Anger In Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne Of Green Gables

Seeing Red

Anger in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables

Often seen as a negative emotion and something to be repressed, anger is associated with improper behaviour and even sinfulness. However, in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables anger plays a much more important role. Following the novel’s theme of change, anger acts as a catalyst for many of the changes that affect Anne’s character and personal development. Though L.M. Montgomery maintains that as a negative and improper emotion anger can lead to irrational behaviour and must be controlled, she also shows how it leads to a positive and lasting change in Anne.

In Avonlea, anger is seen as a negative and improper emotion that newcomer Anne must learn to control. In Chapter

In Chapter 14 “Anne’s Confession”, both Marilla and Anne show how anger can cause irrational behaviour. Marilla, realizing her beloved brooch has gone missing, asks Anne if she has taken it. Anne admits to having taken it but assures Marilla that she returned it. But in her anger Marilla refuses to believe her: “You didn’t put it back … You’ve taken it out or something, Anne” (Ch. 14, para. 6). Until this point, Marilla has never doubted Anne’s truthfulness. However with her anger over the missing brooch, Marilla is not thinking rationally. And when Anne reiterates exactly what she had done with the brooch, instead of believing her, Marilla is only assured of her falsehood: “… but Marilla took it as a display of defiance” (Ch. 14, para. 14). Marilla, who engages in a great deal of internal reflection, continues to ignore her own logical thinking: “And how wicked of the child to deny having taken it, when anybody could see she must have! With such and innocent face too!” (Ch. 14, para. 18). Anne to this point has shown many different character traits. She has a vivid imagination and a fiery temper, both of which have gotten her into trouble. However, even Marilla finds herself shocked at the idea of Anne being dishonest: “It’s a dreadful thing to think she tells falsehoods. It’s a far worse thing than her fit of temper” (Ch. 14, para. 19). This shows how anger has clouded Marilla’s judgement and has caused her to think and behave irrationally. Further to this is Anne’s response to Marilla’s anger. Anne, excited to be attending the Sunday School picnic, is sent to her room until she confesses. As she has already told Marilla the truth, that she only tried on the brooch and returned it to the dresser, Anne is determined to tell Marilla what she thinks Marilla wants to hear. So she creates a story where she took the brooch, wore it, and lost it. By tying