The end of this chapter marks the close of Part One.
Part One was published on its own, and, when it was well-received,
Alcott went on to write and publish Part Two. She ends this first
part somewhat artificially, saying that “the curtain falls upon
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy.” By mentioning a curtain close, Alcott calls
attention to the fact that the story she is presenting to us is
artificial and constructed. She seems to acknowledge that her novel
has grown more conventional and romantic and less real—as though
we are watching a play, with characters that are obviously fictional.
