Marilla Cuthbert

Marilla Cuthbert was the sister of Matthew Cuthbert, guardian of Anne Shirley, Davy and Dora Keith, friend of Rachel Lynde and resident of Green Gables.

Early life
Marilla Cuthbert grew up in Avonlea with her parents and her brother Matthew Cuthbert. Her mother was Scottish.During her schooldays, John Blythe, eventually the father of Gilbert, was said to have been interested in Marilla once, and people called him "Marilla's beau." Unfortunately, they had a quarrel and Marilla never forgave him. She eventually came to regret it and likely would have forgiven John Blythe if she had another chance.

Anne's arrival
Marilla and Matthew were expecting a boy to help out around the farm -- instead, they got the red-headed orphan, Anne. The two of them were debating whether to keep or send Anne back, but in the end Marilla gave in to Matthew's wish and decided to bring Anne up herself.

Living with Rachel Lynde
Marilla died in 1910 before World War I and after Jem, Anne's eldest son, went away to Queen's Academy.

Personality
"Marilla Cuthbert has got mellow."

- Mrs. Rachel Lynde about Marilla

Marilla Cuthbert was very good at keeping cool and hiding her emotions. When she was very happy, she became extremely emotional, but when the event was over, she quickly regained her cool demeanor. Marilla was much more formidable then Matthew, who possessed a very kind nature under his shy countenance.

Marilla had a crispness to her, as Mrs. Lynde would say. After Matthew died and Anne matured she got very mellow and showed her emotions a bit more.

Matthew Cuthbert
Matthew Cuthbert was Marilla's brother. He was a very shy man who lived at Green Gables with her, and later Anne, until he died near the end of Anne of Green Gables.

Anne Shirley
Anne Shirley was Marilla's adopted daughter whom she originally didn't want, but later found she couldn't live without. Marilla felt that, in some strange way, Gilbert 's marriage with Anne would put right the old mistake of not forgiving his father.



Davy Keith
Davy Keith was one of a pair of twins that Marilla adopted when Anne was sixteen. She loved him dearly, though he got into scrapes a lot, a bit like Anne.

Dora Keith
Dora Keith was another one of a pair of twins that Marilla adopted when Anne was sixteen. She was very calm, demure, and ladylike. Anne once confessed to Marilla that she liked Davy better than Dora, even though Dora had practically no faults to speak of. (Which was probably exactly why the precocious Anne liked him better.)

Rachel Lynde
Mrs. Rachel Lynde was Marilla's good friend. She moved into Green Gables after her husband, Thomas Lynde, died. Marilla, however much she likes Rachel, is willing to contradict Rachel for Anne's sake.

Behind the scenes

 * In Anne of Windy Poplars, it is mentioned that Marilla's mother (and hence Matthew's as well) was a Johnson.
 * Colleen Dewhurst portrayed Marilla in 1985 movie Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987). She also portrayed her in several episodes of Road to Avonlea series and appeared in archive footage in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (1999) and Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008). Colleen also had a house on Prince Edward Island.
 * Barbara Hamilton portrayed Marilla in 1972 TV series Anne of Green Gables and its sequel Anne of Avonlea (1975).
 * Margot Christie portrayed her in 1956 film Anne of Green Gables.
 * Joan Miller portrayed Marilla in all six episodes of 1952 TV series Anne of Green Gables.
 * Helen Westley portrayed her in 1934 film Anne of Green Gables, also starring Anne Shirley as Anne Shirley.
 * Marcia Harris portrayed Marilla in 1919 silent film Anne of Green Gables.

Book appearance

 * Anne of Green Gables
 * Anne of Avonlea
 * Anne of the Island
 * Anne of Windy Poplars
 * Anne's House of Dreams
 * Anne of Ingleside (mentioned only)
 * Rainbow Valley (mentioned only)
 * Rilla of Ingleside (mentioned only)

Appearance in short stories

 * Chronicles of Avonlea

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)
 * Anne of Avonlea (1975)

Kevin Sullivan's films

 * Anne of Green Gables (1985)
 * Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987)
 * Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (1999) (archive footage)
 * Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008) (archive footage)