Anne with an E - Characters & Cast

Anne's primary motivation is to find a place where she belongs and to be loved for who she truly is. Initially, this manifests as a desperate need to please the Cuthberts so she won't be sent back to the orphanage. As she becomes more secure in her home at Green Gables, her motivation evolves. She seeks 'kindred spirits,' deep and meaningful connections with others, and strives to make the world a more just and beautiful place, driven by her innate sense of fairness and her powerful imagination.

Anne begins Season 1 as a traumatized but fiercely imaginative child, desperate for love but guarded due to years of abuse. Her arc is one of healing and self-discovery. Throughout the series, she learns to trust, to accept love from the Cuthberts, and to build meaningful friendships. She channels her passion and intelligence from pure escapism into a force for change within her community, tackling issues of sexism and prejudice. By the end of Season 3, she is a confident young woman who has embraced her unique qualities, found her voice as a writer and an activist, accepted her past, and opened her heart to a romantic, intellectual partnership with Gilbert.

Initially, Marilla's motivation is driven by a sense of duty and propriety. She believes in order, hard work, and suppressing emotions. However, her underlying motivation, which she slowly rediscovers, is a deep-seated desire for connection and family, which was buried after the death of her brother and her failed romance. Anne's presence reawakens this desire, and her motivation shifts to protecting, guiding, and loving her adopted daughter.

Marilla starts the series as a stern, pragmatic, and emotionally repressed spinster, governed by duty and a fear of vulnerability. Anne's arrival cracks open her hardened exterior. Over the three seasons, Marilla's arc is one of emotional awakening. She learns to express her love, moving from a reluctant guardian to a devoted mother. Anne forces her to confront her own past sorrows, including her relationship with Gilbert's father, John Blythe. By the end of the series, Marilla has softened profoundly, embracing her maternal role and finding a new sense of purpose and joy in her life.

Matthew's motivation is simple and pure: he wants Anne to be happy. He sees a kindred spirit in her—another person who doesn't quite fit in—and feels a deep, protective love for her from the start. Everything he does, from convincing Marilla to let Anne stay to encouraging her education, is driven by his desire to provide her with the love, stability, and joy she never had.

Matthew is a painfully shy, kind-hearted bachelor who is immediately charmed by Anne. He is the first to want to keep her. His arc is one of finding his voice. Terrified of women and social interaction, he rarely speaks, but his actions are profound. Through his unwavering, gentle love for Anne, he gains confidence. He learns to stand up to Marilla, to express his opinions, and to venture outside his comfort zone for Anne's sake, such as buying her a dress with puffed sleeves. He remains a man of few words, but by the series' end, he is more emotionally expressive and self-assured in his role as a loving father.

Gilbert is initially motivated by typical teenage pursuits and a desire to be the top student. After his father's death, his motivation shifts to honoring his father's memory and pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor. This ambition drives him to work hard and seek experiences outside of Avonlea. As his feelings for Anne deepen, his motivation becomes twofold: to achieve his professional goals while also building a future with the girl he loves.

Gilbert begins as a confident, popular boy who makes the mistake of teasing Anne, sparking a fierce academic rivalry. His arc is one of maturation and shifting priorities. After his father's death, he is forced to grow up quickly, leaving Avonlea to work on a steamship, which broadens his worldview. When he returns, his relationship with Anne evolves from rivalry to a deep friendship based on mutual respect for each other's intellect and spirit. He struggles between his ambition to become a doctor and his feelings for Anne. By the end of the series, he has chosen a path that allows him to pursue both, having matured into a thoughtful, compassionate, and worldly young man who values Anne as his equal.