【正文】 At the time when Alcott posed the novel, women’s status in society was slowly increasing. As with any change in social norms, however, progress toward gender equality was made slowly. Under the influences of the male dominated society, the traditional belief was that women were inferior to men not only in physical part but also in psychological aspect. They were considered lacking in consciousness of leading their own lives. In addition to this, in an era when marriage was the only sanctioned framework for the fulfillment of romantic love (Ednah, 1889), as a wife woman could have no economic or legal identity and motherhood was inpatible with earning a living. Little Women is a 19th century novel, it reflects the time when the first feminism movements took place in America. The society built by the Puritans was stern and repressive, with no individualism for Women. For women, they must turn to be the socalled good women and met the need of the society and take care of their reputation. At that period, women were just starting to notice how they can gain their deserved rights, equalities and freedom. They started to do some simple fighting for their rights. The story begins during the American Civil War in the eighteen sixties with the development of modern western industrial civilization, society, economy and culture gradually change. When many males in American took part in the army and fought for this war, and then females took on much of the burden of families and earned for their living. In this special social circumstance, females in Little Women attempt to break free from these constraints and walk the way to naturalize their individuality.3. Female images on different roles in Little Women Little Women has shown to us female images in the 19th century American society in which women’s status was slowly increasing and let us know what kind of images women should have. Based on the analysis of the characters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy, the thesis will explore the way they build up their images.Being the main character of Little Women, Jo is an outspoken tomboy with a passion for writing. Her character is based in large part on Louisa May Alcott herself. Jo refuses Laurie’s offer of marriage, despite the fact that everyone assumes they will end up together. In the end, Jo gives up her writing and marries Professor Bhaer, which can be seen either as a domestic triumph or as a professional loss, since Jo loses her headstrong independence. As she displays good and bad traits in equal measure, Jo is a very unusual character for nineteenthcentury didactic fiction. Jo’s bad traits—her rebelliousness, anger, and outspoken ways—do not make her unappealing。s town hall to sew Union uniforms and bandages. As soon as she turned thirty, old enough to enlist as an army nurse, she prevailed upon family friend Dorothy Dix to waive the ban on admitting single women (Brook, 1984).She once campaigned for women39。s best work. Louisa39。s leading intellectuals (Ednah, 1889). Alcott39。t I a woman?” (Truth, 1851)Inequality between men and women is the root cause of the right to private ownership and male social repression (Chapman, 1976). In the 19th century, with the development of modern western industrial civilization, society, economy and culture gradually change. In this social context, women in the family request equal status with men increasing, the feminist movement began to grow. For buildingup females’ images, Feminism is a new direction which provides a basis for women to be selfset up. Female images are not limited by their status any more.2. The Social Circumstances of Little Women Louisa May Alcott’s thoughts Louisa May Alcott is an American writer in the 19th century. Alcott’s thoughts are subject to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau’ influences, who are the closest friends of her father. In Boston and Concord, the Alcotts were intimates of the great transcendentalist thinkers and writers of the day (Brook, 1984). Emerson encouraged Louisa to spend hours in his library. On excursions at Walden Pond, she studied botany with Thoreau. The Hawthornes lived next door. The two great thinkers would be the objects of teenage Louisa39。t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother39。t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain39。And one day, you will die” () God said to Adam and Eve for their sins. The constructed social relationship between women and men in the West is rooted in the Genesis story of Adam and Eve. For the last 2,500 years it has underpinned our perception of sex and gender and thereby influenced how women and men are represented in art. Any discussion of images of women and men must therefore be prefaced by an examination of the opening chapters of Genesis. God created man in his own likeness that w