Who Runs the World?
Contrary to popular belief, plenty of classic novels feature strong female characters—not only characters, but protagonists that inspired readers well past their generation. From little girls who loved the library to strong women who wouldn’t compromise for a man, here are some main characters we still love to this day.
1. Jo March
Jo wasn’t like the other girls—not the ones in her life, and not even the ones in her own family. She had ambitions to be a writer and care for her family, and though she was a little naive in that classic teenage girl way, she was also a strong force to be reckoned with.
2. Tess Durbeyfield
Watching Tess navigate the harsh world of societal pressures wasn’t easy. However, she’s one of the toughest female characters in classic lit, least of all for her fortitude. She was intelligent, passionate, and braved her own loss of innocence.
3. Matilda
Matilda may not have been very old, but she inspired a generation of young girls just like her! She loved literature, and despite being the black sheep of her family, held her head high and stuck with who she was. And we won’t lie—we all wanted to spend a day at the library with her!
4. Jane Eyre
Is there anything better than watching a woman fight the man? Jane was way ahead of her time, not caring what people thought of her. She knew who she was and what she stood for, and she wasn’t going to let a man stand in her way.
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5. Anna Karenina
One of the best things about this intelligent, charismatic protagonist is that she’s more realistic than others of her time. She wasn’t perfect, even if we thought she was in the beginning, and the realistic traits only made us respect her more.
