# Ruby Gillis — Anne of the Island character guide

> Ruby Gillis in Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ruby, the Gillis, butterfly Ruby

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

## Snapshot

Anne's pretty, flirtatious childhood friend whose love of beaux and good times makes her early death from consumption all the more haunting.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

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

_friendship_

Ruby Gillis is a childhood friend of Anne's, known for her beauty and romantic entanglements, who later dies tragically young.

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

_friendship_

Ruby Gillis is a childhood friend of Anne's, known for her beauty and romantic entanglements, who later dies tragically young.

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

_friendship_

Ruby Gillis is a childhood friend of Anne's, known for her beauty and romantic entanglements, who later dies tragically young.

## In the story

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

Attends the party looking handsome, later walks home with Gilbert, making Anne jealous.

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

Ruby writes a gushing letter about her admirers and mentions that Gilbert is writing to her, causing Anne a moment of jealousy.

### [The Round of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xi-the-round-of-life)

Dying of consumption but insists she is perfectly well; entertains callers with laughter and talk of beaux; shows Anne her new dresses and asks her to come again alone.

### [XIV: The Summons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xiv-the-summons)

Dying of consumption, expresses fear of death and longing for a normal life.

## Links

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