Mrs. Barry

Mrs. Barry
Biographical information
Born	1840s
Also known as	Elizabeth Barry (in film)
Physical information
Gender	Female
Hair colour	Black
Eye colour	Black
Skin colour	Fair
Family information
Family members	Parents Mr. Murray (father) † Mrs. Murray (mother) † Siblings Charles Murray (brother) Nieces and nephews Rhoda Murray (niece) Cousins Rosanna (second cousin) Spouse George Barry (husband) Issue Diana Barry (daughter) Minnie May Barry (daughter) Grandchildren Fred Wright Jr. (grandson) Anne Cordelia Wright (granddaughter) Jack Wright (grandson) In-law family Fred Wright (son-in-law) Other Hester Gray (relation) †

Mrs. Barry (nee Murray) was the wife of George Barry and the mother to Diana and Minnie May Barry.

Biography

Early life

Mrs. Barry was born a Murray sometime in 1840s in Newbridge to Mr. and Mrs. Murray. She was raised there along with her brother Charles. When she was six years old, she attended Newbridge school. Mrs. Barry was very traditional like most older women of Avonlea so she did not approve of Queen's Academy.

Marriage with George Barry

In 1860s Mrs. Barry met George Barry and fell in love with him. They married probably in 1864. Aunt Atossa was worried all would not be well.

Motherhood

Mrs. Barry with her daughters

In February 1865 she gave birth to her eldest daughter. Diana inherited her looks and black hair. Mrs. Barry often worried that Diana read too much.

Eight years later, in 1874, her second daughter Minnie May Barry was born.

Personality

Mrs. Barry, according to Marilla Cuthbert and Rachel Lynde, was not a friendly character. She accused Anne of giving Diana red-currant-wine on purpose, although it was an accident.

Relationships

Anne Shirley

When Anne arrived to Green Gables, she wanted to have a bosom friend. Diana Barry happened to live nearby and Marilla brought Anne over to see her. Marilla Cuthbert warned her not to 'say anything startling' because Mrs. Barry was a particular woman. Anne did her best and played with and became dear friends with Diana.

When Diana was invited for tea to Green Gables, she drank currant wine mistaking it to be raspberry cordial and Anne was blamed by Mrs. Barry. Anne did not mean to do it. She ran straight to Mrs. Barry and begged pardoned with tragic gestures and long words, but Mrs. Barry thought she were merely making fun of her.

Then Mrs. Barry banned Diana from associating with Anne. But one winter night when Mrs. Barry was with her husband George Barry in Charlottetown, Minnie May was sick and Diana called on Anne for help as a last resort. Anne saved Minnie May's life. After this event, Mrs. Barry forgave Anne and was nice to her.

Physical appearance

"She was a tall black-eyed, black-haired woman, with a very resolute mouth."

—Anne of Green Gables, Chapter 12

Etymology

Elizabeth is a female given name of Hebrew origin and means God's promise or God is my oath.

• This given name was used only in films by Kevin Sullivan. Her real first name in books is unknown.

Behind the scenes

• Rosemary Radcliff portrayed Mrs. Barry in all three Kevin Sullivan's films, Anne of Green Gables (1985), Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987) and Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000).
  • Reiko Mutou was Mrs. Barry's voice actress in Japanese TV series Akage no An (1979).
  • Helen Horton portrayed Mrs. Barry in 1972 TV series Anne of Green Gables, also starring Kim Braden as Anne Shirley.
  • Sydney Sturgess portrayed her in 1956 TV film Anne of Green Gables. It is unknown if she appeared also in 1958 film Anne of Green Gables.
  • Estelle Brody portrayed Mrs. Barry in two episodes of 1952 TV series Anne of Green Gables.
  • Sara Haden portrayed her in 1934 film Anne of Green Gables. Her character in this film was named Mrs. Rachel Barry and was the hybrid of Rachel Lynde and Mrs. Barry
  • Carolyn Lee portrayed Mrs. Barry in 1919 silent film Anne of Green Gables.
• Mrs. Barry's maiden name was probably Murray. In Anne of Green Gables, Diana's cousins, the Murrays from Newbridge, came to a concert. In Anne of Avonlea Diana mentioned that her uncle Charles lived in Newbridge, which means that he's part of the Murray family. He must be Mrs. Barry's brother, because George Barry was born and raised in Avonlea and had different surname.
• Mrs. Barry might be related to Hester Murray, girl who lived in Newbridge and then moved to Boston, USA. When Hester returned home, married Jordan Gray and settled down in Avonlea, Mrs. Barry and Rachel Lynde often visited her and were the only ones close to her.
• In the books, her first name is unknown. It appeared only in film credits as Elizabeth Barry.

Gallery

Anne of Green Gables Wiki has 23 images of Mrs. Barry (view category).

Sara Haden as Rachel Barry in Anne of Green Gables (1934).

Nippon Animation (animation) and Reiko Mutou (voice) as Mrs. Barry in Akage no An (1979).

Rosemary Radcliff as Elizabeth Barry in Anne of Green Gables (1985).

Rosemary Radcliff as Elizabeth Barry in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987).

Rosemary Radcliff as Elizabeth Barry in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000).

Appearances

Book appearances Anne of Green Gables Anne of Avonlea (mentioned only) Anne of the Island Short story appearances Chronicles of Avonlea "The Courting of Prissy Strong" (mentioned only)

Film appearances Anne of Green Gables (1919) Anne of Green Gables (1934) Anne of Green Gables (1956) Anne of Green Gables (1985) Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987) Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000) TV series appearances Anne of Green Gables (1952) Anne of Green Gables (1972) Akage no An (1979)