# Marilla Cuthbert — Anne of Avonlea character guide > Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Marilla Cuthbert, Miss Cuthbert **First appearance:** 0002-anne-of-avonlea ## Snapshot Anne's plainspoken, duty-bound guardian at Green Gables, whose stern exterior hides a heart that keeps softening against her will. ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Anne Shirley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/anne_shirley) _family_ 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/davy_keith) _family_ Davy constantly tests Marilla's patience with his pranks, but she cares for him sternly yet affectionately as a guardian. ### [Mrs. Rachel Lynde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/mrs_rachel_lynde) _friendship_ Marilla and Rachel share a long-standing, practical friendship built on neighborly gossip and mutual support. ### [Dora Keith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/dora_keith) _family_ Dora is Marilla's well-behaved, quiet foster child, earning her approval and gentle care. ### [Anne Shirley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/anne_shirley) _family_ 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/anne_shirley) _family_ 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/davy_keith) _family_ Davy constantly tests Marilla's patience with his pranks, but she cares for him sternly yet affectionately as a guardian. ### [Davy Keith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/davy_keith) _family_ Davy constantly tests Marilla's patience with his pranks, but she cares for him sternly yet affectionately as a guardian. ### [Mrs. Rachel Lynde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/mrs_rachel_lynde) _friendship_ Marilla and Rachel share a long-standing, practical friendship built on neighborly gossip and mutual support. ### [Dora Keith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/dora_keith) _family_ Dora is Marilla's well-behaved, quiet foster child, earning her approval and gentle care. ### [Mrs. Rachel Lynde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/mrs_rachel_lynde) _friendship_ Marilla and Rachel share a long-standing, practical friendship built on neighborly gossip and mutual support. ## In the story ### [Anne of Avonlea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/anne-of-avonlea) Anne's guardian, who takes in Davy and Dora and manages the household. ### [An Irate Neighbour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/i-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/ii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/iii-mr-harrison-at-home) Mentioned as being alarmed by Anne's long absence and hearing about Anne's adventures. ### [IV: Different Opinions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/vi-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/vii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/viii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/x-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xi-facts-and-fancies) Mentioned as being nervous about Anne's fits of laughter at home. ### [A Jonah Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xii-a-jonah-day) Marilla comforts Anne after her difficult day, offering practical advice and reassurance. ### [A Danger Averted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xiv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xvii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xviii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xix-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xx-the-way-it-often-happens) Departs for town with Dora, leaving Anne in charge. ### [Odds and Ends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xxii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xxiii-miss-lavendar-s-romance) Expresses concern about the weather when Anne plans her walk to Echo Lodge. ### [A Prophet in His Own Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xxiv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xxv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xxvi-around-the-bend) Marilla decides to invite Mrs. Lynde to live at Green Gables, enabling Anne to go to college. ### [Poetry and Prose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/chapters/xxix-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. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters/marilla_cuthbert - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_avonlea_se/characters