A Study in Classics Part 1: Anne of Green Gables

I’m very excited to announce a new series for this month! We will be going through “The Study in Classics”. (And if you like classics at all you will get that reference. *wink*) I will be studying a different classic each Monday in the hopes that it will help you become a better writer. Today we are starting with the beloved Anne of Green Gables…

Anne of Green Gables is a favorite classic for many, myself included. Growing up, I remember pouring over this book and being fully ensconced in Anne’s world. But what makes it so wonderful?

For me, it’s the characters. And that’s what I want to focus on today.

Every character should have a fear, desire, and misbelief. This combination is what Abbie Emmons loves to call internal conflict. This is what we keep reading for, sometimes way past our bedtime. We become hooked in a story simply to find out if the character gets what he or she wants.

In this book, Anne’s desire is to have a home of her own. Her fear is that no one could ever love her. And her misbelief is that she has to become someone different for anyone to like her.

Throughout the book (or movie, whichever you prefer), we see her constantly trying to be a better person and trying to become more likeable. And failing dismally at it, as she would say.

Over and over, she gets into scrapes and finds herself in trouble yet again.

But through it all, she realizes that she can be loved for who she is, not who she’s trying to become. She sees that you don’t have to change to be loved, but you can be loved for exactly who you are. She was a chatty, stubborn, strong-willed character, but the Cuthbert’s loved her for all of those qualities.

I think she can be an inspiration to us all not to change ourselves to get more friends, but to be who we are despite the people who might make fun. There will always be a Diana out there for you willing to accept you for who you are, and even join in on a three legged race.

As writers, I think we can learn from Anne. Whenever times got hard, she would stick her chin up and persevere. However, when it came to her own writerly problems, she didn’t take rejections too well… We can also learn from her mistakes. XD

But I think she is a remarkable character and one that you could learn a lot if studied more fully. This post is only scratching the surface of who she is. I love her for her queer ways, her avid imagination, and her ability to turn even the dreariest of days into a cheery sunrise.

And, of course, I can’t leave without at least mentioning Gilbert. Oh, Gilbert. Why Anne didn’t see what a heart throb he is from the beginning will always be a puzzle to me.

Your turn!

Have you ever read this long loved classic? Have you studied Anne’s character? What do you think of Gilbert?

Blessings, Allyson

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