Anne of Green Gables Appearances Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"I suppose she's trying to cultivate a spirit of humility in Anne by dressing her as she does; but it's more likely to cultivate envy and discontent." (25.30)

When you have an opinion about everything, you're bound to be right sometimes. Marilla has been trying to dress Anne "sensibly" to stop her from caring about material things like clothes, but the real effect has been to make Anne feel inferior to the other girls. Luckily for Anne, this is a turning point for her in terms of fashion. After Mrs. Lynde gets her a nice dress, Marilla starts to buy her pretty clothes, too.

Quote #8

"I never thought I was vain about my hair, of all things, but now I know that I was, in spite of its being red, because it was so long and thick and curly." (27.40)

Anne accidentally dyeing her hair green and having to get it cut is like a morality tale or fable with a moral. She's punished for caring too much about her looks.

Quote #9

That scene of two years before flashed back into her recollection as vividly as if it had taken place yesterday. Gilbert had called her "carrots" and had brought about her disgrace before the whole school. Her resentment, which to other and older people might be as laughable as its cause, was in no whit allayed and softened by time seemingly. (28.33)

Anne sure can hold a grudge. But the narrator/author seems to sympathize with her, here. She reminds older readers that even if it seems silly to us, Anne is only a kid, and the memory, for her, still stings.