Whitewashing

One of the main critiques readers have of the classic novel Little Women is that the story whitewashes the horrors of the Civil War, presenting a beautiful and quaint American life, ignoring the truth of bloody battle that ravaged the nation. This critique is reflected in March's letters home to his wife. Through March's letters, the reader see that he whitewashes his narration, completely removing all images of war's violence as a way of protecting his wife from the truth. The narration of the novel, therefore, provides intense juxtaposition as March pens lovely prose to his wife while wiping blood, sweat, and tears from his eyes. He promised his wife he would write frequently, but as he says on page 4, "I never promised I would write the truth." When Marmee discovers the truth, that her husband has, in a sense, been lying to her, she is outraged. Yet...