What is the effect of the story's point of view?

Little Women is written in a third-person omniscient point of view. This means that the narrator knows all the girls’ thoughts, feelings, and actions. The narrator is all-knowing and even knows the past, present, and future. Because of this point of view, the reader is able to see things that the family often does not, such as when Jo is sad that Amy is the one going to Europe. It also allows Louisa May Alcott to use foreshadowing throughout the book. Because of the third-person omniscient point of view, the narrator know the future of the girls and can hint at it for the readers. With this type of narration, the author can move freely in time, provide more information to the readers over a shorter time period, and show what different characters are thinking at the same time.