Anne of the Island · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery.
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Anne Shirley
major
Also known as Anne, Anne Shirley, Miss Shirley, Miss Anne Shirley, Aunt Anne, Queen Anne, VIII Anne, XIV The Summons Anne, little Anne, Poor Anne, Dear Anne, Jane Anne, Jane Ann
Anne arrives at Redmond with her old Avonlea imaginings intact, rooming with new friends and sending stories out to editors who keep sending them back. When her first attempts at fiction are rejected, she buries the manuscript in the garret trunk and swears off writing, though Mr. Harrison's gruff advice lingers. Her deeper struggle is quieter: Gilbert Blythe wants more than the comradeship she clings to, and Anne must decide whether her picture of her own future has room for him.
Davy Keith
supporting
Also known as Davy, Davy - boy, wretched Davy, poor Davy, Davy Keith, David Keith
Davy lives at Green Gables with his twin sister Dora, forever fishing, chasing cats, and demanding to know whether an echo is a nymph or a whopper. He announces he is engaged to Stella Fletcher and worries about her fate should he die young, to Marilla's severe displeasure. His mischief keeps Avonlea comic and grounded while Anne is away at college, and his blunt questions about truth and consequences echo the moral weather of the whole book.
Philippa Gordon
supporting
Also known as Phil, Gordon, Phil Gordon, Miss Phil, the real Phil, Philippa, Philippa Gordon—Phil
Phil is the pretty, spoiled, irresistible Gordon of Bolingbroke, whose beaux Alec and Alonzo trail her through a summer of drives, dances, and what she calls jamborees. She cheerfully depends on Anne to decide whom she should marry, then protests that choosing for oneself is a very different matter. Through her, Anne sees both the gaiety of college life and the loneliness underneath it, and Phil's teasing about Gilbert forces Anne to name what she is avoiding.
Gilbert Blythe
major
Also known as Gilbert, Gilbert Blythe, Blythe, XX Gilbert Speaks
Gilbert has loved Anne since Avonlea, but she insists she can give him only friendship, and the two drift into an awkward, half-silent estrangement. He writes to Diana but not to Anne, and his mother's tactless questions about him make Anne blush in public. Miss Lavendar and nearly everyone else tells Anne she was made for Gilbert; his steady, unglamorous devotion is the quiet counterweight to every other suitor in the book.
Diana Barry
supporting
Also known as Diana, Diana Barry, unreasonable Diana, the indignant Diana, Di
Diana is the first to celebrate Anne's stories and the first to rage on her behalf when editors send them back, vowing to cancel her subscription to the Canadian Woman in protest. She marries Fred and settles into Avonlea domesticity, but remains Anne's confidante, privy to letters and secrets Anne shares with no one else. Her steady, unjealous affection is the baseline against which Anne measures the newer, more complicated attachments of college life.
Priscilla Grant
supporting
Also known as Priscilla, Prissy, Pris
Priscilla shares Anne's college years at Redmond and later at Patty's Place, a practical counterweight to Phil's flibbertigibbet ways and Anne's romanticism. She is the friend who listens to Anne's troubles without dramatizing them, and who helps make the boarding-house years feel like home. Through her, the novel shows the ordinary texture of Anne's student life, the friendships that hold when the grand passions are still unresolved.
Ruby Gillis
supporting
Also known as Ruby, the Gillis, butterfly Ruby
Ruby Gillis grew up alongside Anne in Avonlea, the golden-haired charmer who collected admirers the way Anne collected kindred spirits, and whose letters home brim with dances and dresses. Her fate shadows the novel's middle chapters, quietly pressing Anne to weigh the glitter of popularity against something deeper. Even a borrowed courtship manual and a string of suitors cannot prepare Ruby for the seriousness that finally finds her.
Aunt Jamesina
supporting
Also known as Jamesina, Aunt Jimsie, Aunty, Aunty J.
Aunt Jamesina arrives at Patty's Place as the girls' respectable chaperone, complete with a beloved cat named Joseph and firm opinions on everything from mathematics to modern manners. She fusses over suitors and Sunday clothes, yet her judgments are gentler than her tongue, and her affection for the household runs deep. Her presence turns a student boarding house into something like a home, giving Anne's Redmond years their steady, comic, tender center.
Janet Sweet
supporting
Also known as Miss Janet Sweet, Janet, Poor Janet, dear Janet
Janet Sweet is the quiet, faithful woman John Douglas loves, kept waiting by his mother's frail health and iron grip on her only son. At the Douglas tea table she blushes, pours, and endures in a hideous dress while old Mrs. Douglas strokes her hand and calls her dear. Her patient devotion, contrasted against that sweetly tyrannical old age, gives Anne a sobering glimpse of how love can be worn thin by duty and delay.
Mrs. Rachel Lynde
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Lynde, Mrs. Rachel, Mrs. Rachel Lynde, Fortunately Mrs. Lynde, Even Mrs. Rachel Lynde, Rachel, the impressible Mrs. Rachel, mrs . lynde
Mrs. Rachel Lynde remains Avonlea's self-appointed moral auditor, measuring Davy's growth, minding Sunday School, and pronouncing on everyone's conduct with terrible confidence. Beneath the gossip runs a genuine, unselfish affection for Anne and the Cuthberts, and her pride in Anne's literary hopes is as fierce as any mother's. She anchors the home chapters, reminding readers of the community that shaped Anne and still claims her heart.
Marilla Cuthbert
supporting
Also known as Marilla, marilla, Give Marilla Cuthbert
Marilla Cuthbert has softened from the stern woman who once took in an unwanted orphan into someone whose smile comes easily and whose eyes grow gentle at the sight of Anne. Counting her sixty years, she reckons she has truly lived only the nine since Anne arrived, bringing color and warmth to a gray existence. Her fierce, undemonstrative love gives the novel its emotional bedrock, especially as Anne's world widens beyond Avonlea.
Roy Gardner
supporting
Also known as Roy, Gardner
Roy Gardner is everything a storybook heroine could want: dark, velvety smiles, poetic compliments, a brilliant match approved by everyone from Mrs. Gardner to Aunt Jamesina. Yet his polished proposal, as beautifully worded as a courtship manual, meets only Anne's terrible coolness and a refusal she cannot fully explain. His bewildered hurt and dignified goodbye expose the gap between romance as it looks and love as it must actually feel.
Jane Andrews
minor
Also known as Jane, Jane andrews, Probably Jane, prim little Jane
A practical friend of Anne's who becomes a teacher and marries a minister.
John Douglas
minor
Also known as John, John Douglas
A shy, silent farmer who finally proposes to Janet Sweet after years of courtship.
Patty Spofford
minor
Also known as Patty, Patty Spofford, Miss Patty Spofford, Miss Patty
One of the elderly owners of Patty's Place, who rents it to Anne and her friends.
Stella Maynard
minor
Also known as Stella, Stella Maynard, Maynard, the disgusted Stella, Stella Fletcher
A college friend of Anne's who later marries and moves away.
Dora Keith
minor
Also known as Dora, poor little Dora, Theodora Dix, Theodora, the meek Dora, unhappy Dora, Dora Keith
Davy's quiet, well-behaved twin sister who lives at Green Gables.
Jonas Blake
minor
Also known as Jonas, Jonas Blake, the real Jonas, Mr. Blake
A serious theology student who falls in love with and marries Philippa Gordon.
Rusty
minor
Also known as Rusty Coat
A stray orange cat adopted by Anne and her friends at Patty's Place.
Aunt Atossa
minor
Also known as Atossa, old Aunt Atossa
Marilla's cranky, critical aunt who visits Green Gables.
Billy Andrews
minor
Also known as Billy Andrews, William, Billy
A dull-witted Avonlea boy who once proposed to Anne.
Mr. Harrison
minor
Also known as Mr. Harrison, the fastidious Mr. Harrison, the merciless Mr. Harrison
Anne's irritable neighbor in Avonlea who keeps a parrot.
Paul
minor
Also known as Paul
A lonely little boy Anne meets who lives in a world of imagination.
Charlie Sloane
minor
Also known as Charlie Sloane, Charlie, a Sloane, Farewell Charlie Sloane, Sloane, Mrs. Charlie Sloane, the outraged Charlie, Perhaps Charlie Sloane
An Avonlea boy who carries a torch for Anne and later marries someone else.
Mrs. Douglas
minor
Also known as Old Mrs. Douglas, old Mrs. Douglas, old Mrs. Douglas , who certainly did not find any difficulty in talking
John Douglas's talkative, domineering mother.
Joe Mosey
minor
Also known as old Joe Mosey, Joseph, Jo
An old Avonlea man known for his tall tales and eccentricities.
Mrs. Samson Coates
minor
Also known as Mrs. Samson Coates of Spencervale, Mrs. Samson Coates, Sam
A woman from Spencervale mentioned in local gossip.
Miss Lavendar
minor
Also known as Miss Lavendar, Mother, Mother Lavendar
A gentle, whimsical old maid who lives in the past.
Alec Ward
minor
Also known as Alec Ward, Alec
A young man who courts Philippa Gordon briefly.
Alonzo
minor
Also known as Alonzo
A persistent but unwanted suitor of Philippa Gordon.
Robert Ray
minor
Also known as Robert Ray
A man who briefly courts Anne but is quickly forgotten.
Dorothy Gardner
minor
Also known as Dorothy
Roy Gardner's pretty, flirtatious sister.
Pacifique Buote
minor
Also known as Pacifique Buote, Pacifique
A French-Canadian man who works for the Douglas family.
Miss Maria Grimsby
minor
Also known as Miss Maria, Maria, Miss Maria Grimsby, May
A prim, elderly woman who boards at Patty's Place.
Mrs. Skinner
minor
Also known as XXX Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Skinner, Evidently Mrs. Skinner
A widow who tells Anne a romantic story from her youth.
Christine Stuart
minor
Also known as Christine Stuart, Christine, Evidently Christine
A beautiful girl from Gilbert's past who briefly causes Anne jealousy.
Harmon Andrews
minor
Also known as Harmon Andrews, Mrs. Harmon, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Harmon Andrews
A neighbor of the Cuthberts in Avonlea.
Milty Boulter
minor
Also known as Milty Boulter, Milty bolter, Milty
A mischievous Avonlea boy who gets into trouble.
Moody Spurgeon MacPherson
minor
Also known as Moody Spurgeon MacPherson, Moody Spurgeon, Poor Moody Spurgeon, the luckless Moody Spurgeon
A studious Avonlea boy who becomes a minister.
Charlotta the Fourth
minor
Also known as Charlotta the Fourth, Charlotta
The young maid at Patty's Place.
Averil Lester
minor
Also known as Averil Lester, Averil
A tragic figure in a story-within-the-story who dies for love.
Fred Wright
minor
Also known as Fred, Fred Wright, little Fred
Diana Barry's kind, steady husband.
Alexander Ross
minor
Also known as Alexander Ross, Alec
An Avonlea man who marries Jane Andrews.
Mrs. Allan
minor
Also known as Mrs. Allan
The beloved minister's wife in Avonlea.
Miss Ada Harvey
minor
Also known as Miss Ada Harvey, Miss Ada, Poor Miss Ada
A shy, elderly woman who lives with her sister.
Maurice Lennox
minor
Also known as Maurice Lennox, Maurice
A young man who flirts with Philippa Gordon.
Josie Pye
minor
Also known as Josie Pye, Josie
A spiteful Avonlea girl who is jealous of Anne.
Miss Josephine Barry
minor
Also known as Miss Josephine, Miss Josephine Barry
Diana's wealthy, eccentric great-aunt who adores Anne.
Albert Crawford
minor
Also known as Albert Crawford
A Redmond student who is a friend of Gilbert's.
Uncle Mark Miller
minor
Also known as Uncle Mark Miller, Uncle Mark
An elderly relative of the Cuthberts who visits.
Mrs. Gardner
minor
Also known as Mrs. Gardner
Roy Gardner's elegant, snobbish mother.
Ludovic Speed
minor
Also known as Ludovic Speed, Ludovic
A notoriously slow-moving suitor who finally marries.
Mrs. Thomas
minor
Also known as Mrs. Thomas, Thomas
A woman Anne boarded with as a child, mentioned in backstory.
Sarah Crowe
minor
Also known as Sarah, the Sarah, The Sarah - cat, Sarah Crowe
A gossipy old woman in Avonlea.
Mr. Douglas
minor
Also known as Mr. Douglas
John Douglas's deceased father, mentioned in passing.
Aline Gardner
minor
Also known as Aline Gardner, Aline, The stately Aline
Roy Gardner's dignified, older sister.
Mrs. Boulter
minor
Also known as Mrs. Boulter
Milty Boulter's mother, a neighbor in Avonlea.
Nettie Blewett
minor
Also known as Nettie Blewett, Nettie
A girl who once competed with Anne for a teaching position.
Esther Haythorne
minor
Also known as Esther Haythorne, Esther
A tragic figure in a story told by Mrs. Skinner.
Perceval Dalrymple
minor
Also known as Perceval Dalrymple, Perceval
A poetical young man who admires Anne.
Betty Baxter
minor
Also known as Betty Baxter, Elizabeth
A girl from Avonlea who marries Charlie Sloane.
Mrs. Elisha Wright
minor
Also known as Mrs. Elisha Wright, Mrs. Elisha, Elisha Wright, Elisha
A neighbor in Avonlea known for her sharp tongue.
Honey
minor
Also known as Honey, Nora
A cat owned by the girls at Patty's Place.
Tommy Cotton
minor
Also known as Thomas, Tommy, Tommy Cotton
A young boy from a poor family in Avonlea.
Herb Spencer
minor
Also known as Herb Spencer
A Redmond student and friend of Gilbert's.
Em White
minor
Also known as Poor Em White, Em
A girl from Avonlea who dies young.
Mr. Inglis
minor
Also known as Mr. Inglis
A professor at Redmond College.
George Parker
minor
Also known as George Parker
A young man who flirts with Philippa at a party.
Miss Hannah Harvey
minor
Also known as Miss Hannah Harvey, Miss Hannah
Ada Harvey's sister, also elderly and unmarried.
Jim Elwood
minor
Also known as James, Jim Elwood—he
A young man from Avonlea who goes out west.
Miss Carson
minor
Also known as Miss Carson
A teacher at the Avonlea school before Anne.
Milton Edwards
minor
Also known as Milton Edwards
A Redmond student who is a friend of Gilbert's.
Mrs. Irving
minor
Also known as Mrs. Irving, Mr. Irving, Mr. and Mrs. Irving, old Mrs. Irving
Paul's grandmother, who takes care of him.
Professor Hamilton
minor
Also known as Professor Hamilton
A professor at Redmond College.
Mr. Barry
minor
Also known as Mr. Barry
Diana's father, a farmer in Avonlea.
Mirabel Cotton
minor
Also known as Mirabel Cotton, Mirabel
A girl from a poor family in Avonlea.
Mrs. Blythe
minor
Also known as Mrs. Blythe, Mrs. John Blythe
Gilbert's mother, mentioned in letters.
Cousin Emily
minor
Also known as Cousin Emily, Emily
A relative of the Cuthberts who visits.
Dan Winston
minor
Also known as Dan Winston
A young man who dies, mentioned in a letter from Davy.
Horatio Reeve
minor
Also known as Horatio Reeve
A young man who courts Philippa Gordon.
Professor Woodleigh
minor
Also known as Professor Woodleigh
A professor at Redmond College.
Bertha Shirley
minor
Also known as Bertha Shirley
Anne's deceased mother, mentioned in backstory.
