MovieChat Forums > Little Women (1994) Discussion > Amy....is she really that bad???

Amy....is she really that bad???

posted 16 years ago by phoenixcat
28 replies | jump to latest

Well, from the movie's take on Amy, she was the sister I disliked the most. She was annoying as a girl but who isn't?

Anyways, what really made me done with her was when she appeared in the attic w/Jo & Beth after Jo refused Laurie's proposal. When she sees Jo upset, she throws in their Aunt's trip to Europe and knew how Jo would've loved to have gone yet, she adds that she's going rather than Jo. Yeah, she's now their aunt's caregiver, understandable. I can live with that but then suggests that Jo should stay at her house while they're away. I'm thinking, like why say that?

I mean like it's not bad enough, she throws that in. That's when I just wanted to stick my hand into the television and slap her, a couple of times. I've never read the book but I'm not sure if I even want to. So for me in the film, I couldn't stand her and yes, she is that bad but it's just my opinion.

Had to get that out, every 1 else did.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] sugerfoot 16 years ago

She needed a good slap...both book and movie versions!

[–] wowcharlie3 15 years ago

I think Amy is probably everyone's, ( well a lot of people's) least favorite March girl. Jo is the favorite, then Beth, Meg and then Amy.

[–] RobenWuzHere 14 years ago

When Jo cuts her hair and Amy says, "Oh Jo, how could you? Your one beauty..." That seals it for me that she sucks. Also, stealing the Europe trip and rubbing it in. Aunt March is actually the sucky one there, saying she gets along better with Amy.

[–] cruzlexie 14 years ago

Amy didn't steal what Jo wasn't there to get. I mean, come on Jo wasn't even working with Aunt March anymore, why would she take her? She didn't rub it in as just announcing it, if Amy said "Sucks to be you. But I am going to Europe" she would have a point. Besides, Jo would have to find out anyways. Also, in the book Jo and Aunt March didn't get along as much as Aunt March and Amy did. Jo was the one who messed up her chances (in the book).

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] k.m.bunting 10 years ago

Jo was the one who messed up her chances (in the book).

Yes, Aunt had originally intended to invite Jo, but after Jo had behaved rather brusquely during a social call and claimed to dislike French, she decided to invite Amy instead.

[–] cheedo 14 years ago

hahaha... and if Jo said that same thing to Amy or anyone else you'd all still be applauding her. In fact, remember when Jo said to Laurie about Meg: "She's completely bald in front!" which was rude and untrue? Well that's exactly on the same level as what Amy said. Amy was just a little girl and didn't mean to be mean, as you full well know. Jo was teasing too, although I think she feels second to Meg since Meg is the pretty, well-mannered one so she probably felt the need to make fun of her a bit to a boy who seemed to like her sister.

"I never confuse gentleness with weakness."

[–] cruzlexie 14 years ago

I didn't think of that! Good points here! The thing is, Jo was proud of Laurie commenting on Meg. I think that her poking fun at Meg was like her way of just having fun. Jo wasn't the most polite person.

That is one thing I didn't like about the movie. They made it look as if Jo was a bit in love with Laurie when they were kids instead of the brotherly affection and a close friendship when they were younger. Even when they grew up, I couldn't see the close romantic designs between Jo and Laurie, like it would be nice if they got together BUT it seems that Alcott showed some sense in them not being together. The characters grew up and sometimes our childish affections change.

[–] cinemaamore 12 years ago

I love Amy, but I relate to her the most!

[–] ednalyn99 14 years ago

I don't think she was bad. When Amy broke the news to Jo about Europe, she was going to suggest to Jo go away to Plumfield while she was still upset about the Laurie fiasco. There was still concern for Jo. And I don't see why Jo would expect Aunt March would even consider bringing her to Europe. Amy WAS her companion so why Jo assumed Amy would announce that Aunt March's offer was for her struck me as obnoxious and very self-absorbed.

In any case, I actually liked Amy. She might have been annoying as a kid, but she was only 12 in the first half the book. In the latter half, I loved how Louisa May Alcott wrote of Amy maturing and how she eventually learned to become, not only an elegant lady, but one who also possesses a warmth to her heart (not all mercenary and social ambitious). Even Marmee noticed the marked change in Amy when she returned home as Mrs.Lawrence.

In the movie, I also thought it was inevitable that Laurie and Amy would hook up. The hints were all there (Little Amy looking out the window to catch a glimpse of Laurie, Laurie rescuing Amy in the pond, Laurie promising to kiss her before she dies) for Laurie/Amy. I didn't see any sign of Jo interested in Laurie except as a friend or brother. Laurie, though, was obviously crushing on Jo when they were still young.

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[–] cruzlexie 14 years ago

I have defended Amy a lot due to the shippers who are enraged that Laurie didn't marry Jo but I have to say that what Amy did was pretty messed up and she was old enough to know better. I do think that she was punished severely ( almost drowning will sober a person up quick) I also feel that she learned a lesson as to not destroy something that valuable and also to know that her sister will love her no matter what.

[–] wilsonandrewc 14 years ago

When Amy burned Jo's manuscript, Little sisters can be pretty annoying. Always messing with your stuff and hanging around and getting on your nerves etc.

[–] cruzlexie 14 years ago

True story. My little sister was "cleaning" my computer of old documents and deleted a story I had been working on for months. I almost murdered her on the spot.

[–] ghostfan 14 years ago

Amy is not my favorite character, but I don't think she deserves quite all the bad press she has received. For one thing, isn't there a line in the book when she burns up Jo's manuscript suggesting that while Amy did burn it, she was unaware that Jo had just re-copied the story, burned all the earlier drafts in the fireplace (what smart writer does that?) so Amy WAS unaware that she hed destroyed the work of several years?

I don't know about any other writers here, but I can tell you, when I write fanfic (been a while for that) I ALWAYS back up my story... in years past, on a re-writeable CD, but these days to my portable hard drive... and I usually break up the story, if it is a long one (which mine usually are) into chapters/separate documents.

It was a rotten thing for Amy to do, but I really don't think she realized she did all the damage she did when she burned the story. I think she figured Jo could just re-write it. And face it non-writers just DON'T understand writers and what it takes.

And as I said elsewhere, I think Jo messed up as far as the European trip went. She was not Aunt March's companion by the time her aunt made the trip, and I think she would have been miserable tied to her bossy aunt for three years in another country - especially when Beth started failing. It all turned out for the best.

[–] TheChamCham 9 years ago

Marmee failed miserably when she failed to punish Amy. I am not certain what her punishment should have been, but what she did was unforgiveable.

When I was in grade school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down HAPPY.

[–] Calicien 12 years ago

I feel a great deal of sympathy for Amy. She is the youngest and she has three wonderful sisters: one who's gorgeous, one who's brilliant, and one who's charitable. That's a great deal to live up to. While pretty, she isn't as beautiful as Meg. While smart, she isn't as intelligent as Jo. While pleasant, she isn't as nice as Beth. The only thing that seemingly sets her apart from her sisters is her artistic ability.

She's also a great deal younger than her siblings, and thus she's less mature. She tries to be proper but it comes across as forced. She tries to use large words to make herself sound more intelligent, but once again, it comes across as forced. She tries to give to others, but she is inherently selfish. I know that I was selfish as a child too. I don't blame her for her desire for pretty things, especially as the family begins to struggle. I just chalk it up to her not having as much of a sense of perspective as the other siblings.

I love Amy, just as I love Beth, Jo, and Meg.

[–] wilsonandrewc 12 years ago

I know Amy annoyed Jo sometimes but I never saw her annoy Meg or Beth.

[–] stayprettystockholm 12 years ago

Well, Meg and Beth were very patient, plus Amy was Meg's "pet". Not to mention, Jo liked teasing and provoking Amy which is usually what starts their fights.

Though you're dressed in rags, you wear an air of queenly grace

[–] Wilsonandrewc (546) 7 years ago

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[–] Wilsonandrewc (546) 7 years ago

So what you're saying is that Jo liked teasing and provoking Amy which is what usually makes Amy want to annoy Jo?

[–] sarahallen2 8 years ago

This response is coming several years later, but Amy was not "a great deal younger than her siblings." When the story opens, Meg is 16, Jo is 15, Beth is 13, and Amy is 12. Instead of acting her age, she acts like she's 6, so that's why it seems that she's considerably younger, but she actually isn't. Only one year separates her and Beth, but the maturity level of each girl is astronomically different. Even the four years between Amy and Meg isn't much of a gap by the time they've hit their teens.

[–] banglesfan 8 years ago

I haven't read the book but I have seen all three adaptations. While I don't remember how Amy was portrayed in the earlier versions, I absolutely despise Amy in this adaptation. Like the person above me stated, she acts like she is six instead of twelve. Kirsten Dunst played some annoying characters in her early days, huh?

I know that Jo turned down Laurie's proposal, but given the fact that Amy knew how they felt about one another, I think it was wrong of her. I always felt like she should have known that Laurie was still in love with Jo and he seemed desperate to be in The March family for some reason. She should have had more respect for herself as well as her sister.

[–] MNRebecca (769) 6 years ago

I like Amy the best and Jo the least, actually. Jo is so self-important! And she's a clueless writer. It takes the professor to finally teach her how to write. Meg and Beth seem pretty pointless. Beth's not to blame, I suspect. She seems to be on the spectrum. Love Marmee. Love the professor for teaching Jo the importance of authenticity.

[–] liscarkat (18460) 9 months ago

She's a monster. In real life, Jo would have little or no contact with her in adulthood.