My favorite characters:
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| Una Meredith, my interpretation |
Five Words: sweet, loyal, kind, shy, tenacious
Note: I find Una quite likable. I think she's eight or nine years old in the Rainbow Valley book but it doesn't say. Later, we got a glimpse of her in Rilla of Ingleside which I thought was not a kind fate for her.
Quote: "She was so shy that to ask a favour of anybody was agony to her." — Rainbow Valley
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| image by Jacqui Oakley |
Five Words: semi-shy, sensible, daydreamer, loyal, high-spirited
Note: I suppose if Valancy didn't think she was dying, she might not be daring enough to do the things she do but I sort of think that she would do them eventually. I think she's the type that is capable of many things if only she had the nerve.
Quote: "You see — I've never had any real life. I've just — breathed." — The Blue Castle
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| Anne Shirley played by Megan Follows/image from www.anneofgreengables.com |
Five Words: passionate, foolish, stubborn, optimistic, dreamer
Note: I suppose I like Anne a lot because she's stubborn but optimistic and she's relatable. I didn't like her right away but she grows on you. I certainly enjoy her antics more than her love life. I was slightly disappointed she didn't become a writer but I think her dreams changed as she grow older so I'm not completely unsatisfied with how her life went.
Quote: "I do know my own mind. The trouble is, my mind changes and then I have to get acquainted with it all over again." — Anne of the Island
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| Marilla Cuthbert played by Colleen Dewhurst/image from www.anneofgreengables.com |
Five Words: strong-willed, sensible, faithful, honest, kind
Note: Marilla is very strong willed but she is reasonable and have good common sense, a strong faith in god and probably good in emergencies. I definitely think she has a sense of humor but often doesn't like to show it.
Quote: "She looked like a woman of narrow experience and rigid conscience, which she was; but there was a saving something about her mouth which, if it had been ever so slightly developed, might have been considered indicative of a sense of humor." — Anne of Green Gables
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| Matthew Cuthbert played by Richard Farnsworth/image from www.anneofgreengables.com |
Five Words: bachelor, shy, eccentric, kind, humorous
Note: In the book, Matthew has long iron-gray hair and a beard but I prefer the movie version look of him with short hair and a mustache. He's a shy man but he's also gentle and determined. I did wish there had been more about Matthew.
Quote: "That was Matthew's way — take a whim into his head and cling to it with the most amazing silent persistency — a persistency ten times more potent and effectual in its very silence than if he had talked it out." — Anne of Green Gables
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| Image by Sunni Baerwalde from animalcarecentersmyrna.com/dog-breeds/beagle |
06 - Dog Monday from Anne of Green Gable series
Five Words: loyal, sincere, charming
Note: I like loyal pets and Monday is very loyal to Jem Blythe. I don't recall a clear description of Dog Monday's appearance but aside from being 'black and yellow' with 'soft, wistful, puzzled eyes.' So I think a beagle would be the type of dog Monday is but I could be wrong.
Quote: "His dear master had gone — he, Monday, had been deliberately and
of malice aforethought prevented from going with him by a demon
disguised in the garb of a Methodist minster. Wherefore, he, Monday,
would wait there until the smoking, snorting monster, which had carried
his hero off, carried him back." — Rilla of Ingleside
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| Mr. Carpenter, my interpretation |
Five Words: temperamental, sharp-tongued, teacher, wise
Note: Mr. Carpenter was a poet but he didn't succeed in that so he became a teacher. I think he was the kind of teacher that children needs. He keeps the children active, not only in mind but in body and learn whatever he wanted to teach them. His scoldings are reasonable and you certainly know what he meant. I think, Mr. Carpenter, being a failure, drove something in him to help the children to realize what they want to do and what they are meant to do.
Quote: "It's better to heal than hurt. We failures know that." — Emily Climbs
Characters I wish I like more and know more of:
08 - Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables series
Five Words: kind, smart, good-natured
Note: There is a very distinct lack of Gilbert's personality (not sure that's the right word) but we only get to see a few glimpses of his inner thoughts here and there. What's he's like, we get from other characters so readers don't know him all that well. Even with grownup Gilbert, there are just little glimpses. I like the guy but there's just not much we know about him to truly know him.
Quote: "Gilbert was a clever young fellow, with his own thoughts about things and a determination to get the best out of life and put the best into it." — Anne of Green Gable
09 - Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables series
Five Words: loyal, sweet, kind, gentle-spirited, reader
Note: I think being the best friend of Anne Shirley makes it hard to be distinguished when everyone likes your friend better. But I do think Diana has her own mind and doesn't want to be Anne. Diana is the product of her time so she is probably consigned to being the way she was brought up. But we rarely get any of her inner thoughts so we don't really know her too much.
Quote: "She was a very pretty little girl, with her mother's black eyes and hair, rosy cheeks, and the merry expression which was her inheritance from her father." — Anne of Green Gables
10 - Dora Keith from Anne of Green Gables series
Five Words: prim, proper, quiet, neat, gentle-spirited
Note: Maybe Dora is the opposite of her twin brother Davy but I like her and also to spite Davy (see below). Everyone thought of her as boring, nondescript but she might be the type of person who's so introspective that you won't notice when she had a thought. So maybe being an obedient and quiet child is boring but they never asked what she was thinking.
Quote: "She always looks as if she'd just been starched and ironed." — Anne of Avonlea
11 - Emily Byrd Starr from Emily Starr series
Five Words: high-spirited, dreamer, slightly stubborn, intelligent, psychic
Note: I like Emily as a child but as an adult or nearly an adult, she's more introspective, less spunky you might say and probably less active in the way her life moves. Due to one man's opinion (the weird guy*), she burned her manuscript and then decided to agree to marry the weird guy because she suddenly decided she shouldn't be a writer and just settle down. If certain things didn't happen, Emily would have made more bad decisions. Her psychic abilities were mentioned only a few times but I like to believe it's a real ability otherwise she would have married the weird guy and then she wouldn't have been a writer and that's not what I would like for her character. (*The weird guy is named Dean Priest who I really like to forget it. He met Emily as a child when he was in his twenties and then he decided to wait for her to grow up so he could marry her.) (We do know a lot about Emily since there are three books but I put her in this category because I didn't like her all that much.)
Quote: For writing, to Emily Byrd Starr, was not primarily a matter of worldly lucre or laurel crown. It was something she had to do. A thing — an idea — whether of beauty or ugliness, tortured her until it was out "written out."— Emily's Quest
12 - Barney Snaith from The Blue Castle
Five Words: intelligent, secretive, kind, nature & animal lover, island-owner
Note: He would be considered the perfect love interest if not for his secretive nature. He's rich, kind, carefree and a perfect gentleman but do we really know him? Not that I can say. We get his history but not a lot. He's definitely a good guy.
Quote: Barney was an interesting talker, with a knack of telling a great deal about his adventures and nothing at all about himself. — The Blue Castle
Characters I sort of love to hate:
13 - Mary Vance from the Anne of Green Gable series
Five Words: talkative, vain, nosy, a sometimes liar
Note: Mary doesn't always realized how her words could affect other people. She only say what she needs and sometimes wants, to survive since she's an orphan and poor and was treated badly by adults. Her background doesn't excuse her for her poor behaviors and somehow I can't pity her like other people.
Quote: "It was plain that Mary had a temper and was sensitive on some points. But there was a queer, wild charm about her which captivated them all." — Rainbow Valley
14 - Davy Keith from Anne of Green Gables series
Five Words: mischievous, charmer, spiteful, playful, holy terror
Note: Davy is the kind of kid that likes to create trouble just to see how other people reacts or just to see what commotion will arise from it or so I believe. I just think if a kid behaves as badly as he does, he shouldn't be loved and forgiven but the adults did and he kept on behaving badly but he grew out of it as he matured but I think it's terrible that people prefer him over Dora.
Quote: "Mirth and mischief lurked in every corner of his little face." — Anne of Avonlea
15 - Mrs. Rachel Lynde from Anne of Green Gables series
Five Words: nosy, opinionated, talkative
Note: Mrs. Rachel is a busybody, that's really what she is but underneath I think she's kind but old-fashioned.
Quote: "It probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof." — Anne of Green Gables
Have you read any of L. M. Montgomery's books? If so, do you have favorite or not so favorite characters?
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed Anne with an E series.
ReplyDeleteChristine: I'm glad you enjoyed Anne with an E but I doubt I would watch that show as I deviates from the book.
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Wow, you've read 20 of LM Montgomery's novels? I'm impressed! The only one I've read is "Anne of Green Gables" but I read it over and over again as a kid. I enjoyed all the characters in that one. Gilbert Blythe did the least for me, probably for obvious reasons. Once Anne and Gilbert became each other's love interest, I completely lost interest in both of them. Again, probably for obvious reasons, LOL. The same thing happened with another adored literary character, Jo March of "Little Women." Her spirit, talent and ambition disappeared for me once she got married. At that point -- BORing.
ReplyDeleteDebra She Who Seeks: I think reading 20 books is no big deal but it's all the novels Montgomery had wrote.
DeleteI had tried reading Little Women a few times but sadly, I couldn't finish it but I did see a movie version.
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Wow, I recognized every single character you mentioned!! I guess I'm better versed in Montgomery Lore than I thought XD
ReplyDeleteAgreed about Davy and Dora Keith. The favoritism, I do not approve of it, Jeeves.
Great post!
Katie Hanna: These characters are mostly from the Anne of Green Gable books.
DeleteI suppose it's more fun being around Davy even if he's a troublemaker.
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Very lovely post! Marilla and Diana are two of my favorites too from Anne of Green Gables series.
ReplyDeleteNow I really want to read Rilla of Ingleside just because of Monday! :))
Fanda Classiclit: Sadly, Monday has only three appearances in the book but still, he's a good dog.
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Can't agree with all of your rankings because I all but worship everyone and everything in the Anne universe 😁 But I must say I LOVE that you gave poor old Dog Monday some attention!! His story always brings tears to my eyes. And my favorite scene...
ReplyDeleteOne spring day, when the daffodils were blowing on the Ingleside lawn, and the banks of the brook in Rainbow Valley were sweet with white and purple violets, the little, lazy afternoon accommodation train pulled into the Glen station. It was very seldom that passengers for the Glen came by that train, so nobody was there to meet it except the new station agent and a small black-and-yellow dog, who for four and a half years had met every train that had steamed into Glen St. Mary. Thousands of trains had Dog Monday met and never had the boy he waited and watched for returned. Yet still Dog Monday watched on with eyes that never quite lost hope. Perhaps his dog-heart failed him at times; he was growing old and rheumatic; when he walked back to his kennel after each train had gone his gait was very sober now—he never trotted but went slowly with a drooping head and a depressed tail that had quite lost its old saucy uplift.
One passenger stepped off the train—a tall fellow in a faded lieutenant's uniform, who walked with a barely perceptible limp. He had a bronzed face and there were some grey hairs in the ruddy curls that clustered around his forehead. The new station agent looked at him anxiously. He was used to seeing the khaki-clad figures come off the train, some met by a tumultuous crowd, others, who had sent no word of their coming, stepping off quietly like this one. But there was a certain distinction of bearing and features in this soldier that caught his attention and made him wonder a little more interestedly who he was.
A black-and-yellow streak shot past the station agent. Dog Monday stiff? Dog Monday rheumatic? Dog Monday old? Never believe it. Dog Monday was a young pup, gone clean mad with rejuvenating joy.
He flung himself against the tall soldier, with a bark that choked in his throat from sheer rapture. He flung himself on the ground and writhed in a frenzy of welcome. He tried to climb the soldier's khaki legs and slipped down and groveled in an ecstasy that seemed as if it must tear his little body in pieces. He licked his boots and when the lieutenant had, with laughter on his lips and tears in his eyes, succeeded in gathering the little creature up in his arms Dog Monday laid his head on the khaki shoulder and licked the sunburned neck, making queer sounds between barks and sobs.
The station agent had heard the story of Dog Monday. He knew now who the returned soldier was. Dog Monday's long vigil was ended. Jem Blythe had come home.
Juliette Deroulede: I like/love loyal creatures.
DeleteThat was good scene which came after the sad news of Walter which makes it kind of bittersweet.
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What a fun idea for a post!
ReplyDeleteUna is very sweet, I agree. And I adore Valancy. If I had had one more daughter, I probably would have given her Valancy for a middle name.
I love Anne's character arc because she learned that sometimes, a talent for something doesn't mean you have to devote your life to it. It can be something you pursue when you have time, but doesn't have to be your primary focus. For someone like Anne who can get really carried away with passion projects, finding that balance is really amazing, I think.
The older I get, the more I love and understand Marilla :-) Whereas I have loved Matthew from the start. Who could not?
Okay, so, I have probably cried more over Dog Monday than over most supposedly tragic books. I love him, and just thinking about him right now is bringing tears to my eyes.
I think the blurring around Barney's edges is what makes me love him so much. I'm probably too much like him -- prone to secret-keeping and very, very slow to let others get to know me.
Hamlette: I don't know about naming children Valancy as I always thought that name is rather odd.
DeleteI agreed that just because you have the talent, it doesn't mean that's what you should do with your life although some people might think it's a shame but that's that.
Marilla is a tough lady to like but you know she has a sweet heart underneath. I think everyone needs a Marilla in their life, sort of to tell them how foolish they can be.
Dog Monday, what a great dog.
I guess I'm also a bit like Barney as I'm not so good at sharing my inner thoughts. And Barney's secrets aren't even all that confounding. He just isn't sure about sharing them because of his past experience.
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