# Identity and Self-Acceptance in Anne of Green Gables

> Theme guide for Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.

Anne struggles with her red hair, temper, and talkative nature, but gradually learns to accept herself and her unique qualities, growing from a sensitive child into a confident young woman.

## Where it surfaces

- [Matthew Cuthbert Is Surprised](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/ii-matthew-cuthbert-is-surprised): Anne's self-awareness about her thinness and her imaginative compensations reflect her struggle with self-image and acceptance.
- [III: Marilla Cuthbert Is Surprised](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/iii-marilla-cuthbert-is-surprised): Anne's insistence on 'Anne with an e' and her rejection of her plain name reflect her struggle to define her own identity.
- [Anne’s History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/v-anne-s-history): Anne grapples with her red hair and her orphan status, while Marilla reflects on Anne's ladylike nature and possible good lineage.
- [Anne Says Her Prayers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/vii-anne-says-her-prayers): Anne's resentment over her red hair and her plea to be good-looking reveal her struggle with self-image and her desire for acceptance, a key aspect of her developing identity.
- [Anne’s Bringing-Up Is Begun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/viii-anne-s-bringing-up-is-begun): Anne accepts her identity as 'Anne of Green Gables' rather than a fictional character, showing a step toward self-acceptance.
- [Mrs. Rachel Lynde Is Properly Horrified](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/ix-mrs-rachel-lynde-is-properly-horrified): Anne's fierce reaction to Mrs. Lynde's criticism highlights her struggle with her own appearance and her need for acceptance, as she admits she can say such things herself but cannot bear hearing them from others.
- [XI: Anne's Impressions of Sunday-School](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/xi-anne-s-impressions-of-sunday-school): Anne's candid reflections on the service and her preference for imagination over rigid doctrine reveal her developing sense of self.
- [XV: A Tempest in the School Teapot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/xv-a-tempest-in-the-school-teapot): Anne's fierce reaction to Gilbert's teasing about her red hair reflects her struggle with self-image and her desire to be accepted for who she is.
- [Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/xxv-matthew-insists-on-puffed-sleeves): Anne's longing for puffed sleeves reflects her desire to express her identity and be seen as equal to other girls, while Matthew's intervention affirms her worth.
- [Vanity and Vexation of Spirit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/xxvii-vanity-and-vexation-of-spirit): Anne's struggle with her red hair leads to a failed dye attempt, highlighting her journey toward accepting herself.
- [The Queen's Class Is Organized](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/xxx-the-queen-s-class-is-organized): Anne grapples with her changing self—feeling 'almost fourteen,' hiding her regret over Gilbert, and planning to indulge her imagination one last summer before adopting longer skirts and dignity.
- [The Hotel Concert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-hotel-concert): Anne struggles with feeling countrified among sophisticated guests but ultimately accepts herself and succeeds on her own terms.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/themes/identity_and_self_acceptance
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/themes