Having red hair is the greatest trial in Anne Shirley’s life. Though worse things happen to Anne (like being orphaned and doing drudgery for a series of reluctant guardians), for Anne red hair seems to symbolize all difficult circumstances beyond her control. This explains why Anne calls her hair color her “lifelong sorrow” and denies that anybody with red hair can be truly happy; she even resents God for giving her such hair and finds this reason enough not to pray. Because Anne loves beautiful things so much, she feels especially burdened to have to live with a hair color she considers ugly, and she’s wounded when Gilbert Blythe mocks her “carrot”-colored braids in front of Avonlea school—it reminds her of her deepest discontentment. As Anne grows up, she is gradually reconciled to her red hair, suggesting that she’s also more secure in her life and grateful for what she has in general (though she’s also relieved when told that her hair is darkening to auburn).
Red Hair Quotes in Anne of Green Gables
“Don’t you know it’s a terrible wicked thing not to say your prayers every night? I’m afraid you are a very bad little girl.”
“You’d find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair,” said Anne reproachfully. “People who haven’t red hair don’t know what trouble is. Mrs. Thomas told me that God made my hair red on purpose, and I’ve never cared about Him since.”
“Please cut it off at once, Marilla, and have it over. Oh, I feel that my heart is broken. This is such an unromantic affliction. The girls in books lose their hair in fevers or sell it to get money for some good deed, and I’m sure I wouldn’t mind losing my hair in some such fashion half so much. But there is nothing comforting in having your hair cut off because you’ve dyed it a dreadful color, is there? I’m going to weep all the time you’re cutting it off if it won’t interfere. It seems such a tragic thing.”
For a moment Anne hesitated. She had an odd, newly awakened consciousness under all her outraged dignity that the half-shy, half-eager expression in Gilbert's hazel eyes was something that was very good to see. Her heart gave a quick, unfamiliar little beat. But the bitterness of her old grievance promptly stiffened up her wavering determination. That scene of two years before flashed back into her recollection as vividly as if it had taken place yesterday.
Red Hair Symbol Timeline in Anne of Green Gables
