NEVES, T. G. S.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/5729239245132402; NEVES, Thayanne Gabryelle de Sousa.
Resumo:
This research aims to analyze the novel Little Women (1868) by the American author Louisa
May Alcott (1832-1888) from the perspective of the female Bildungsroman, also known as the
feminine Novel of Formation. The study adopts a critical approach, seeking to examine the
intrinsic elements of the literary genre that shapes the trajectory of the March sisters throughout
the narrative. To accomplish this, a qualitative research methodology was employed, based on
bibliographic sources, drawing on the theoretical contributions of authors such as Pinto (1990),
Bakhtin (1997), Maas (2000), Schwantes (2007), Summerfield & Downward (2012), Galbiati
(2013), Freitas (2016), Moretti (2020), Mazzari (2020), among others. The work as a whole
will encompass the specificities that structure the subgenre under consideration, which
traditionally revolved around the hero's universe, as the Bildungsroman is a genre
predominantly associated with male protagonists. However, building upon the solid
foundations established by feminist criticism, we will also explore the literary development of
the novel in terms of its compositional construction, which includes the female perspective,
namely the female Bildungsroman. Additionally, the research will highlight the intimate
portrayal of the author's life, emphasizing the representation of women in 19th-century
literature as expressed through her writing. Lastly, we will examine the novel by tracing the
aspects that constitute the protagonists' Bildung (formation), delving into themes related to the
personal, intellectual, and social growth of the March sisters through the lens of the female
Bildungsroman. This analytical process involved a detailed elucidation of the novel, identifying
essential moments of transformation and character development. Furthermore, it was
demonstrated how the author skillfully employs the paradigmatic characteristics of the
traditional genre and adapts them to a feminine aesthetic.