Main characters in-depth analysis - Sykalo Eugen 2024
Marilla Cuthbert: A Stern Shell Blossoming into Unexpected Love and Acceptance
Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery
- Character Introduction:
Name: Marilla Cuthbert. "Marilla" evokes order and practicality, reflecting her initial rigidity.
Physical Description: Tall, thin, with a stern expression, mirroring her strict demeanor and traditional values.
Occupation/Social Status: Spinster farmer, upholds traditional values and social expectations. Her position emphasizes practicality and responsibility.
Initial Impressions: Serious, reserved, and bound by rules. Initially portrayed as cold and unforgiving, contrasting with Anne's vivaciousness.
First Actions: Insists on returning Anne as planned, highlighting her adherence to expectations and control.
- Character Development:
Motivations and Desires: Deep down, desires companionship and family, but struggles to express these emotions due to societal expectations and past disappointments.
Internal Conflict: Torn between her practicality and yearning for emotional connection, leading to internal struggles with expressing affection and loosening control.
External Conflict: Faces societal scrutiny for adopting an orphan girl, challenging her social standing and traditional values.
Driving Force: A sense of duty and responsibility, coupled with a hidden desire for love and belonging.
Relationships and Interactions:
- Matthew Cuthbert: Their shared experiences and mutual understanding foster a close bond, allowing Marilla to gradually soften.
- Anne Shirley: Initially clashes with Anne's impulsiveness and imagination, but gradually develops a deep love and protective bond.
- Other characters: Represents the strict traditions and social expectations of the community.
Impact on Others: Despite her initial strictness, ultimately inspires kindness and acceptance through her actions and love for Anne.
Social Dynamics: Represents the traditional values and expectations of the community, initially clashing with Anne's individuality.
Growth and Transformation:
- Learns to express her emotions more openly, showing affection and understanding towards Anne.
- Embraces change and flexibility, adapting to Anne's presence and accepting new experiences.
- Opens up to the possibility of love and companionship, defying societal expectations.
Final State: Remains grounded in her practicality but demonstrates deeper emotional capacity, showcasing growth and personal fulfillment.
III. Deeper Analysis:
Symbols:
- Green Gables: Initially represents duty and tradition, later symbolizes her evolving emotions and acceptance of change.
- Kitchen: Represents her domesticity and practicality, contrasting with Anne's imaginative world.
Foreshadowing: Her initial hesitation to keep Anne hints at her hidden desire for connection and potential for change.
Irony: She prides herself on order and control, yet finds joy and fulfillment through embracing the unpredictable Anne.
Authorial Intent: Montgomery likely uses Marilla to explore the complexities of emotional expression, societal expectations, and the transformative power of love and family.
Genre Conventions: Fits the coming-of-age genre by showcasing personal growth, defying social norms, and finding unexpected connections.
Overall Message: Encourages embracing emotions, overcoming rigid expectations, and finding love and acceptance in unexpected forms.
- Youth-Oriented Engagement:
- Relatable Situations: Facing expectations, navigating emotions, understanding the challenges of change and acceptance.
- Moral Dilemmas: Balancing tradition with growth, defying social norms for what's right, expressing emotions authentically.
- Engaging Language: Focus on the contrast between Marilla's initial sternness and her gradual softening towards Anne.
- Open-Ended Questions: How did Marilla change throughout the story? How do societal expectations sometimes clash with personal desires? What does it mean to truly accept someone different from yourself?