Amidst the turmoil of the American Civil War, the narrative centers on the March sisters—Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—as they transition from youth to maturity. Guided by their mother, Marmee, and in the absence of their father who is fighting in the war, the sisters explore the complexities of womanhood. They experience everything from sibling competition and the excitement of first love to the pain of loss and the commitments of marriage.