There is much debate among literary critics about LM Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. The arguments stem from whether or not it should be called a feminist novel and what the narrative actually involves about women. LM Montgomery dissociated herself from the feminist movement, but believed that women should have the right to vote (Montgomery and Cecily, 27). His seemingly conflicting views and opinions have resulted in a diverse cacophony of works from both ends of the spectrum. While there may be subtle hints of pervasive femininity in Anne, it is generally the older girls who recognize it. Montgomery wrote Anne of Green Gables as a "girl's novel", depicting women as behaving in a prescribed way and embodying certain characteristics. In this way, Montgomery affirms gender difference but not inequality (Montgomery and Cecily, 26). Anne of Green Gables reveals early 20th-century assumptions about women's roles in society and, in doing so, presents the limited number of choices available to them. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Anne's imagination is what makes her special and unique, even though her romantic thoughts and images are decidedly feminine (Berg, 127). However, as he grows older, he must learn to repress his imagination. If Anne's character had been an adult, readers would have seen her as frivolous and careless (Weiss-Town, 15). By writing her as a child, Montgomery could get away with Anne saying and doing things that would not be appropriate for a real woman. In Montgomery's time, children were respected, sometimes even envied, because when they grew up they had to behave in a certain way. Anne's imagination is a source of both good and evil in her life. Montgomery describes it as a “good imagination gone awry” (Berg, 126). For example, one night Marilla forces Anne to walk through the forest that Anne has called the "Haunted Woods" to get something from Mrs. Barrie. Anne is terrified during her short journey because of all the ghosts she believes live in the forest. When he returns home to Marilla, he tells her that he will settle for "commonplace names after this" (Berg, 126). In this episode, Anne discovers the dangers of her imagination and the consequences it can have, scaring herself half to death with her made-up names and stories. Anne once again proves that she has learned to repress her imagination when her teacher asks her to stop reading a book and she obeys. The book “was one that Ruby Gillis had lent me,” she explains to Marilla, “and Marilla, it was so fascinating and disturbing, it made my blood run cold. But Miss Stacy said it was a very foolish and unhealthy book, and asked me not to read any more of it or anything like it” (Berg, 126). At the beginning of the 20th century, Gothic novels were not considered suitable for girls to read, because people believed that they could significantly alter their understanding of reality. These types of books would be considered especially dangerous for girls with vivid imaginations, like Anne. It was mostly girls who read (and still read) Anne of Green Gables, so the novel served as a kind of cautionary tale where they could learn from Anne's mistakes along with her (Carol, 10). Although Montgomery portrays Anne as a rambunctious child with a bad temper and a wild imagination, she also embodies many of the stereotypical feminine characteristics of a late 19th century girl (Weiss-Town, 14). Anne's pains are not caused by her friction against femininity, rather, they are the pains offemale gender; the loss of a loved one, loneliness and not belonging, separation from loved ones, etc. (Carol, 10). Although there have been critics who claim that Anne belongs in a “boy's book,” male protagonists of this period were usually seeking autonomy, separation, and freedom from restrictions. Anne, however, desperately wants to belong: "You see," she tells Matthew on the ride to Green Gables from the train station, "I've never had a real home as long as I can remember." When Anne sees Green Gables for the first time she finally feels a sense of belonging. (Berg, 125). Anne is also desperate for kindred spirits when she arrives in Prince Edward Island and says she's always wanted to have a best friend. One of Anne's main concerns is beauty. lashing out at anyone who points them out: "I'd rather be pretty than smart," Anne admits to Diana (Montgomery and Cecily, 152). After Anne receives a compliment about her nose, she asks Marilla what she thinks of it. Marilla thinks she has a rather lovely nose, but she doesn't want Anne to be a vain girl, so she doesn't tell her. Throughout the novel, Marilla makes it clear that she does not want Anne to be so concerned with beauty (). Montgomery and Cecily, 151). Although Matthew and Marilla are sullen and raised in a strict and "joyless" home, they eventually soften towards Anne, allowing her the freedom to become a "New Woman". Marilla places great value on a woman's education, stating that it is important that "a girl should be fit to earn her own living, whether she must or not" (Montgomery and Cecily, 31). This presents a contrast to Diana's mother, who believes that education is wasted on women. While Marilla pushes Anne to succeed academically, Matthew is much better than his sister at expressing his love, doting on Anne, buying her fashionable clothes, especially a dress with "puffed sleeves". Montgomery here changes the stereotypical gender roles, with Marilla as the more masculine head of the household, who has the final say on matters and is not so good at expressing her feelings, while Matthew is quiet, submissive and emotional Matthew out of their zones of comfort, though. Later in the novel, Matthew antagonizes Marilla more often, mostly for Anne's sake, and Marilla also becomes more forgiving and Anne's outspoken personality serves to amuse others, even when it torments When Anne becomes angry at the prospect that Dianna Barrie gets married one day, Marilla tries to hold back her laughter, but can't, and collapses into a chair, laughing at Anne's childish anxiety that Matthew can't remember when he's ever done it - he's heard Marilla laugh like that before (Montgomery and Cecily, 162). In another instance, Anne takes Marilla's hand and “something warm and pleasant wells up in Marilla's heart at the touch of that little slender hand in hers – a flutter. of the motherhood she missed, perhaps. It is a very unusual tenderness and sweetness that frightens her” (Montgomery and Cecily, 126). In this way, Anne is almost returning the people in her life to their stereotypical gender roles. Likewise, the adults around her try to mold Anne into the mold of a young woman by repressing her imagination. When she first arrives at Green Gables and desperately wants to stay, Anne says, "I'll try to be anything you want if you'll only keep me" (Montgomery and Cecily, 97). As the novel continues, Anne suppresses her imagination more and more in order to have a place in society. This social position is something that Anne must earn, rather than inherit. At the hotel concert, the community applauds Anne for joining the society and reciting someone else's poetry, instead of her own. WasMarilla's task is to change Anne's tone of speech, which she does successfully. Before Anne goes to Queen's College, Marilla gives her a dress, not one of the plain ones she usually makes, but a beautiful green dress. “Anne put it on one evening for Matthew and Marilla's benefit, and recited 'The Maiden's Vow' for them in the kitchen” (Montgomery and Cecily, 304). Anne becomes fashionable, reciting someone else's words for the benefit of Matthew and Marilla, and she does it in the kitchen, which is a very domestic place. She basically became "the angel of the house". Marilla remembers what Anne was like and tears come to her eyes. Marilla says: “I couldn't help but think of the little girl you were, Anne. And I wished you had remained a little girl, despite all your strange ways. Now you're grown up and you're leaving; and you look so tall and elegant and so so different in that dress – as if you didn't belong in Avonlea at all – and I get lonely thinking about it” (Montgomery and Cecily, 304). Anne replies “I haven't changed, not really. I just got pruned and branched out…” (Montgomery and Cecily, 304). The words “pruned and branched” sound very artificial. They imply that Anne has learned to repress her true self and stop lashing out. Perhaps Marilla realizes this and is a little saddened by it. She longs for the old, young Anne who has not yet learned to bend to the rules of society, even though it is Marilla, Rachel Lynde, and the other women of the community who put immense pressure on Anne to conform to their ideals. and vision of femininity in a predominantly female community (Weiss-Town, 13). In Avonlea, women's values ​​are valued more than men's (Berg, 127). Anne was taught how to be a good wife and mother from an early age, working in homes and taking care of children at the age of 11. , is able to save Minnie May's life thanks to this knowledge. Anne makes no definitive choice about her life in this book, but in subsequent books Anne's journey ultimately leads her to marriage and motherhood, but not to literary fame as she had once hoped. Anne postpones her domestic “destiny” for a while, experiencing life as a “New Woman.” Anne is a new woman in many ways; getting a higher education, wearing divided skirts, riding around on a bicycle unaccompanied, etc., but is still mired in tradition. Although Anne wins an award for her schoolwork, it is the English award, a subject traditionally associated with women. Gilbert wins all the other prizes, such as those in mathematics and science. After Anne gets married, her life becomes quite boring compared to the exciting surprises of her childhood. Although Anne does indeed receive a good education, especially for a girl, Mary Wollstonecraft believes that because Anne becomes an "ideal" woman at the end of the book, it means that she actually never stops being a child (Weiss-Town, 12). .The lives of women in Anne of Green Gables revolve around breakfast, lunch and dinner, the intricate relationships between neighbors, mother and children, mothers and daughters, growing up, raising children, etc. (Carol, 11). All these elements are very domestic. The chapter titles themselves show the importance of stereotypical female domestication and religion (Carol, 11). "Anne Says Her Prayers", "Anne's Education Has Begun", "Anne's Sunday School Impressions", "A Storm in the School Teapot", "Diana is Invited to Tea with Tragic Results", "Anne is invited out Tea”, “Miss. Stacy and her students organize a concert”, “Matthew insists on puffy sleeves”, “The hotel concert”, etc. (Montgomery and Cecily, 15). chapters to understand that tea parties and concerts, traditionally female pastimes,: 2275