Annie John Women and Femininity Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

As we walked together, we told each other things we had judged most private and secret: things we had overheard our parents say, dreams we had had the night before, the things we were really afraid of; but especially we told of our love for each other. (3.18)

Gwen becomes Annie's most trusted confidante and the closest person she has to a sister. It is interesting how many times Annie notes that she and Gwen repeat what their parents say or do. This is part of the process of finding her own identity.

Quote #8

One day, I was throwing stones at a guava tree, trying to knock down a ripe guava, when the Red Girl came along and said, "Which one do you want?" After I pointed it out, she climbed up the tree, picked the one I wanted off its branch, climbed down, and presented it to me. How my eyes did widen and my mouth form an "o" at this. I had never seen a girl do this before. All the boys climbed trees for the fruit they wanted, and all the girls threw stones to knock the fruit off the trees. But look at the way she climbed that tree: better than any boy. (4.4)

The Red Girl represents Annie's next great "love" after Gwen. As with Gwen, this love is pretty overwhelming. Does it reflect romantic love, or just friendship?

Quote #9

Just before we parted, she gave me three marbles; they were an ordinary kind, the kind you could buy three for a penny—glass orbs with a tear shaped drop suspended in the center. Another secret to keep from my mother! (4.9)

Even though Annie is trying to separate herself from her mother, everything she does always relates back to her mother in one way or another... even within her friendships.