Little Women is a time-honored character piece. Many of the great American novels are plot-driven, but Little Women is content to just spend time with the Massachusetts-based March family and the people in their orbit. As such, the fans and readers in the past centuries have felt like the characters are family to them, too.
From this, the characters definitely have strong connections to the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. There will always be overlap, but there will also be characters who are clearly attached to one particular animal. No matter which adaptation of Little Women is one's favorite (or if they've only read the book), these signs seem evergreen.
Rat: Laurie
Rats in the Chinese Zodiac are known for their kindness, but they're also known for being quick on their feet. Calling Theodore Laurence for that role! Laurie is always moving from idea to idea and his talents are widespread. A dynamic figure, Laurie is certainly the story's finest Rat embodiment.
Ox: Jo
This one is an easy one. Jo March, the somewhat-main character of the story is absolutely an ox. No one meets a will quite like Jo's, as she is headstrong to achieve and attain whatever she wants at any time.
Oxen are known for being determined animals and those born in the Year of the Ox probably feel a strong kinship to Jo. Her fiery ion and determination have long been an inspiration for fans everywhere.
Tiger: Mr. Dashwood
Mr. Dashwood is a character who receives much more attention in Greta Gerwig's adaptation from last year. He could have been an antagonistic, exceedingly sexist character appropriate for the time piece.
Instead, he resembles the best qualities of Tigers. He is a shrewd publisher who can be short-sighted, but he also has intelligence and experience. He is skeptical about publishing Jo's book, but he eventually embraces the Tiger and goes ahead with the story with the utmost confidence.
Rabbit: Meg
Meg is also an easy fit. She is one hundred percent representing the Year of the Rabbit. Meg has a love for the finer things in life, just like the Rabbits, who are nearly always elegant.
As the oldest March sibling, Meg also shoulders responsibility in a way that the other sisters don't have to. It's what contributes to her status as an undeniable Rabbit.
Dragon: John Brooke
Speaking of Meg, her eventual husband, John Brooke, definitely fits the mold of the Dragon. Dragons are known for their smarts and their eager contribution to daily life.
That is definitely John Brooke. He is oriented towards domesticity, but still has a great deal of confidence towards the people he knows. Just don't mistake the confidence for arrogance. John Brooke doesn't have a single arrogant bone in his gorgeous body.
Snake: Amy
For years, Amy was considered the "worst" of the March sisters, but some rehabilitation from Gerwig's empathetic adaptation has cast Amy in a new light. (Credit is due to Florence Pugh's whip-smart portrayal, too.)
However, Amy is still emblematic of the Year of the Snake. She is an enigma and is not necessarily the most trustworthy person. But she also has unsung wisdom that can be easily overlooked but is still worth listening to.
Horse: Friedrich Bhaer
Friedrich Bhaer has similar traits of an enigmatic nature that Amy has. His manifest in the form of being an aloof man with whom Jo eventually falls in love.
Even she can't determine what it is that makes her feel that way, though. Ultimately, it's because Friedrich Bhaer is an animated, but reserved, individual who speaks his mind. If that doesn't scream Horse, then nothing does.
Goat: Beth
Beth is the March sister who is often neglected in the Little Women fandom because she exists to be sweet and doomed. However, sweetness is not a bland character trait. It is representative of kindness and generosity and a calm demeanor.
That is one hundred percent Beth, though. She gives and gives and gives until she can't give anymore. There's a reason they say Beth is "the best of [them]." It's because she represents the gentility of a Goat.
Monkey: Mr. Laurence
Mr. Laurence has a strong connection to Beth, even if it's because he sees a different loved one within her. It's his curiosity that leads him to meet new people even in his advanced age.
Curiosity is also tied to Monkeys in the Chinese Zodiac. However, monkeys are also known for being quite intelligent and it is clear that Mr. Laurence has a strong intuition for the people he encounters.
Rooster: Marmee
Perhaps no character in Little Women is as courageous as Marmee. She is worn down, angry, and frequently lost. But she still puts on a happy face and does her best to give generously to others and look after her family.
That is why Marmee is a Rooster figure. She works as hard as she can on a daily basis and is always doing her best to stick her neck out for her loved ones.
