her long limbs that were very much in her way. She learned to “carry herself with ease, if not grace” as she got older.

Jo had a decided mouth, expressive grey eyes and long, thick hair that was her one beauty, though she always kept it out of the way in a net. Her clothes had a flyaway look to them, in keeping with her tomboy personality.

9 Meg March

At sixteen, Meg was the eldest and prettiest of the four March sisters and the one who struggled the most with the family’s genteel poverty. Alcott described her as “being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which she was rather vain.”

Meg married John Brooke, Laurie’s tutor, even though he was not wealthy and could not provide her with a life of finery. As she got older, Meg learned to value love over material wealth, which made her “prettier than ever, for love is a great beautifier.” Both Emma Watson and Trini Alvarado were pretty as can be as Meg.

8 Amy March

Amy was the youngest and most socially ambitious March sister. At twelve, she was “a regular snow maiden, with blue eyes, and yellow hair curling on her shoulders, pale and slender, and always carrying herself like a young lady mindful of her manners.” Her personality was a foil to Jo’s, and the two clashed often in childhood.

By the time Amy turned sixteen, she had become the flower of the family with her grace and “wonderfully fair complexion, keen blue eyes, and curls more abundant than ever.” From Kirsten Dunst to Florence Pugh, the one physical trait all portrayals of Amy have in common is her blonde hair.

7 Beth March

Beth was the shyest March sister who had few ambitions outside of her childhood home. According to Alcott, she was “a rosy, smooth-haired, bright-eyed girl of thirteen…whose peaceful expression was seldom disturbed.” She appeared to live in her own world, content to be among her dolls and kittens.

She also had a stronger work ethic than her sisters, who took her efforts for granted until she contracted scarlet fever. Though Beth survived her first brush with death, the fever left her weak and frail, and she eventually succumbed to it years later.

6 Marmee

In the book, Marmee made her first appearance as the girls were wrapping up their rehearsal of Jo’s play, titled The Witches’ Curse, an Operatic Tragedy. Alcott described her as a “tall, motherly lady with a ‘can I help you look’ about her which was truly delightful.” Marmee entered the scene wearing a grey cloak and unfashionable bonnet. Despite her inelegant dress, her four daughters saw her as the most splendid mother in the world, and the same held true on-screen.

5 Laurie “Teddy” Laurence

When Jo first met Laurie in the book, she made note of his appearance so that she could describe him to her sisters. The Marches had very few male relatives, and the girls were naturally curious about the opposite sex.

Jo noted that he had “curly black hair, brown skin, big black eyes, handsome nose, fine teeth, small hands and feet, taller than [she was], very polite, for a boy, and altogether jolly.” She also noticed that he was a bit bashful at first but opened up the more they talked.

4 Mr. Laurence

Mr. Laurence was Laurie’s grandfather who lived next door to the Marches. He was an intimidating figure, and Jo had to fight the urge to run away at their first meeting when he overheard her muttering about his portrait not being as handsome as her grandfather’s.

Jo’s first impression of Mr. Laurence as a kind man despite his grim appearance turned out to be right on the mark. As Alcott wrote, “the living eyes, under the bushy eyebrows, were kinder even than the painted ones, and there was a sly twinkle in them, which lessened her fear a great deal.”

3 John Brooke

During a day trip with Laurie’s English friends, the Marches and the Vaughns traveled to croquet and lunch by boat. Meg sat across from Mr. Brooke, who finally made an appearance after being mentioned several times by his pupil.

Mr. Brooke was “a grave, silent young man, with handsome brown eyes and a pleasant voice.” Meg liked his quiet manners and thought he was a walking encyclopedia of useful knowledge. Mr. Brooke never spoke much to Meg, but he often looked at her admiringly.

2 Mr. March

Mr. March spent the first half of Little Women fighting in the Civil War and was largely absent as a result. When he returned home, the reunion was joyous — but he remained a distant figure within the family, content to keep busy with his books and parish. Alcott described him as a quiet, studious man whose piety more than made up for his lack of worldly success. Though his wife and four daughters had a much stronger presence in the March household, he was still its center as the family conscience, anchor, and comforter.

1 Professor Bhaer

Jo first mentioned Friedrich Bhaer in her letters to Beth and Marmee. She described him as “rather stout, with brown hair tumbled all over his head, a bushy beard, good nose, the kindest eyes [she] ever saw, and a splendid big voice.” Bhaer was a middle-aged, German academic who became a father figure and mentor to Jo, as well as her eventual husband.

In Gerwig’s LittleWomen, he appeared much younger than the 40 years of age Alcott specified in the book, thus deviating the farthest among the Gerwig cast from Alcott’s vision of how her characters were supposed to look.

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