Older Amy March

Short Biography

The youngest sister—age twelve when the story begins—Amy is interested in art. She is described by the author as a `regular snow-maiden` with curly golden hair and blue eyes, `pale and slender` and `always carrying herself` like a very proper young lady. She is dissatisfied with the shape of her nose which she attempts to fix with a clothespin. She is "cool, reserved and worldly" which sometimes causes her trouble. Often "petted" because she is the youngest, she can behave in a vain and spoiled way, and throws tantrums when she is unhappy. Her relationship with Jo is sometimes strained; the literary Jo particularly dislikes when Amy uses big words, mispronouncing them or using them incorrectly. Their most significant argument occurs when Jo will not allow Amy to accompany Jo and Laurie to the theater. In revenge, Amy finds Jo`s unfinished novel and throws it all in the fireplace grate, burning years of work. When Jo discovers this, she boxes Amy`s ears and tells her, "I`ll never forgive you! Never!" Amy`s attempt to apologize to Jo are unsuccessful. When Laurie and Jo go skating, Amy tags along after them, but she arrives at the lake too late to hear Laurie`s warning about rotten ice. Under Jo`s horrified stare, Amy falls through the ice, and is rescued by Laurie`s prompt intervention. Realizing she might have lost her sister, Jo`s anger dissolves and the two become more close. When Beth is ill with scarlet fever, Amy is sent to stay with Aunt March as a safety precaution. Aunt March grows fond of her, as Amy`s natural grace and docility are more to her taste. Amy is invited to accompany Uncle and Aunt Carrol and cousin Flo`s as a companion on a European trip. Although she enjoys travelling, after seeing the works of artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael, Amy gives up her art, because she believes herself to be lacking in talent. In Europe, Amy meets up with Lau