# Anne of the Island — Themes

> Major themes in Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery.

## Coming of Age

The book follows Anne's transition from adolescence to adulthood, exploring her experiences at college, her evolving relationships, and her growing understanding of life's deeper purposes and responsibilities.

### Where it surfaces

- [Anne of the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/anne-of-the-island): Anne transitions from Avonlea to university, marking her journey into adulthood.
- [The Shadow of Change](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/i-the-shadow-of-change): Anne and Diana grapple with the realities of adulthood, including marriage, career, and the loss of childhood innocence.
- [Home Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/vii-home-again): Anne's transition from Redmond student to returning home, and her guidance of Davy through a moral dilemma.
- [Anne’s First Proposal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/viii-anne-s-first-proposal): Anne experiences her first proposal, a milestone of adulthood, but finds it far from the romantic ideal she had imagined.
- [The Way of Transgressors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xiii-the-way-of-transgressors): Davy tests boundaries and learns about conscience and moral responsibility through his rebellion and subsequent confession.
- [A Letter from Davy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xvii-a-letter-from-davy): Davy's composition on the kind of wife he'd like reflects childhood notions of adulthood and marriage roles.

## Love and Marriage

Anne navigates romantic relationships, including her friendship with Gilbert Blythe, her brief engagement to Roy Gardner, and her eventual realization of true love, while observing the marriages and courtships of friends like Diana and Jane.

### Where it surfaces

- [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/epigraph): The epigraph introduces love as a force that, with fate, uncovers hidden worth.
- [II: Garlands of Autumn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/ii-garlands-of-autumn): Mrs. Lynde and Marilla discuss Anne and Gilbert's future marriage, while Anne's jealousy over Ruby hints at romantic tension.
- [Anne’s First Proposal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/viii-anne-s-first-proposal): The chapter contrasts Anne's romantic notions of love with the practical, unromantic reality of a proxy proposal based on land and suitability.
- [An Interlude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xix-an-interlude): Phil's banter about suitors and Aunt Jamesina's advice highlight differing views on love and matrimony.
- [Gilbert Speaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xx-gilbert-speaks): Gilbert's proposal and Anne's rejection highlight the tension between romantic love and friendship, and the societal expectations of marriage.
- [Enter Prince Charming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxv-enter-prince-charming): Anne's romantic encounter with Roy Gardner, who seems to be the 'Prince Charming' of her dreams, introduces a new possibility for love.

## Friendship

The importance of deep, loyal friendships is central, shown through Anne's bonds with Diana, Priscilla, Phil, and Stella, as well as the support and companionship they provide through life's joys and challenges.

### Where it surfaces

- [April's Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/iv-april-s-lady): Anne, Priscilla, and Philippa form an instant bond in the cemetery, overcoming initial shyness and loneliness.
- [Letters from Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/v-letters-from-home): Anne's deepening friendship with Philippa Gordon and the bonds with her Avonlea friends are highlighted through letters and shared experiences.
- [In the Park](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/vi-in-the-park): The group's walk and banter highlight the bonds and playful teasing among friends.
- [An Unwelcome Lover and a Welcome Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/ix-an-unwelcome-lover-and-a-welcome-friend): Anne's close bonds with Priscilla and Stella are central, as they plan to live together and support each other.
- [Patty's Place](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/x-patty-s-place): The decision to live together and the negotiation of house rules highlight the bonds and compromises of friendship.
- [XII: “Averil’s Atonement”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xii-averil-s-atonement): Diana’s unwavering support and Mr. Harrison’s blunt advice highlight the role of friends in Anne’s creative journey.

## Ambition and Career

Anne pursues her literary ambitions, facing rejection and eventual success with her writing, while also considering teaching as a career, reflecting the theme of striving for personal and professional fulfillment.

### Where it surfaces

- [Anne of the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/anne-of-the-island): Anne pursues higher education and a teaching career, reflecting her aspirations.
- [II: Garlands of Autumn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/ii-garlands-of-autumn): Anne's determination to attend Redmond College is challenged by neighbors' doubts, yet she persists, showing her ambition.
- [Letters from Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/v-letters-from-home): Anne excels in her studies, while Gilbert's strategic leadership in the class rush and election as class president reflect academic and social ambition.
- [An Unwelcome Lover and a Welcome Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/ix-an-unwelcome-lover-and-a-welcome-friend): Anne's determination to win the Thorburn Scholarship to avoid burdening Marilla reflects her academic and financial ambition.
- [XII: “Averil’s Atonement”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xii-averil-s-atonement): Anne pursues her dream of becoming a published author, facing rejection and learning from criticism.
- [XV: A Dream Turned Upside Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xv-a-dream-turned-upside-down): Anne's literary ambitions clash with the commercial reality of earning money through writing.

## Change and Loss

The narrative deals with the inevitability of change, including the loss of childhood innocence, the death of friends like Ruby Gillis, and the transformation of familiar places and relationships as characters grow older.

### Where it surfaces

- [The Shadow of Change](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/i-the-shadow-of-change): The chapter is steeped in the melancholy of autumn and the impending separation from home and friends, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of transition.
- [II: Garlands of Autumn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/ii-garlands-of-autumn): The chapter marks the end of Anne's Avonlea childhood as she prepares to leave for college, with farewells and nostalgic walks.
- [Greeting and Farewell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/iii-greeting-and-farewell): Anne grapples with leaving Green Gables and the end of her girlhood, feeling that things will never be the same.
- [Home Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/vii-home-again): The contrast between Anne's new life at Redmond and the enduring, yet changed, home at Green Gables.
- [The Round of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xi-the-round-of-life): The chapter is steeped in the awareness of change: old faces missing from church, Billy Andrews married, and most poignantly, Ruby Gillis's unrecognized decline. Anne and Diana walk through a beautiful spring evening while contemplating the fragility of life.
- [The Way of Transgressors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xiii-the-way-of-transgressors): The chapter explores the tension between childhood innocence and the growing awareness of right and wrong.

## Home and Belonging

Anne's deep attachment to Green Gables and her creation of a new home at Patty's Place highlight the theme of finding and creating a sense of belonging, whether in familiar or new environments.

### Where it surfaces

- [The Shadow of Change](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/i-the-shadow-of-change): Anne's deep attachment to Green Gables and her fear of leaving it underscore the theme of home as a cherished sanctuary.
- [Greeting and Farewell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/iii-greeting-and-farewell): Anne's deep attachment to Green Gables and her struggle with homesickness highlight her search for belonging in a new place.
- [April's Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/iv-april-s-lady): Anne and Priscilla struggle with feeling out of place at Redmond, longing for the familiarity of Queen's and Avonlea.
- [Letters from Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/v-letters-from-home): Anne's letters from home bridge her old life in Avonlea with her new life at Redmond, helping her feel connected and at home.
- [In the Park](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/vi-in-the-park): Anne feels an immediate connection to Patty's Place, sensing it is a place she belongs to.
- [Home Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/vii-home-again): Anne's deep longing for Green Gables and the loving welcome she receives upon her return.

## Self-Discovery

Anne learns about her own character, values, and desires through her experiences at Redmond, her interactions with others, and her reflections on life, ultimately gaining a clearer sense of her identity and purpose.

### Where it surfaces

- [XII: “Averil’s Atonement”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xii-averil-s-atonement): Through writing and rejection, Anne discovers her limitations and re-evaluates her future path.
- [XV: A Dream Turned Upside Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xv-a-dream-turned-upside-down): Anne confronts her own ideals and learns to reconcile artistic integrity with practical needs.
- [Gilbert Speaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xx-gilbert-speaks): Anne confronts her own feelings and the nature of love, realizing that her idealized vision may not match reality.
- [Enter Jonas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxiv-enter-jonas): Phil's letter reveals her internal struggle to understand her own character and worth, especially after hearing Jonas's sermon.
- [Enter Prince Charming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxv-enter-prince-charming): Anne reflects on her feelings of restlessness and soul-fog, seeking clarity and a sense of identity as she navigates her third year at Redmond.
- [XXVII: Mutual Confidences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxvii-mutual-confidences): Phil recognizes her own capacity for love and commitment despite her frivolous exterior; Anne questions her feelings for Roy, hinting at inner uncertainty.

## Mortality and the Meaning of Life

Ruby Gillis's death prompts Anne to contemplate the brevity of life and the importance of seeking higher spiritual and moral goals, rather than being consumed by trivial or earthly concerns.

### Where it surfaces

- [April's Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/iv-april-s-lady): Anne reflects on epitaphs in the cemetery, contemplating faithfulness and the legacy one leaves behind.
- [The Round of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xi-the-round-of-life): Ruby Gillis's galloping consumption forces Anne to confront the reality of death. Ruby's frantic gaiety and denial contrast with the quiet acceptance of the natural world, prompting reflections on what is truly important.
- [XIV: The Summons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xiv-the-summons): Ruby's fear of death and Anne's reflections on heaven highlight the struggle to find meaning in the face of mortality.
- [Roses of Yesterday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxi-roses-of-yesterday): Reflections on her parents' early deaths and the enduring legacy of their love.
- [A Book of Revelation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xl-a-book-of-revelation): Anne confronts the possibility of Gilbert's death and the emptiness of a life without him, leading to a profound personal revelation.

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