The Classics discussion

You could argue that Beth, Meg and Amy are perfect female stereotypes. Were there characters victims of the period the book was written in or was it more to contrast with Jo's character?

I think it was a bit of both. Boyish Jo was a contrast to her sisters and to the feminine ideal at the time. Jo March is autobiographical in nature, and I believe many incidents are drawn from life, but I also think that Alcott knew the audience she was writing for--the one that required a Sunday School moral embedded in the tale. So naturally you had to have characters who fit the ideal.