L. M. Montgomery's Idea Of Social Expectations
In just a few pages, L.M. Montgomery makes it clear than Anne and Marilla are vastly different characters. Anne is a bit of a free spirit. She’s much more concerned with what’s going on in her head than what’s going on in the world around her. She’s a natural romantic, concerned more with the way words flow than what they mean. She’s also very distracted, mind three steps ahead of what she’s supposed to be focusing on. Marilla is just the opposite. She’s very practical and goal oriented. She has certain expectations and demands that they be met. She’s very unconcerned with beauty, or poetry, or imagery, much preferring things be done correctly and timely. She and Anne butt heads multiple times in the few minutes this chapter covers, and it’s
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Very clearly, Marilla expects the social expectations to be followed, and Anne is introduced to challenge that every step of the way. There are a few key sentences that support this. The first is seen multiple times in the chapter, when Marilla chooses to refer to little girls as a whole when she’s talking directly to or correcting Anne. The first instance of this is found in Marilla’s beginning line of the chapter, in which she states, “I haven’t any use at all for little girls who aren’t neat (Montgomery, 62).” When their conversation drifts to religion, Marilla mentions that, “God always wants little girls to say their prayers (Montgomery, 63).” Lastly, Marilla wishes Anne good night by saying, “Go to sleep like a good child (Montgomery, 66).” Marilla makes it clear through her words that she’s holding Anne to a certain standard, a standard that all children are held to no matter who their guardian. It’s not just Marilla’s words that reflect society’s expectations, but also her reactions to Anne’s behavior. For example, it’s explained that the woman becomes more and more embarrassed as it becomes clear Anne has little to no religious training, perhaps because she’s afraid that Anne’s ignorance will reflect badly on her, or possibly just second hand embarrassment that Anne should be so ignorant. Later, once she agrees to adopt Anne, she refused to let the girl get a better education until she has better clothes made for her, a large importance placed on public
Very clearly, Marilla expects the social expectations to be followed, and Anne is introduced to challenge that every step of the way. There are a few key sentences that support this. The first is seen multiple times in the chapter, when Marilla chooses to refer to little girls as a whole when she’s talking directly to or correcting Anne. The first instance of this is found in Marilla’s beginning line of the chapter, in which she states, “I haven’t any use at all for little girls who aren’t neat (Montgomery, 62).” When their conversation drifts to religion, Marilla mentions that, “God always wants little girls to say their prayers (Montgomery, 63).” Lastly, Marilla wishes Anne good night by saying, “Go to sleep like a good child (Montgomery, 66).” Marilla makes it clear through her words that she’s holding Anne to a certain standard, a standard that all children are held to no matter who their guardian. It’s not just Marilla’s words that reflect society’s expectations, but also her reactions to Anne’s behavior. For example, it’s explained that the woman becomes more and more embarrassed as it becomes clear Anne has little to no religious training, perhaps because she’s afraid that Anne’s ignorance will reflect badly on her, or possibly just second hand embarrassment that Anne should be so ignorant. Later, once she agrees to adopt Anne, she refused to let the girl get a better education until she has better clothes made for her, a large importance placed on public