Anne of Green Gables Man and the Natural World Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

Marilla was not given to subjective analysis of her thoughts and feelings. She probably imagined that she was thinking about the Aids and their missionary box and the new carpet for the vestry room, but under these reflections was a harmonious consciousness of red fields smoking into pale purply mists in the declining sun, of long, sharp-pointed fir shadows falling over the meadow beyond the book, of still, crimson-budded maples around a mirror-like wood-pool, of a wakening in the world and a stir of hidden pulses under the gray sod. The spring was abroad in the land and Marilla's sober, middle-aged step was lighter because of it. (27.1)

Marilla may not be as attuned to nature as Anne, but this shows that she is, at least, affected by it. She does live on a farm, after all.

Quote #8

Anne looked at the wicked green depths below her, wavering with long, oily shadows, and shivered. Her imagination began to suggest all manner of gruesome possibilities to her. (28.23)

Nature isn't always pleasant. Especially when the river current is strong and any moment, you could slip into it. In this case, it doesn't help that Anne has an overactive imagination.

Quote #9

"And I came to the conclusion, Marilla, that I wasn't born for city life and that I was glad of it. It's nice to be eating ice cream at brilliant restaurants at eleven o'clock at night once in awhile; but as a regular thing I'd rather be in the east gable at eleven, sound asleep, but kind of knowing even in my sleep that the stars were shining outside and that the wind was blowing in the firs across the brook." (29.28)

Anne could have simply said, "I've decided I'm more of a country girl." But that's not her way, is it? Instead, she paints a beautiful image of the comfort of sleep in a home is surrounded by greenery and open sky.