Kim Go Eun’s ‘Little Women’ Mirrors Modern Society, Capitalism, More
Based on the classic novel of Louisa May Alcott, "Little Women" tells the story of three sisters whose destitute lives change after getting involved with South Korea's richest family.
Through Kim Go Eun, Nam Ji Hyun and Park Ji Hu, the drama delivers comfort and resonance to its viewers, as well as a deep understanding of how power and money run the world.
'Little Women' On Capitalism and Other Vile Sicknesses of Society
Kim Go Eun's "Little Women" depicts the stories of the Oh sisters, played by Kim Go Eun, Nam Ji Hyun and Park Ji Hu.
To survive, the three little women dream of becoming rich as they grew up not only poor but also parentless.
Their destitute status and lack of parental support gave the society a pass to look down on them. Because of this, the three girls grew up with only one goal in mind: to become powerful.
Bitter with life, Oh In Joo (Kim Go Eun), Oh In Kyung (Nam Ji Hyun) and Oh In Hye (Park Ji Hu) go about their mundane lives, working hard to escape their seemingly endless struggles.
"Little Women" alludes to the people who succumb to money and their desires. Unlike the novel, director Kim Hee Won wanted to showcase the real struggles of powerless young women in a daunting, patriarchal society.
Simple things such as a pair of red shoes and orchids are used as metaphorical elements to interpret societal advancement and statuses in life.
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Kim Hee Won wanted to show his own interpretation of the book while never ignoring the root of the problem, which is greed tested in a matter of life and death.
While Oh In Kyung tries to remain righteous, her sisters Oh In Joo and Oh In Hye couldn't fight for their resolve, especially when a huge sum of money is presented in front of them.
Indeed, financial security always changes the trajectory of things. Like what the sisters' aunt said in one of the episodes, "Capitalism is a psychological game."
The three sisters, despite trying their best, succumb to the world of greed; a warfare no one is safe.
'Little Women' Mirrors Society Today
Thanks to its intricate casting and gripping narrative, "Little Women" presents a drama that entices fans-even non K-Drama viewers-to support the series until its conclusion.
‘Little Women’ Soars To New High Rating With Brand New Episode
The familial bonds, violence, serial deaths, embezzlement and corruption are recurring themes in tvN drama however, these don't only appear in the fictional world. In today's time, these are all serious societal dilemmas that everyone faces every day.
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While fans who loved the book are polarized by Kim Hee Won's adaptation, the director believes that incorporating real life challenges suit the storyline, and would raise awareness not only to viewers but also to the generations to come.
Park Ji Hu
Don't miss new episodes of "Little Women" every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m. KST on tvN. It is also available on Netflix for worldwide audiences.
KDramaStars owns this article.
Written by Elijah Mully.
