Margaret Harris

Margaret Harris
Biographical information
Also known as	Mrs. Harris Grandmama (by Emmeline)
Physical information
Gender	Female
Hair colour	White
Skin colour	Fair
Family information
Family members	Josiah Harris (husband) Morgan Harris (son) Pauline Harris (daughter) Emmeline Harris (granddaughter) Adelaide Pringle (daughter-in-law)
Family	Pringle family Harris family

Margaret Harris (neé Pringle) was the widowed mother of Morgan and Pauline Harris, the grandmother of Emmeline Harris, and a prominent resident of Kingsport.

Biography

Margaret was born sometime in the 1820s to Mr. and Mrs. Pringle, most likely in Kingsport, New Brunswick. She was a first cousin of "Mother Pringle", the matriarch of the royal family of Kingsport. She married Josiah Harris and had two children, Morgan and Pauline. The Harris family lived at Maplehurst, an extravagant mansion which was the envy of many in Kingsport. Josiah adored Margaret, but he had fits of temper and once ate a hat she gave him that he did not like. Morgan married his maternal first cousin Adelaide Pringle, and she gave birth to Margaret's only grandchild, Emmeline. Adelaide ran off shortly after and passed away, which the Pringle family blamed on Morgan for breaking his wife's heart. Morgan soon left Kingsport with his daughter for business, leaving Mrs. Harris, now an elderly woman using a wheelchair, to be cared for night and day by Pauline.

In the early 1900s, 13-year-old Emmeline was sent to live at Maplehurst after getting in trouble at the prestigious Kingsport Ladies' College. Mrs. Harris was displeased as she was easily disturbed and could not afford the expenses. She did not permit her granddaughter to have any visitors or make a spark of noise, warning that children died in their sleep for being impertinent. The old piano was not to be played because music made young girls bold and forward. Emmeline was not allowed to go out alone on the pretense that she would be kidnapped by gypsies. Mrs. Harris also kept Pauline a virtual prisoner in the house, constantly demanding help and not letting her do anything without permission.

One day, Mrs. Harris received a letter from Anne Shirley, Emmeline's teacher at KLC who had come across some old diaries written by Capt. Abraham Pringle, the founder of Kingsport, that mentioned Josiah. Mrs. Harris was horrified to discover an entry revealing that Josiah and his crew, after being shipwrecked, had cannibalized the body of a dead man named Jonas Selkirk. She believed Miss Shirley was blackmailing her and would tell this information to the other Pringles. In reality, Anne meant the diaries as a gift in exchange for tutoring Emmeline at home, and Mrs. Harris consented.

Miss Shirley brought about many changes at Maplehurst. She let sunlight into the dusty parlor and convinced Mrs. Harris to let Emmeline play the piano. Meanwhile, Pauline wanted to leave and attend a cousin's wedding anniversary for a day. Mrs. Harris, who was overly concerned about her health and hated being stuck in a wheelchair, became upset and insisted that she would not die alone. Anne spoke to Mrs. Harris and promised to keep her company, asserting that Pauline had earned a day off. Mrs. Harris grudgingly allowed it.

While Pauline was away, Anne invited the students of Kingsport Ladies' College to Maplehurst for a fall picnic. Mrs. Harris did not want to go as she had not left the house in years, but gave in as many of the girls were Pringles who would tell stories. She had fun at the picnic, playing croquet and talking with Anne about her family. After Morgan returned to Kingsport, the Harris family took Anne on a trip to Boston. Mrs. Harris was her usual self, complaining and ordering Pauline about endlessly. At Morgan's house, Mrs. Harris demanded that Emmeline live with her father and asked Morgan why he did not marry again. She told him to face up to his responsibilities.

Back in Kingsport, Pauline revealed that Isaac Kent, an old beau she had met at the party, had asked her to marry him. Mrs. Harris, who had apparently always hated Isaac, fell ill upon hearing this news. Pauline begged Anne to speak to her mother and ask for her forgiveness. Miss Shirley explained that she had advised Pauline to accept the proposal, and Mrs. Harris admitted that is what she always wanted. She gave Pauline her blessing before passing away.

Behind the scenes

Portrayal

• Dame Wendy Hiller portrayed Mrs. Harris in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987).

Trivia

• Mrs. Harris is based on Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Gibson from Anne of Windy Poplars.

Gallery

Anne of Green Gables Wiki has 6 images of Margaret Harris (view category).

Appearances

• Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987)