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Anne of Green Gables · Theme
Gender Roles and Expectations
How Anne of Green Gables develops Gender Roles and Expectations.
The initial disappointment that Anne is a girl instead of a boy, along with her challenges to conventional female behavior, subtly critiques rigid gender expectations of the late 19th century.
Where it surfaces
- Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves
Marilla's practical, no-frills approach to dressing Anne contrasts with societal expectations of femininity and fashion, highlighting differing views on raising girls.
- Where the Brook and River Meet
Anne questions why women cannot be ministers, challenging contemporary gender norms, while Mrs. Lynde's reaction underscores societal restrictions.