Anne of Avonlea · Character

Marilla Cuthbert

Anne's plainspoken, duty-bound guardian at Green Gables, whose stern exterior hides a heart that keeps softening against her will.

major

Also known as Miss Marilla Cuthbert, Miss Cuthbert

First appearance: Anne of Avonlea

As a major figure in Anne of Avonlea, Marilla Cuthbert is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Anne's guardian, who takes in Davy and Dora and manages the household.

In the storyAnne of AvonleaOpen this moment free

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Having raised Anne from a scrawny orphan into a young woman, Marilla now finds herself adopting the Keith twins and juggling a household that refuses to stay orderly. Her grim face on the drive home from the funeral barely conceals the tenderness that melts whenever Davy flings his arms around her neck. Her dry practicality is the steady ground beneath Anne's flights of fancy, and her slow, grudging warmth gives the story its moral center.

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Character Web

37 connections

A slice of how Marilla Cuthbert sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Other

Character groups

Avonlea community members
Extended community and visitors
Deceased loved ones
Protagonist

+32 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the peak of Anne and Gilbert’s covert collaboration, reve…

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Relationships

Anne Shirley
family · positive
Anne has a loving, maternal relationship with Marilla, who raised her and now relies on… How this plays out →
Davy Keith
family · ambivalent
Mrs. Rachel Lynde
friendship · positive
Dora Keith
family · positive
Anne Shirley
family · positive
Anne has a loving, maternal relationship with Marilla, who raised her and now relies on… How this plays out →
Anne Shirley
family · positive
Anne has a loving, maternal relationship with Marilla, who raised her and now relies on… How this plays out →
Davy Keith
family · ambivalent
Davy Keith
family · ambivalent
Mrs. Rachel Lynde
friendship · positive
Dora Keith
family · positive
Mrs. Rachel Lynde
friendship · positive

Anne Shirley
Anne has a loving, maternal relationship with Marilla, who raised her and now relies on her as a partner in running Green Gables.
Davy Keith
Davy constantly tests Marilla's patience with his pranks, but she cares for him sternly yet affectionately as a guardian.
Mrs. Rachel Lynde
Marilla and Rachel share a long-standing, practical friendship built on neighborly gossip and mutual support.
Dora Keith
Dora is Marilla's well-behaved, quiet foster child, earning her approval and gentle care.
Anne Shirley
Anne has a loving, maternal relationship with Marilla, who raised her and now relies on her as a partner in running Green Gables.
Anne Shirley
Anne has a loving, maternal relationship with Marilla, who raised her and now relies on her as a partner in running Green Gables.
Davy Keith
Davy constantly tests Marilla's patience with his pranks, but she cares for him sternly yet affectionately as a guardian.
Davy Keith
Davy constantly tests Marilla's patience with his pranks, but she cares for him sternly yet affectionately as a guardian.
Mrs. Rachel Lynde
Marilla and Rachel share a long-standing, practical friendship built on neighborly gossip and mutual support.
Dora Keith
Dora is Marilla's well-behaved, quiet foster child, earning her approval and gentle care.
Mrs. Rachel Lynde
Marilla and Rachel share a long-standing, practical friendship built on neighborly gossip and mutual support.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

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In the story

Marilla Cuthbert appears across 24 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Anne of Avonlea
Anne's guardian, who takes in Davy and Dora and manages the household.
An Irate Neighbour
Mentioned as having gone to East Grafton to see a sick relative; not present during Mr. Harrison's visit.
Selling in Haste and Repenting at Leisure
Returns from Mrs. Lynde's to learn of the cow sale; advises Anne to see Mr. Harrison.
Mr. Harrison at Home
Mentioned as being alarmed by Anne's long absence and hearing about Anne's adventures.
IV: Different Opinions
Reassures Anne that failure in one day is not the end and chides her for expecting to reform all faults immediately.
All Sorts and Conditions of Men… and Women
Mentioned as having eye trouble; Anne reports the day's events to her.
The Pointing of Duty
Returns from visiting Mary Keith, worried about the fate of the twins, and reluctantly agrees to take them in despite her reservations.
Marilla Adopts Twins
Adopts the Keith twins after their mother's funeral; struggles to manage Davy's perpetual motion and mischief.
Davy in Search of a Sensation
Panics when Dora disappears, helps search, and is grimly determined to deal with Davy's misbehavior.
Facts and Fancies
Mentioned as being nervous about Anne's fits of laughter at home.
A Jonah Day
Marilla comforts Anne after her difficult day, offering practical advice and reassurance.
A Danger Averted
Receives a letter from Davy and Dora's uncle; agrees to keep the children until fall, though she hides her relief.
XV: The Beginning of Vacation
Mentioned as having eye troubles that prevent Anne from considering college; she is also the only one besides Anne who remembers Matthew.
XVI: The Substance of Things Hoped For
Listens to Anne's plans, offers dry advice, and allows Anne to cook the dinner.
A Chapter of Accidents
Marilla observes the preparations, consoles Anne after the disappointment, and comments on Anne's tendency to get too excited.
An Adventure on the Tory Road
Mentioned as being economical and as having taken in Davy and Dora; also scolds Anne for wearing her best hat.
Just a Happy Day
Plans a trip to town with Mrs. Lynde and discusses Anne's ambitious list of tasks for the next day.
The Way It Often Happens
Departs for town with Dora, leaving Anne in charge.
Odds and Ends
Recalls Lavendar Lewis's past, discusses Thomas Lynde's illness, and worries about the cost of keeping the twins until the inheritance is revealed.
Miss Lavendar's Romance
Expresses concern about the weather when Anne plans her walk to Echo Lodge.
A Prophet in His Own Country
Terrified during the storm, she kneels and prays; afterward she helps repair the broken windows and reflects on the unprecedented destruction.
An Avonlea Scandal
Listens to Anne's lament about the lilies and later hears Mrs. Lynde's account of the Harrison scandal.
Around the Bend
Marilla decides to invite Mrs. Lynde to live at Green Gables, enabling Anne to go to college.
Poetry and Prose
Marilla offers a practical, less romantic view of Miss Lavendar's story and chides Anne for spending too much time at Echo Lodge.

Chapter companion notes

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