Matthew Cuthbert

Matthew Cuthbert was the brother of Marilla Cuthbert and a citizen of Avonlea. He never married and was generally known as an extremely shy man.

Matthew indirectly helped Marilla to raise Anne Shirley, an orphan from Nova Scotia, after she arrived at Green Gables at age eleven. He died of a heart attack when Anne was sixteen, and that was the first death of someone close she had ever known.

Early life
Matthew was born in 1816 in Avonlea to Mr. and Mrs. Cuthbert as their first child. A few years later, his younger sister Marilla was born. They raised along in Avonlea until Mr. Cuthbert build a new house which they named Green Gables.

Not much is known about Matthew Cuthbert's early life. He was not very educated as is shown when Anne asks him to relate studying geometry with her. It can be inferred, however, that he was very shy and didn't go to school a lot because he worked on the farm. His mother was Scottish.

Anne's arrival
Matthew Cuthbert was originally disappointed when he saw Anne waiting at the train station, becuase he had been expecting a boy to be waiting at the train station and he was afraid of women. When he drove her to Green Gables in his buggy, he warmed up to her chatter and became a kindred spirt. He grudgingly took her to Marilla where she would learn that she could not stay, and become extremely disappointed. Later he convinced Marilla to let her stay.

Death
Matthew died when Anne was sixteen, due to a heart attack because all his (and Marilla's) money was lost in bank failure. Both Anne and Marilla deeply mourned his death, although Anne had trouble crying and letting out her tears at first and Marilla stopped crying when she realized it was reality and to comfort Anne when she was crying.

Personality
"He was so shy we boys never really got to know him."

- Gilbert Blythe about Matthew when his wife, Anne, names her first child after him

Matthew was a nice, loving person. He almost spoiled Anne, but made excuses for doing it. He bought her a dress with puffed sleeves for Christmas when he noticed she wantd a dress, which Marilla originally disapproved of, but later decided that Anne deserved it.

Matthew was also extremely shy and was afraid of most women. He originally wanted a boy, but due to a mix-up, got Anne instead and enjoyed her company. He also convinced Marilla to keep her, because she was going to send her back to the orphanage.

Matthew was one of Anne's kindred spirits. He was a very good-natured shy man. He loved Anne with all his heart. He was simple and a hard worker. Matthew was an odd-looking personage, with an ungainly figure and long iron-gray hair that touched his stooping shoulders, and a full, soft brown beard which he had worn ever since he was twenty. In fact, he had looked at twenty very much as he looked at sixty, lacking a little of the grayness.

Behind the scenes

 * Richard Farnsworth portrayed Matthew in 1985 movie Anne of Green Gables. Richard also appeared at the photo in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987) and in retrospective in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (1999).
 * Elliott Sullivan portrayed Matthew in 1972 TV mini series Anne of Green Gables.
 * John Drainie portrayed him in 1956 TV film Anne of Green Gables.
 * Charles Richardson portrayed him in all six episodes of 1952 TV series Anne of Green Gables.
 * O. P. Heggie portrayed Matthew in 1934 film Anne of Green Gables, also starring Anne Shirley as Anne Shirley.
 * Frederick Burton was the first actor who portrayed Matthew - it was in 1919 silent film Anne of Green Gables.

Book appearance

 * Anne of Green Gables (first appearance)
 * Anne of Avonlea (mentioned only)
 * Anne's House of Dreams (mentioned only)

Movie appearance

 * Anne of Green Gables (1919)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1934)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1952)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1956)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1972)

Kevin Sullivan's movies

 * Anne of Green Gables (1985)
 * Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987) (photo)
 * Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (1999) (retrospective)