Marilla thinks that Anne is so vain, she probably thinks that this novel is about her. And, of course, she's right.
She's also right that Anne spends a great deal of time thinking about her appearance. You might call Anne's hatred of her red hair an obsession. She's constantly asking people how it looks, hoping it's grown darker, and she rages at people who make fun of it.
And like in a morality tale, Anne is punished for her vanity when she tries to dye her hair black and it turns out green.
But worrying about your looks is part of being human, and the narrator doesn't look down on her for it. Remember, Anne was called ugly for all of her memory, starting with the first woman she ended up with, Mrs. Thomas, which probably added to her feeling unwanted. Makes sense that it's a sore spot.
Questions About Appearances
- Why does Anne get so angry when people compare her hair to carrots?
- What does the way adults talk about children's looks in this book show about how children are viewed in its time period and culture?
- Why is it important to Anne to have a beautiful friend? What does that desire say about Anne?
- If Mrs. Lynde hadn't gotten to know Anne, would she still think her beautiful if she saw her at the story's end?
Chew on This
Anne's obsession with her looks stems from feeling unwanted when she was younger.
Anne was not successful in her goal to stop caring about her looks after the hair-dyeing incident.