CHAPTER 4
SUMMATION
A century after its publication, Anne of Green Gables by Luce Maud Montgomery is still
popular. It has millions of copies in circulation and is constantly adapted into films and series for
the benefit of budding generations. This paper analyzed two reasons for the novel’s lasting
appeal. One is that Anne’s transformation from a traumatized orphan to a beloved daughter of
Avonlea is satisfying to read. Two is that the novel is emotionally resonant because Montgomery
shares the truths of her own passions and struggles with the readers.
Donald Maass says great stories show character transformation. For a novel to be
satisfying, the characters have to rise from a deep dungeon and move into high towers, or they
have to fall from heaven to hell. That is, the transformation of a character’s state must be
undeniable. In Anne’s case, the transformation is apparent.
Anne begins her journey in a pitiful state. She’s an orphan who’s never had a real home.
She was a child laborer for the first eleven years of her life, and she wasn’t lavished with a
morsel of kindness. When she’s brought to Avonlea by mistake, she has a desperate desire to
belong there. There is nothing forced about her desperation. It feels the most obvious and natural
thing that Anne should desire to belong to someone, especially because, in bits and pieces, we
could piece together the starved, unloved life Anne had so far. Anne’s parents died when she was
a three-month-old baby. She was left in the care of Mrs. Thomas. Just as Anne started to grow
hands and legs, Anne had to look after Mrs. Thomas’s four younger children. When Mr. Thomas
dies, Anne is passed on to Mrs. Hammond’s household where there are eight children, including
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three sets of twins. During her life of drudgery, her only solace is her imagination. She
befriended her reflection and her voice’s echo whom she calls Katie Maurice and Violetta.
Whenever she can, Anne leaves reality behind and lives in imagination. And even though
Montgomery never mentions Anne’s mental trauma, a discerning reader can see it clearly.
The paper analyzed how Montgomery shows Anne’s recovery from trauma. In an age where the
trauma theory was not even introduced, Anne goes through all the three stages of recovery that
Judith Herman states are necessary for the recovery of a trauma victim. Anne’s provided mental
and physical safety, she’s provided with a source to remember and mourn her past, and she’s
provided with the opportunity to reconnect with everyday society. And this recovery process
grows organically during the course of the plot. It doesn’t feel forced or clinical.
As the story progresses, Anne slowly recovers from her childhood trauma: Anne learns to
appreciate reality; she learns to accept herself as Anne instead of trying to imagine her as
someone else; she learns friendship; she gets educated; she finds a place in the Green Gables; she
becomes a part of Cuthbert’s family.
Montgomery makes sure that each milestone Anne achieves is painted for the reader
resoundingly. The friendless Anne gains a lot of friends and Montgomery shows how they come
for Anne when she’s in need. Anne who never had a real education gains first marks in an island-
wide exam. Anne who is an orphan is called “my girl” by her guardian and she’s told that she is
loved. The readers of Anne of Green Gables find it immensely satisfying to witness this
transformation and they cheer along for Anne because she deserves it.
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Further, Donald Maass says that a novel’s content must have a deeply personal connection with
the author. Personal writing resonates with the readers splendidly. Anne of Green Gables draws
its content from L.M. Montgomery’s own life experiences and emotions. The second chapter of
the paper argues that the novel's enduring popularity is not solely due to its characters or plot but
because it reflects Montgomery’s struggles and passions. It is authentic and resonates with the
readers. Anne of Green Gables remains beloved in the 21st century because it is infused with
Montgomery’s own emotions, fears, and experiences. It is more than a well-crafted story—it is a
reflection of an author’s soul.
Montgomery’s most popular work is Anne of Green Gables. It contains the strongest
autobiographical elements among her novels. Avonlea, the novel’s setting, is inspired by the
author’s childhood home in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. The landscape descriptions,
Anne’s imaginative renaming of places, and her love for nature mirror Montgomery’s in her
autobiography, The Alpine Path. The Avonlea school, its associated traditions, and scrimmages
are lifted from Montgomery’s memory lane.
Beyond the setting, several key plot points in Anne of Green Gables are derived from
Montgomery’s life. Both Anne and Montgomery were raised by guardians. Both of them were
passionate about words and storytelling. Anne and Montgomery share their fears like that of
crossing drawbridges. They both created a Haunted Wood from a commonplace grove.
Therefore, Montgomery is able to express her scenes in such a way that they are emotionally
resonant, and emotionally resonant content appeals to the reader’s psyche.
