A Study on the Clothing Symbolism, Described in Louisa M. Alcott′ Novel -Little Women-

Louisa M. Alcott 소설에 표현된 복식 상징에 관한 연구 -작은 아씨들을 중심으로-

Symbol is one of the most profound ways to express the essence of human beings, as well as the most representative non-verbal communication medium. In this study, the descriptions of the clothing and ornaments of the main characters of the novel Little Women were excerpted from the Korean translation version. Based on the hidden symbols from the descriptions, after analyzing the characteristics of the main characters of the novel through their clothing and ornaments, the connection between the clothing and the symbols reflecting the internal workings of the mind was analyzed based on the previous theories on symbols. As proven in this study, since the clothing and ornaments directly symbolize the characteristics of the person, without any explicit statements about his/her characteristics, the clothing itself speaks volumes about them. Clothing is the most accurate visual symbol that speaks of the person's social, economic, and psychological aspects. The use of special clothing and ornaments or the highlight on certain parts reveals the characteristics of the character and his/her situations more effectively. In conclusion, literary, including novels well describes not only external factors, such as the social and cultural status of society and the character's economic situation, but also an individual's psychology such as his/her emotions and personalities. Therefore, the clothing that the character wears in a literary work symbolically reflects these factors.