The First Draft of Little Women Before Louisa May Alcott Cut the Brother Character
Sorry, Billiam. It’s time to March on outta here.
It’s a little known fact that Louisa May Alcott struggled mightily with writer’s block while drafting her classic Little Women. Originally, there was a FIFTH March sibling in the novel — an older brother named Billiam. Louisa May Alcott struggled mightily with the character and his intense rivalry with Jo, and she ultimately ending up cutting him.
Below, see some of her original passages of the book where Billiam (nickname: Bill) originally appeared.
“Money is a needful and precious thing — and, when well used, a noble thing — but I never want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for. I’d rather see you poor men’s wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect or peace. Billiam, on the other hand, is going to go into business and probably do just fine. He really has no obstacles to overcome at all and a real lack of an inner life, if we’re being honest with each other, my girls.”
— Marmee to Meg and Jo
Author’s note to self in margin: I need some sort of conflict for Billiam. He doesn’t really do anything right now except talk about going into the import/export business with Laurie. Which, come on, Bill, isn’t going to happen.
“I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle — something heroic, or wonderful — that won’t be forgotten after I’m dead. I don’t know what, but I’m on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day. I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous; that would suit me, so that is my favorite dream.
Billiam, why are you laughing at that? Meg literally had to watch your teacher’s kids for free for a year as a bribe so that you could finish school. You can barely spell your own name, even though it’s just William with a B!”
— Jo
Author’s note to self in margin: Why IS his name Billiam? Is that weird? It felt right when I started writing…Billiam March is a paradox to me…
“I’ll try and be what he loves to call me, ‘a little woman,’ and not be rough and wild, but do my duty here instead of wanting to be somewhere else. But honestly, between us, it’s hard not to be jealous of Billiam’s privilege. He seriously doesn’t have to do a thing around the house, gets treated like a king, and we can never mention that he’s going prematurely bald because he’s so stupidly sensitive about it. I feel bad for whoever has to marry him. I DO, MARMEE!”
— Jo, to Marmee, Meg, Beth, and Amy
Author’s note to self in margin: Oh boy, it’s becoming clear that Jo and Billiam have a real animosity toward each other, potentially over the difference in the quality of their hair. Explore in next chapter.
“I just wish I could marry Meg myself, and keep her safe in the family.” Jo said.
“Ew, disgusting, Jo” Billiam snickered from over at the piano, where he was repeatedly hitting the G-sharp key. “You can’t marry your sister, you gross weirdo.”
“I don’t mean it literally, you idiot. I’m referring to my desire to keep our family unit, minus you, together, and my sadness at how each of us sisters will eventually marry and become the center of our own family apart from one another,” Jo replied frostily.
“Well, all I know is I feel bad for whichever guy has to marry you and listen to you talk about your boring writing for the rest of his life.” Billiam moved over to the D-flat key and started striking it arrhythmically.
“Put on a hat Billiam, you’re going to catch a chill from your multitude of bald spots,” Jo said haughtily, getting up from her seat. “I hope you do and die from it,” she whispered to him on the way out.
“Your hair looks like a horse’s tail!” Billiam shrieked after her, tears welling up in his man baby eyes. “A SICK HORSE’S TAIL!”
He could hear Jo’s laughter echoing from the other room.
Author’s note to self: Wow, yes, the hair disparity is a big problem between them two. I feel like they might hate each other? Do I hate Billiam March? Explore via prose.
“You are the gull, Jo, strong and wild, fond of the storm and the wind, flying far out to sea, and happy all alone.” Marmee said.
Billiam snorted. ‘That’s just a nice way of saying you’re a loser that nobody likes, Jo.”
Jo replied smartly, “I despise you, Billiam March, and if I saw you fall in a river I would turn around and walk home smiling to the sound of you drowning.”
“Wagtail,” muttered Billiam.
“Children,” Marmee admonished.
“Jo started it!” Billiam shouted. “I’m sick of her attitude and her thinking she’s better than me. Choose between us Marmee. Choose right now!”
“Yes, Marmee,” Jo said with a gleam in her eye. “Choose.”
Marmee sat quietly for a moment, then nodded. She had made her decision.
“You’re out of the family, Billiam. I should have known when I gave you that stupid name that you weren’t meant to be in this beautiful story. This book is called Little Women, not Little Women and the Totally Unnecessary Billiam.”
“YES MARMEE” shouted Jo.
“But Marmee!” Billiam cried, “I lov —
At that moment he disappeared from the manuscript, never to be seen again, to the sound of Jo March laughing hysterically.
Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this!
— Marmee
Author’s note to self in margin: God, I hate Billiam March.
Caitlin Kunkel is a Founding Editor of The Belladonna. She would fight Billiam on Jo’s behalf any day of the week. Follow her on Twitter @Kunkeltron.
