Why Beth March is Actually the Best

While sitting in my first day of Race and Ethnicity class after the winter break, a pair of girls sitting near me were chatting about their own breaks and just catching up, appearing to be acquaintances previous to this class. What caught my attention at first was their discussion about a Harry Potter literature class one of the two was registered for. I only began eavesdropping to figure out where I could find a class as fun as that. But, as the narrative goes, once you begin eavesdropping, it gets harder and harder to turn your ears away from the conversation you're suddenly invested in.

The conversation soon drifted to movies they had seen over break and naturally, Little Women (2019) was mentioned. Only one of them had actually seen the film, but that did not stop both from having very strong opinions. (Is there anything more aggravating than an opinion that has no knowledge to back it?) The girls praised Emma Watson for most of their conversation. (one of the two is actually named Emma Watson and prides herself on the connection it establishes between her and the actress. No joke.) And while I too love Watson, she is certainly not the only star in Little Women. They discussed Florence Pugh’s outstanding American accent (stating she was Australian when she is actually from Oxford, England), the irrelevance of the character of Laurie (I could write a whole new essay about this one), and how Saoirse Ronan’s performance in Lady Bird is, “fun.” (Fun? Really?) And since we do not have time to unpack all of that, the main conversation point that I was outraged by and want to discuss in this essay is the idea that Beth March, referred to as “the other sister whose name I can’t even remember” after discussing the other three March girls, is irrelevant to the story and why Beth is actually the best.

Beth is often stereotyped as the shy, quiet younger sister of Meg and Jo and the total opposite of the youngest, Amy. And yes, Beth is the shy peacemaker of the sisters, but that is not all she is. She is the only sister we do not get to see flourish into adulthood due to her tragic death, so her character is a distant memory by the end of the novel. It is common that young girls categorize themselves as a Jo or an Amy, but very few people want to be Beth. People become offended by being categorized as Beth. Not wanting to be seen as “weak” or “boring.” However, it should be the highest honor to be seen as a Beth in the eyes of the people who know you. We should all aspire to be more like Beth. She is the heart of the March family. She is spring, sweet and warm, bringing life and the hope of new beginnings. She cares so deeply for everything around her, even her porcelain doll, Joanna, caring for the toy like it is a real person with human needs.

Beth and Jo are total opposites; they are seen in the novel and other adaptations, but they are extremely close. Jo describes Beth as her conscience. Beth is one of the few people who really knows Jo. She is the silent observer. Beth perfectly encapsulates Jo in a single sentence. In my favorite quote in the novel, she says, “You are the gull, Jo, strong and wild, fond of the storm and the wind, flying far out to sea, and happy all alone.” At that moment we know that Beth really sees Jo. In fact, Beth may be one of very few people who sees all of Jo and still loves every single part. She sees her individuality and her independence and loves her despite society telling Jo she needs to act differently. Jo is her most vulnerable when she is Beth, accepting that another human is going to know all the innate parts she hides. Beth accepts and loves people where they are at and she sees the inside of people’s hearts and lets them shine. Beth becomes Jo’s muse after her passing. Jo goes through a breakdown while packing up Beth’s things. She feels this intense loneliness because the person who knew her and praised her most is no longer there to do either of those things. While burning all of her old writings, Jo spots a story with the title, “For Beth” and is sparked with an indescribable energy for writing, finding new life and inspiration from her treasured sister.

In Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation, the relationship between Beth and Amy is also on a higher display than I remember it being in the novel. The little moments that the two have further show Beth’s ability to love anyone and everyone wherever they are at. As previously mentioned, Beth and Amy are polar opposites but, they are still sisters. They are not written opposites to be put against one another and display the others flaws but to complement each other. In a moment of Amy’s lamenting about not being able to attend the theater with Meg and Jo, Beth offers to teach Amy chords so she will not be bored at home. During a Pickwick Club meeting, the two are seen arm and arm playing pretend and clicking their new keys. There are multiple moments where the two are just holding hands or snuggling. Gerwig did a marvelous job of displaying an understanding that when Meg and Jo are in a scene together, it is implied that Beth and Amy are also together, probably stuck at home and off our screens. After Beth’s death, Amy is embraced by Laurie and says, “[Beth] was the best of us.” Later, while seeking comfort in Jo, Amy gets choked up and admits, “I really miss [Beth].” We get to see Amy mourn for her beloved sister in a way that is different from the novel. Seeing just how much pain Beth's death brought her.

When Beth dies, the music leaves with her. Beth’s author-given talent is piano. Sometimes it can be outshone by Meg’s acting, Jo’s writing, or Amy’s painting, but piano is Beth’s lifesource. She fills the March home with songs and gives her sisters’ theatrics a score. Her personality shines through her music. Gerwig displays this by having the film fall silent when Jo finds out about Beth’s passing. Beth takes the music with her. There is nothing without Beth. Beth’s piano is not touched after her death until Freidrich Bhaer comes to the March home and plays a melody for the family. It affects the entire family but most importantly his music affects Jo. This music strategically sparks a feeling within Jo. It connects Friedrich and Beth, despite never meeting, and gives Jo a piece of her Beth back, which her heart had been longing for.

Beth’s health fades away quietly despite Jo, Meg, and Marmee’s fight to save her. She explains to Jo that she is, in a way, ready to die. That her death is something, like the tide going out, that cannot be stopped. She is forced to accept that the illness she contracted while taking care of others is going to take over her sooner rather than later. There is something so beautiful about the way Beth passes. Much to Jo’s confusion, she goes in the night and quietly, without making a fuss. To do anything else would be vastly out of character for the humble observer. Beth’s character is one that you take for granted while she is around, as is true for many people and things in life. You do not always notice the things that she does until they are not done anymore. Alcott sums Beth up when she writes, “There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadows behind.” Beth leaves shadows of her love all over the March house. There is a stereotype to each of the March sisters but Beth's seems to be the most belittling. She is slimmed down to the shy sister and that is all. To slim any person down to one word and have that define their entire being is wrong. Just because a person is shy does not mean they are not smart, strong, and talented. Beth March encapsulates so many qualities that many people spend their whole life trying to achieve. Humility, patience, kindness, loving, gentle but, she has become the poster child for “the shy girl.” And yes, she is shy and introverted, but she holds so many characteristics before that. To box introverted people into that being their one defining quality is a severe disservice to them.

Furthermore, Eliza Scanlen’s portrayal of Beth in Little Women (2019) deserves all the praise. The delivery of lines such as “purple.” and “I talked to the horse before and he is very nice.” (watch the movie, you’ll get it). The Australian actress perfectly portrayed Beth’s spirit but similar to Beth has been outshined by her other outstanding cast members. Little Women was only Scanlen’s second professional role; Sharp Objects (2018) being the first. After Little Women, she appeared in a comedy. The range that she displayed as an actress going from Amma Crellin (watch Sharp Objects) to Beth March to a comedic role shows her force as an actress. And, she is only 21 years old.

So, even though we do not get to see Beth live life as all that she is capable of, it should still be an honor to be seen as her. She is so worth knowing and understanding past the barrier of being labeled shy. Little Women would not be the same without the relationships Beth creates and the virtues she holds.