by Alice L., Cupertino
In the book Anne of Green Gables, Anne undergoes many developments and changes as she grows up. Anne starts the story as an unloved orphan, but she ultimately grows into a young school teacher who can take care of others. From an ugly wincey dress to a beautiful green evening gown, Anne has come a long way as she matures. Throughout her journey, her clothes represent both her physical and her mental development.
Clothing represents how Anne is accepted at Green Gables. When Anne first arrives at Green Gables, she is wearing an ugly yellow wincey dress. Nobody had loved her before in the asylum, so she was only given the bare minimum. During her first few days at Green Gables, she still wears the wincey dress because Marilla does not love her yet. However, after Anne apologizes to Mrs. Lynde, Marilla realizes that she and Anne share similar beliefs, and Marilla begins to care about her a little. Marilla spends time and effort to make Anne three serviceable dresses for school and church. This is the first time anyone has loved Anne and spent effort to make her happy. These three dresses symbolize how Anne is accepted at Green Gables.
Anne’s Christmas gift, a fashionable brown dress from Matthew, represents how he begins to care for Anne, not as a responsibility, but as a parent. Matthew, who is usually unobservant, notices that Anne is dressed differently from the other girls. To buy Anne a Christmas present that she will like, Matthew forces himself to go to a store he doesn’t usually go to and attempts to ask for a dress. After trying several times and failing, he resorts to asking Mrs. Lynde for help. Matthew confronts his fear of talking to women to buy Anne a Christmas present. Like a parent, Matthew cares about Anne’s happiness and wellbeing. She is no longer his responsibility, but his child. This dress symbolizes how Matthew begins to care about Anne like a parent.
Anne’s wardrobe as she is about to head to the Queen’s represents how she has grown up and can take care of herself. Ever since Anne arrived at Green Gables, Marilla imposed many restrictions on Anne’s wardrobe. She was never allowed to wear dresses with as many frills and shirrings as she wanted. Similarly, Marilla also regulated where Anne went with her friends. However, when Anne is picking a wardrobe to go to the Queen’s, Marilla allows Matthew to buy Anne dresses with lots of frills, and even makes her an evening dress. This new wardrobe represents how Anne has now grown up and can take care of herself.
Clothing represents Anne’s development throughout the book Anne of Green Gables. Along with Anne’s growth and development, her wardrobe changes. As Anne repeatedly proves herself to be responsible, Marilla is willing to buy Anne more fashionable dresses. Clothing is one of the major motifs in Anne of Green Gables that shows Anne’s change from a young unloved girl to a mature and confident Queen’s student.