Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Anne of Green Gables, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Home and Family
Beauty and Imagination
Friendship
Mishaps, Milestones, and Growing Up
Boys and Romance
God, Prayer, and Church
Summary
Analysis
One August evening Anne dances home from an errand, full of news—she’s invited to tea at the minister’s house tomorrow. She shows Marilla the invitation from Mrs. Allan; it’s the first time she has ever been addressed as “Miss.” Marilla tells Anne she needs to take things more calmly. Marilla is troubled that Anne feels both good and bad so intensely, fearing this sensitivity will cause her difficulties in later life. She doesn’t understand that Anne’s capacity for joy makes up for her capacity for sadness. And deep down, she really prefers Anne as she is.
Anne is delighted by the “grown-up” invitation to tea. Marilla worries that Anne’s fluctuating emotions will be difficult for her to control as she grows up, but as much as she wishes Anne would show more of a decorous, ladylike balance, she is growing to love and embrace Anne as she is.
Themes
The next day, Anne is so happy that she says she could be a “model child” if only she were invited to tea daily. But she’s also nervous that she’ll misbehave or commit a breach of etiquette. Marilla says she shouldn’t think so much about herself, but should just think about Mrs. Allan and what would be nicest for her. Anne gets through tea just fine, and she tells Marilla all about it that night.
Montgomery often uses the technique of telling certain episodes in Anne’s words instead of directly narrating them—thereby giving more of Anne’s colorful perspective. Marilla’s advice is often idealized and not necessarily what best serves a situation—but in this case, it’s actually good advice that helps Anne navigate a new situation more calmly.
Themes
Anne rapturously describes Mrs. Allan’s beautiful dress. She says she’d like to be a minister’s wife someday, but she supposes it won’t work because she isn’t “naturally good,” unlike Mrs. Allan, who doesn’t appear to have to work at being good. There was another little girl at tea, from the White Sands Sunday school. After the other girl went home early, Anne and Mrs. Allan had a long talk. Anne told Mrs. Allan everything about her life and history, and Anne was encouraged to hear that Mrs. Allan, too, had once struggled with geometry. Just before leaving, Mrs. Lynde stopped by the Allans’ with the news that a new teacher has been hired for the school: Miss Muriel Stacy. Mrs. Lynde thinks a lady teacher is “a dangerous innovation.”
Anne associates maturity with “being good” and sees Mrs. Allan as the epitome of this, although as she grows older, Anne comes to see maturity as having more to do with overcoming obstacles and learning from one’s mistakes. Nevertheless, Anne finds comfort in looking up to someone like Mrs. Allan who represents the kind of goodness and gracious attitude she strives for herself. And the new teacher will likewise prove to be an encouraging influence in Anne’s life—Mrs. Lynde’s disapproval notwithstanding.
Themes
