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Originally Posted by gmw
Later in the story we hear something of the sad tale of Anne's life before arriving at Green Gables, and such a tale makes the idea that she would risk her position at her new home - which she obviously loves, if it's not all a dramatic put-on - seem unlikely in the extreme. Being forward and talkative and opinionated seemed unlikely enough, but yelling at her elders and then being reluctant to apologise? Being ungrateful for new clothes? It doesn't seem to fit with what we learn of her history.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Victoria
Yes I thought the passage made it clear that Marilla used spare cloth that she didn’t really like or value herself. As you say, it was good enough for an orphan. I was also struck by the comments about where she’s planned to put the little boy - it was neat and clean, but he wasn’t going to get an actual bedroom.
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The whole idea of adopting a child to be a servant is upsetting in the first place, though I suppose it wasn't unusual. Marilla and Matthew wanted unpaid labor, not a child to love--as apparently Anne's previous "parents" also did. It's also pretty horrifying that an orphan would just be sent out somewhere, with no vetting of any kind on either side. I guess there was no official adoption either, or any sort of follow-up, which I suppose would mean Anne could have been sent back at any time and had absolutely no recourse if she'd been maltreated (except poison in the well).