Irmo Branch Library - Multimedia Book Club discussion
August - Anne of Green Gables
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Welcome to Green Gables, Anne!- Part I
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1) A lot of times in children's literature, being a child orphan is portrayed as a sort of big adventure. We studied this in school (English major alert!)--how it gives kids a chance to imagine an independent life from a safe place. Usually, the orphan character finds a home, at least by the end of the story. "Anne of Green Gables" fits into this trope, but with a slightly more realistic bend. Montgomery does portray portions of Anne's difficult past, and I really felt the tension of Anne's reality as the women debated sending Anne back to the orphanage or conscripting her to be, not a family member, but on-demand childcare for another family. The adaptations like the classic Canadian version downplay this element of her life, while Netflix's "Anne with an E" leans into it, showing graphic moments of abuse and bullying she would have experienced. Such depictions are not in Montgomery's book. Hers is a gentler, fuzzy-edged description. I think adults reading it get the gravity of Anne's terrible situation as an orphan of the era, but children readers are somewhat shielded from understanding, much like Anne herself. The character relies on her imagination for her resilience as she grows up neglected by her caretakers. She supplies her own friendships through imaginary friends and she finds a way to see beauty everywhere in her world. I'd like to think that this is something innate in children, the ability to play and imagine even in terrible circumstances, but I think Anne may be exceptional in this way. She does succumb occasionally to a bleak outlook, when things have not gone right, but any small glimmer of hope for a better outcome gives her a sunny disposition again immediately. In this way, I appreciate what Netflix's "Anne with an E" tries to do by leaning into Anne's trauma more fully than the book does. This Anne is sometimes dark in a way Montgomery wouldn't have portrayed her character, but which would be true of a child who went through everything Anne did before her adoption.
2) Marilla will always be actress Colleen Dewhurst to me. As a child viewing the Canadian series, I thought Marilla was so mean and grumpy all the time! Indeed, the book does portray Marilla as a bit curmudgeonly in how she handles Anne, but it also makes it clear how much good humor Marilla has along the way. She does not know how to raise a child and is learning as she goes, and it is delightful to see the character struggle to suppress a smile after Anne says something dramatic. As a mom myself now, I get what she is trying to do when she takes a stern hand with Anne, only to end up laughing about it later when she tells Matthew! I love the layers the book gives by bringing us into Marilla's point of view. I'd be curious to watch my favorite adaptation again as an adult to see if Marilla seems so grumpy, or if some of that humor comes through in the performance now that I have adult eyes to see it!
3) This is a really good question! Anne certainly does "flame up" in response to Mrs. Rachel Lynde and Mrs. Barry, but is able to work out her anger and forgive them after they reconcile. I wonder if it has to do with what she stands to lose if they don't reconcile and that other people prompt her to work it out. For instance, she is willing to apologize to Mrs. Rachel because Marilla insists on it, and Anne wants to please Marilla and show her gratitude for the adoption by making peace with Marilla's friend. While it's not in the text, I wonder if Anne wouldn't also be concerned that the situation could jeopardize the permanence of her adoption, so it would be to her benefit to make peace with Mrs. Rachel. In the case of Mrs. Barry, Anne has more reason not to forgive someone who would so harshly judge her actions based on her past. Yet it is her best friend's mother, so she needs to make up with her if she's ever to play with Diana again, something she really wants. Again, Marilla gets involved by trying to advocate for Anne, as does Diana, but Mrs. Barry won't change her mind about Anne until she has the chance to prove herself! I think in this case, Anne is just so grateful to be friends with Diana again that she is willing to forgive and forget as long as the ordeal is over.
With Gilbert Blythe, Anne is hurt more or less just as deeply as in these other two cases, but she does not have an incentive to get over the hurt and forgive him. She doesn't gain anything socially (as she seems still disposed not to like boys as company anyway) and Gilbert is so fallen in favor that even his more desirable tokens of friendship (like the strawberry apple, whatever that is, it sound good) are not able to placate Anne. Will Gilbert, like Anne with Mrs. Barry, have to prove himself in a major way to get in her good graces again? Will time wear away the old hurt until they are friendly acquaintances and able to start again? I am excited to see how it unfolds in the book. In the adaptations, of course, it's clear that Anne and Gilbert have teenage chemistry (Jonathan Crombie! How could anyone be mad at him!) so the viewer is pretty sure things will all work out... I'm excited to see how Montgomery develops the love story on the page!
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It is quite beautiful how children seem to have a natural knack for diving into another world and creating the beauty they wish they could see in their own circumstances. Anne definitely makes the most of her imagination to overcome her traumatic past. I find it interesting how the darker film version resonates better, as it appears more realistic historically for orphan children than L.M. Montgomery's focus on the happy imagination with nods to Anne's painful past. One version for young readers may convey a particular message and focus on one aspect of Anne's life more than a more complex view and version created to target adult viewers who may be able to handle difficult subjects a bit better. I imagine that more adults will appreciate the realistic adaptation a bit more than the overly optimistic novel. I'm a bit of a child at heart, so I like lighthearted novels and films as an escape from the everyday realities of life's certain drama. However, I do appreciate when a rose-colored glass is not always placed over tough subjects such as being an orphan during the Victorian Era.
As you stated, the book seems to provide a deeper perspective when it comes to Marilla and how she is navigating her way through parenthood. Going from a woman who has no idea how to raise children to being the full-time mother-figure for a preteen child, is a tough transition to make. Although I am not a mother yet, I do appreciate, as Laura also stated, that Marilla tries to raise Anne with a stern and firm hand. However, just like any parent, Marilla will tend to indulge Anne and have grace for the child's mistakes with good humor. I have come to really like Marilla as Anne's caregiver and overall as a character. She is well-rounded, and also goes through the typical stages of motherhood as she sees Anne growing and developing right before her eyes in what seems like no time at all. Her like for Anne develops into care and love just as if Anne truly was her own daughter.
Finally, I love your perspective on why Anne may have not been so quick to forgive Gilbert Blythe as she was to forgive Mrs. Lynde and Mrs. Barry. She is highly motivated by what would please Marilla and keep her at Green Gables. If Marilla insists, or her friendship with Diana (whom she declares to be her bosom friend) is in jeopardy, Anne will quickly reconcile the situation as it is to her benefit. As stated, Gilbert provides Anne with no social, emotional, or any other benefit during their childhood years. She has no reason to give him any sort of respect or grace. Additionally, the fact that he is her peer and not an authority figure probably makes her less likely to feel like she has to let go of her grudge against him. Being upset with him will not cause her to be punished or disadvantaged in any way. This grudge also motivates her competitive spirit against young Gilbert, which makes her stronger academically. In this way, holding a grudge may have seemed more beneficial to her than forgiveness. It will be exciting to see how their relationship changes and grows in the second portion of Montgomery's novel!
For example,
1) When Anne and Matthew first ride home to Green Gables together, she exclaims, “Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive!" Given Anne's tragic childhood, how does she maintain her positive attitude and how is this portrayed in Montgomery's book compared to the film adaptation?
2) How does Marilla and Anne's relationship develop and change from when Anne first arrives to Green Gables to when she start's attending the Queen's school? Do you feel that the relationship is understood and developed better in the film or the movie? Why?
3) Anne makes a number of mistakes and blunders, which can cause others to judge her harshly. Even still, she is very quick to find compassion and forgive those who unfairly judge her character, such as Mrs. Rachel Lynde or Mrs. Barry. Why then, do you think she holds such a long grudge against young classmate, Gilbert Blythe? How is their relationship explored in the film compared to Montgomery's novel?