Student Question

How does Marilla meet Mrs. Blewett in Anne of Green Gables?

Quick answer:

In Anne of Green Gables, Marilla happens to meet up with Mrs. Blewett at Mrs. Spencer's house. Marilla has gone there to say she can't keep Anne. However, when Marilla sees that the hard-hearted Mrs. Blewett is willing to take Anne, Marilla keeps the child to save her from that fate.

Expert Answers

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Marilla comes to meet with Mrs. Spencer to tell her there is a mistake about the child and that she and Matthew can't keep Anne. Mrs. Spencer says that's fine because Mrs. Blewett needs a girl, and Anne can go home with her. At that moment, Mrs. Blewett walks up to Mrs. Spencer's house and enters.

Like most of the neighbors, Marilla dislikes Mrs. Blewett, a dried up, penny-pinching, harsh woman who has a reputation for overworking her servants. Although Marilla started off wanting someone to take Anne off her hands, her soul shrivels up at the idea of putting a sensitive creature like Anne under the power of someone like Mrs. Blewett.

Anne senses immediately that Mrs. Blewett has a hard heart, and she is distressed at the idea of being taken by her. Mrs. Blewett tells Anne that she is willing to have her if she is very good and respectful and works hard to earn her keep, but Marilla pipes up to say she isn't sure that she and Matthew can part with the girl.

Anne, for her part, is delighted that she still has a chance to stay with Marilla. When Marilla gets home with Anne and tells Matthew all that has happened, he says he wouldn't put a dog he liked with Mrs. Blewett. Anne therefore gets to stay in the kinder, more loving home.

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