# Marilla Cuthbert — Anne of the Island character guide

> Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Marilla, marilla, Give Marilla Cuthbert

**First appearance:** 0002-anne-of-the-island

## Snapshot

Anne's reserved, deeply loving adoptive mother at Green Gables, whose late-blooming tenderness proves the quiet miracle of the whole series.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Anne Shirley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters/anne_shirley)

_family_

Marilla Cuthbert is Anne's adoptive mother, providing a stable, loving home and guiding Anne with her practical wisdom.

### [Anne Shirley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters/anne_shirley)

_family_

Marilla Cuthbert is Anne's adoptive mother, providing a stable, loving home and guiding Anne with her practical wisdom.

### [Anne Shirley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters/anne_shirley)

_family_

Marilla Cuthbert is Anne's adoptive mother, providing a stable, loving home and guiding Anne with her practical wisdom.

## In the story

### [Anne of the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/anne-of-the-island)

Anne's guardian, stays at Green Gables.

### [The Shadow of Change](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/i-the-shadow-of-change)

Has a headache and is putting Dora to bed; Anne worries about her.

### [II: Garlands of Autumn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/ii-garlands-of-autumn)

Watches Anne and Gilbert from the window, uncomfortable with Mrs. Lynde's matchmaking talk.

### [Letters from Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/v-letters-from-home)

Marilla sends a prim, colorless letter that conveys the steadfast love and simple life at Green Gables.

### [Home Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/vii-home-again)

Meets Anne in the shadows to hide her tears of joy, sarcastic after self-betrayal.

### [XII: “Averil’s Atonement”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xii-averil-s-atonement)

Unaware of Anne’s writing venture; Anne imagines reading the story to her.

### [The Way of Transgressors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xiii-the-way-of-transgressors)

Has a headache and stays home from church.

### [Miss Josephine Remembers the Anne-Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xviii-miss-josephine-remembers-the-anne-girl)

Takes the twins to Mrs. Lynde's when Gilbert visits, signaling matchmaking intentions; discusses Miss Josephine Barry's death with Mrs. Lynde.

### [Spring and Anne Return to Green Gables](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxii-spring-and-anne-return-to-green-gables)

Reflects on her past and how Anne has changed her life; warmly welcomes Anne home.

### [A June Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxviii-a-june-evening)

Sits with Mrs. Lynde, is disappointed about Anne refusing Gilbert, and speaks bitterly about it.

### [Diana's Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxix-diana-s-wedding)

Present at the wedding, receives a comment from Mrs. Rachel Lynde about Anne and Gilbert.

### [Deals with Weddings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxxix-deals-with-weddings)

Greets Anne at Green Gables and discusses local news.

### [A Book of Revelation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xl-a-book-of-revelation)

Greets Anne on her return and later removes Davy from the kitchen after his tactless remark.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters/marilla_cuthbert
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters