Lucy Montgomery American Dream

Within the last decade, it has come out that Lucy Maud Montgomery, the beloved writer of Anne of Green Gables had potentially committed suicide. This has pushed readers and critics alike to read deeper into her novels in order to discover precursor signs of a dark depression that she experienced for a substantial period of time. That being said, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s opinions and feelings are certainly reflected in her works, and more particularly in her biggest success Anne of Green Gables. The story, according to Narbonne, acts as a vehicle to uncover Maud’s deepest emotions and also her, “social outlook” (85) To begin with, Montgomery makes a direct line of connection between the events of Anne’s life and her own, which only serves to

This is largely due to the fact that Anne has trained herself to use her imagination to separate herself from traumatic events. For Anne, imagination, “incorporates elements of the fantastic, the beautiful, or the ideal” (Gray, 170). Imagination enables Anne to experience the ideal life that she seeks. As blank has pointed out, “imagination in Anne of Green Gables serves not only as a source of pleasure for Anne, but also as a source of survival, motivation, and power” (Gray, 169). In other words, it is the one area in her life that she is allowed to take control of. Before being adopted by the Cuthberts, Anne sought refuge with her imagination as a kind of safe haven. The child has experienced such tribulations that she convinces herself that if the Cuthberts do not come for her (and in saying this she half expects them not to) she will “go down the track to that wild cherry tree at the bend, and climb up into it to stay all night” (Montgomery, 17). The child is preparing herself for hurt by imagining it away. This is what Lucy comes to appreciate. Montgomery is looking for this kind of separation from her terrors. This is Montgomery’s last plea to come out on top of her mental illness. Like Anne, she wants to overcome all of her disappointments and

The concept of realism delves into the idea that something (in this case Anne of Green Gables itself) represents a person, thing or event accurately. Anne of Green Gables illustrates Montgomery’s life by means of her fictional character Anne Shirley. To begin with, Anne’s life has a direct connection with the life of Montgomery herself, both went through childhood trauma. In addition, Marilla and Anne both serve as facets of Montgomery’s psyche. Next, Anne’s imagination acts as a means of escape that Maud attempts to achieve herself. Furthermore, Anne develops a connection with Matthew unlike any other, which points out the strength of imagination and perhaps the isolation of Marilla (Montgomery herself). Additionally, the idea of a “New Woman” is born around the time of Maud, and her novel shows her support of this new idea through the portrayal of Anne as this “New Woman”. Lastly, Anne’s perception of loss changes at the end of the novel to something of acceptance. This is poignant because if Anne is a mimic of Montgomery herself, then this could be connected to the acceptance of the loss of self in Montgomery’s case. In Montgomery’s suicide note she explains, “What an end to a life in which I tried always to do my best” (Stein”). Montgomery’s life was undoubtedly a struggle. With that being said, she certainly achieved her best in writing the series