Long before I could read these books, or even fully grasp the plot, I would often spend entire weekends immersed in the contemplation of Anne Shirley and her life at Green Gables. anne of green gables With friends and scenes I can go back to weekend after weekend to escape the reality of whatever is currently happening around me. I love Gilbert Blythe. I longed for a “soulmate” like Diana Berry. I was absolutely certain that I would adapt perfectly to life on a farm like Green Gables.
What I experienced as a child in the 1990s didn’t last, though. A lot of the TV shows I watched at the time would now be considered, well, flinch. Many of the girls I idolized in my youth do not support my current modern feminist beliefs. Nonetheless, Anne and all of Avonlea will always hold a special place in my heart.
This year, as fall draws closer in the Midwest, I’m beginning to long for the bold, colorful landscapes Montgomery describes in “Montgomery.” anne of green gables book series, Kevin Sullivan captures this perfectly in his cinematic retelling of her story. That’s when I remembered that my very lovely partner had replaced the bulky VHS box sets with stylish DVD versions, so I decided it was time to open them. But in 2024, will Anne’s story have the same grip on my now-30-something, cynical heart as it did as a preteen circa 1990?
There’s only one way to find out.
Things change…but not our girl Annie’s enduring appeal.
After a few hours of awesome watching the entire trilogy (anne of green gables, Anne of Avonleaand Anne of Green Gables: The Continued Story), I can confirm: Anne Shirley ~remains~ a feminist icon.
No, Anne and her friends would not pass the Bechdel test. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, feminism was barely a focus of discussion among women. Marriage is still seen as the only way for women to advance upward or even make ends meet. The girls at Avonlea School – Anne, Diana, Josie, Prissy, etc. – are fascinated by the boys because that’s all they’ve been taught to worry about. Beyond their conversations, however, you could easily classify many of the women of Avonlea as feminists, with Anne at the top of the list.
Anne was enthusiastic and attentive from the beginning.
Almost from the beginning, Anne is portrayed as strong and capable, taking on more than just the typical housewife/nanny job. When Anne arrives at Green Gables with the Cuthberts wanting a boy, she makes no secret of the fact that she could be just as useful as any boy. She even lamented that she would rather do these tasks than be stuck in another home full of babies that she had to care for.
Anne’s feminist journey truly begins when she learns that she will stay at Green Gables and go to school. While you could easily write off Anne’s resentment towards Gilbert Blythe as nothing more than vanity, it still required a level of courage and self-awareness that wasn’t common in young girls of that era. gilbert is this The boy that every girl wants, but Annie refuses to lose her mind and let her guard down about him. As they grew older and their relationship became competitive, Anne remained committed to her studies because they were important to her.
Anne’s feminist journey didn’t stop at Avonlea School. While many other girls used their time at local schools and nearby colleges to find a future spouse, Anne focused on her career. While she eventually relents on Gil and allows for friendship (and maybe even attraction), she continues to prioritize her career and personal goals over romance. While her friends found love and got married, Anne stayed true to her own style, continuing her studies and work. She’s not interested in prioritizing her marriage over her work, nor does she let it cloud her judgment or make her miserable. As an individual, she remained happy and content.
Anne isn’t the only feminist figure, either.
Many women in Avonlea built and supported Anne and other girls in their pursuit of greatness.
As Annie grows and soars, even the toughness of nosy neighbor Rachel Lind eventually turns to encouragement. You can’t ignore Diana’s unwavering friendship. Although she often adheres to the values and traditions of her time, she remains emotionally and supportively on Anne’s side, even as she eschews those same traditions. Let’s not forget that Anne was first published solely because Diana entered Anne’s writing competition! Then there was Anne’s second teacher, Miss Stacey, who pushed Anne to focus and study hard, eventually helping her find a job at a girls’ school.
But perhaps Anne’s greatest feminist role model was none other than Marilla Cuthbert. Marilla was lovely, but not entirely without means. She had no reason to go against tradition and not get married. However, she remains single.
When Anne arrives, Marilla admits it’s hard to let go of the idea that only boys can help on the farm. However, she is also the leader of Green Gables and makes most of the decisions for the family homestead. She chose to send Annie to school, which was not yet necessary, especially for young girls. She often encouraged Annie to do better, work harder, and chase her dreams.
After rewatching it dozens of times, I can’t recall a single time when Marilla pushed Anne to get married rather than follow her career. For many other older women in Avonlea and beyond, this is not the case.
Anne’s feminism grew with her.
As Anne’s story continues, so do her bold acts of feminism. As an adult, she moved to New York “with Gilbert” but lived alone and continued to put her career first. She happily “mouths off” anyone who doesn’t take her seriously and forces the stubborn men around the publishing company to listen to her.
When Diana’s husband disappeared during the war and Anne didn’t see or hear from Gilbert for years, she didn’t fall into “the pit of despair.” Anne joined the Red Cross and infiltrated the war effort to find her true love. Along the way, she saves a baby from certain death, befriends two female entertainers, finds Diana’s husband, comes face to face with Nazis, and even ends up working for foreign media. (Yes, Annie and Jill eventually found their way back to each other!)
The story centers on a romance rooted in respect.
From the moment Gilbert Blythe laid eyes on Anne Shirley, no other girl meant anything to him. This is what many of us want from love. But they spent years eschewing romance, putting academic and career goals first. Jill even swapped teaching assignments with Annie, putting her needs before her own and letting her bring school closer to home.
Their eventual relationship is based on friendship, equality, and respect. While this passion may have begun in the form of resentment toward Jill, it continued throughout their lives and was undeniable to either of them. Annie and Jill are the epitome of a “slow burn” romance.
When you combine the story of their rise from enemies to friends to lovers with the adventures that unfolded in Anne’s young life, there’s no denying Anne of Green Gables—— Movies and books – both romantic and feminist. This is difficult to obtain in the country any era.
