Matthew Cuthbert

"... he was the shyest man alive and hated to have to go among strangers or to any place where he might have to talk."

- Anne of Green Gables

Matthew Cuthbert was the brother of Marilla Cuthbert, resident of Green Gables and a kindred spirit of Anne Shirley.

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

Matthew wasn't 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.

Anne's arrival
Matthew Cuthbert was shocked when he saw Anne waiting at the train station, because 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 spirit. He 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 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 wanted a dress, which Marilla originally disapproved of, but later decided that Anne deserved it. As with Marilla, he was proud of how she excelled in school.

Matthew was also extremely shy and was afraid of 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 man. He loved Anne with all his heart. He was simple and a hard worker. Matthew was often the voice of reason for Anne and Marilla.

Physical appearance
"He was an odd-looking personage, with an ungainly figure and long iron-grey 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 greyness."

- Anne of Green Gables, Chapter 2

Etymology
Matthew is a male given name of Hebrew origin and means gift of God.
 * Anne Shirley named her first son, James Matthew, after him.

Behind the scenes
Portrayal
 * Martin Sheen will portray Matthew in the upcoming 2016 film Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.
 * Chris Jones played him in Green Gables Fables (2014–2015), an American-Canadian web series.
 * Wayne Robson was Matthew's voice actor in Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series (2000-2001) and in the 2005 video film Anne: Journey to Green Gables.
 * Sean Baker provided the voice of Matthew in the 1997 radio drama Anne of Green Gables.
 * RichardFarnsworth.jpg[[Richard Farnsworth]] portrayed Matthew in the 1985 film Anne of Green Gables. Farnsworth also appeared in the photo in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987) and in archive footage in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000).
 * Ryûji Saikachi was Matther's voice actor in the 1979 Japanese TV series Akage no An (1979).
 * Elliott Sullivan portrayed Matthew in all five episodes of the 1972 TV series Anne of Green Gables.
 * Alojz Kramár provided the voice of Matthew in the 1966 radio drama Anna zo Zeleného domu.
 * Paul Guèvremont played the part in the 1957 TV film Anne de Green Gables, starring Mirielle Lachance as Anne Shirley.
 * John Drainie portrayed him in the 1956 TV film Anne of Green Gables and in its 1958 reprise.
 * Charles Richardson portrayed Matthew in all six episodes of the 1952 TV series Anne of Green Gables.
 * MacDonald Parke provided the voice of Matthew in the 1941 radio drama and in its 1944 remake.
 * O.P. Heggie played him in the 1934 film Anne of Green Gables, also starring Anne Shirley as Anne Shirley.
 * Frederick Burton portrayed Matthew in the 1919 silent film Anne of Green Gables. Burton was the first actor to play the part.
 * Since 1965, these actors have portrayed Matthew in the Charlottetown production of Anne of Green Gables – The Musical: Peter Mews (1965–1971), Douglas Chamberlain (1974, 1980), George Merner (1976–1979), Terry Doyle (1986), Hank Stinson (1997, 2015), David Hughes (1999), Michael Fletcher (2002, 2005), Sandy Winsby (2006–2009), Barrie Wood (2010), Kristian Truelsen (2011) and Tim Koetting (2012–2014).

Appearances
Book appearances
 * Anne of Green Gables
 * Anne of Avonlea (mentioned only)
 * Anne of Windy Poplars (mentioned only)
 * Anne's House of Dreams (mentioned only)
 * Anne of Ingleside (mentioned only)

Film appearances
 * Anne of Green Gables (1919)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1934)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1956)
 * Anne de Green Gables (1957)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1958)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1985)
 * Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987) (photo)
 * Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000) (archive footage)
 * Anne: Journey to Green Gables (2005)
 * Akage no An: Road to Green Gables (2010)
 * Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables (2016)

TV series appearances Stage appearances Radio drama appearances Web adaptations appearances
 * Anne of Green Gables (1952)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1972)
 * Akage no An (1979)
 * Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series (2000-2001)
 * Anne (2007)
 * Anne of Green Gables – The Musical (1965)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1941)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1944)
 * Anna zo Zeleného domu (1966)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1997)
 * Green Gables Fables (2014–2015)