The purpose of this investigation is to analyze three Spanish translations of Little
Women offered by different publishing houses. I will focus mainly on how each
translated work describes the leading characters and how this might change the reader's
perception of them.
It is well known that when translating a document, there is always the risk of losing
some part of the original meaning and beauty either because of cultural differences or
linguistic ones.
Either way, these losses have to be kept to a minimum or, if possible, to be
compensated by using multiple resources, in an attempt to maintain the writer’s
intentions as well as to deliver the writer’s thoughts and feelings to the reader in the
most complete and uncorrupted way.
This research will focus on what happens when adequate translation is not
accomplished.
When the Spanish versions of Little Women are contrasted with the original written
by Louisa May Alcott, it is possible to notice that, although it is true the mistranslations
do not make the text impossible to be understood, they do diminish its quality; not to
mention that the psychological constructions of a character - represented through words
and behavior – are altered or omitted, therefore rendering them much more plain and
Unrealistic
