Anne's Imagination and A Recommendation

Anne of Green Gables Week 1

We have already met Mrs. Lynde in the very opening of Anne of Green Gables, and now we meet Matthew and Marilla.

“…Matthew so rarely went from home that it must be something pressing and unusual which was taking him; he was the shyest man alive and hated to have to go among strangers or to any place where he might have to talk.”

“Here sat Marilla Cuthbert, when she sat at all, always slightly distrustful of sunshine, which seemed to her too dancing and irresponsible a thing for a world which was meant to be taken seriously.”

These two siblings, set it their ways, have no idea how their lives are about to change. When Matthew meets Anne, it is said that

“an extraordinary observer might have seen that the chin was very pointed and pronounced; that the big eyes were full of spirit and vivacity; that the mouth was sweet-lipped and expressive; that the forehead was broad and full; in short, our discerning extraordinary observer might have concluded that no commonplace soul inhabited the body of this stray woman-child…”

A Peek Inside Anne’s Imagination

On her first drive to Green Gables, Anne renames everything that catches her eye. The Avenue becomes the White Way of Delight.

“Oh, Mr. Cuthbert,” she whispered, “that place we came through—that white place—what was it?”

“Well now, you must mean the Avenue,” said Matthew after a few moments’ profound reflection. “It is a kind of pretty place.”

“Pretty? Oh, pretty doesn’t seem the right word to us. Nor beautiful either. they don’t go far enough. Oh, it was wonderful—wonderful. It’s the first thing I ever saw that couldn’t be improved upon by imagination.”

Barry’s Pond becomes the Lake of Shining Waters.

When it’s decided that Matthew and Marilla are going to keep Anne, Marilla is determined to teach her something about God. When she asks Anne to go into the sitting room and find the illustrated card with the Lord’s Prayer, Anne gets lost in her imagination looking at a chromo entitled “Christ Blessing Little Children.” There are many images of Christ with children, but I think I have found one similar to what Anne might have been looking at and imagining herself into. It is by Jan Havicksz.

Not only do Matthew and Marilla have their hands full with her imagination, they also find out that she has temper.

What do you think about Anne’s apology to Mrs. Lynde?

Steeped in Stories

As with many classic books, L. M. Montgomery's stories often portray different cultures or races in an unfavorable or suspicious light. While explaining to Mrs. Lynde that they are planning to adopt a boy, Marilla says this:

“…you know how desperate hard it’s got to be to get hired help. There’s never anybody to be had but those stupid, half-grown little French boys; And as soon as you do get one broke into your ways and taught something he’s up and off to the lobster canneries or the States. At first Matthew suggested getting a ‘Home’ boy. But I said ‘no’ flat to that. 'They may be all right—I’m not saying they’re not—but no London street arabs for me,’ I said. Give me a native born at least.”

Because of that, I wanted to recommend that you read Steeped in Stories by Mitali Perkins. I think she addresses this issue in a well-thought-out way. 

Mitali says that we should "see the flaws and seek the virtues" in these stories. Rather than ban the books or keep them out of children's hands, she suggests that:

"If we want to lead children to think critically about stories, including seeing biases about race, culture, and power, we have to develop that kind of discernment ourselves. It takes work, but opportunities to grow in this skill abound. We can practice it with any book we consume, whether contemporary or ancient."

In her book, she walks us through seven of her favorite children's classics—including Anne of Green Gables—helps us to see the virtues and the vices, and offers reflection and discussion questions. 

I had the opportunity to Zoom face-to-face with Mitali and a small group of people a few times when Steeped in Stories came out. In my opinion, Mitali is a very sweet, gospel-centered woman who knows what she is talking about. But what are your thoughts?

Should classics be read by children today? 

Have you let the children in your life read books that may contain racist remarks?

 

~Stephanie

*Except for the painting, all photos are my own.