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Margaret March’s Character Development in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women

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This research examines the character development of Margaret “Meg”
March in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women through the application of M. H.
Abrams’ Direct and Indirect Characterization Theory, supported by character
development principles and structuralism. Using a qualitative descriptive method,
the study analyzes Meg’s growth by identifying textual evidence from the novel
that demonstrates her evolving traits, values, and relationships. Direct
characterization—through authorial description, abstract epithets, direct
analysis, and character testimonials—establishes her foundational qualities,
including beauty, vanity, fondness for luxury, moral grounding, and her role as a
guiding figure within her family. Indirect characterization—revealed through
dialogue, actions, thoughts, appearance and environment, and effects on others—

shows her personal struggles, moments of vulnerability, capacity for self-
reflection, adaptability, and moral influence on those around her. The findings

indicate that Meg’s development is shaped by the interplay between personal
desires for refinement and societal expectations of duty, as well as her interactions
with family, friends, and her social environment. Through episodes such as her
adaptation to fashionable society, selfless acts of generosity, and her steady
counsel to others, Meg emerges as a multifaceted figure whose arc reflects the
universal process of reconciling aspiration with responsibility. Alcott’s balanced
use of “telling” and “showing” allows readers to witness Meg’s realistic, non-linear
maturation, portraying her as flawed yet virtuous, impressionable yet principled.
This study contributes to literary scholarship by providing an in-depth analysis of
a central character’s psychological and moral evolution, offering insights into
19th-century domestic ideals, female

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Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

BSI-2025-NUR m

Publisher

Makassar : FAH. Adab & Humaniora UIN ALauddin., 2025

Collation

viii, 73 hal :Ilus :, 30 cm

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

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Classification

BSI-2025-NUR m

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

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Subject(s)

Character development
Margaret March
Meg-- Characterization.
Adolescence-- Little Women.

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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