The Conflict and Reconciliation Between Anne Shirley and Mrs. Barry

The relationship between Anne Shirley and Mrs. Barry is defined by a dramatic conflict born of a well-intentioned mistake and a subsequent reconciliation earned through courageous action. Mrs. Barry, a strict and particular woman, initially views Anne with suspicion, and a single disastrous tea party confirms her worst fears, leading to a painful separation between Anne and her beloved bosom friend, Diana. The rupture is only healed when Anne's quick thinking and practical skill save the life of Mrs. Barry's youngest child, forcing the older woman to recognize Anne's true character and apologize for her harsh judgment.

The Currant Wine Incident and Its Aftermath

The central conflict erupts when Anne, left in charge of Green Gables, invites Diana to tea. Intending to serve raspberry cordial, Anne mistakenly retrieves a bottle of Marilla's homemade currant wine from the pantry shelf. Diana drinks three generous tumblerfuls and becomes dizzy and ill, having to be sent home. The next day, Mrs. Lynde reports to Marilla that Mrs. Barry is "in an awful state," accusing Anne of having set Diana drunk and declaring she will never allow Diana to play with Anne again. Anne is devastated, crying to Marilla, "Mrs. Barry is so indignant. She will never believe but what I did it on purpose." Marilla attempts to explain the mistake to Mrs. Barry, but finds her "unreasonable" and unwilling to listen. Anne then makes a personal appeal, walking bareheaded through the chill autumn dusk to Orchard Slope. She pleads with Mrs. Barry, asking her to imagine being "a poor little orphan girl that kind people had adopted" with "just one bosom friend in all the world," but Mrs. Barry remains cold and cruel, telling Anne she is "not a fit little girl for Diana to associate with" and shutting the door in her face. Anne returns home "calm with despair," telling Marilla she does not believe Mrs. Barry is "a well-bred woman."

The Separation and Its Pain

The enforced separation from Diana is a source of profound grief for Anne. Diana is permitted only a ten-minute farewell by the Dryad's Bubble, during which the two girls exchange a lock of hair and make a solemn vow of eternal friendship. Anne tells Marilla, "I shall never have another friend. I'm really worse off than ever before." At school, Diana is forced to sit with Gertie Pye, and the two friends can only communicate through notes and furtive glances. Anne's happiness is deeply diminished, and she throws herself into her studies as a distraction, finding that the only consolation is the secret knowledge that their "spirits can commune."

The Rescue of Minnie May and Reconciliation

The turning point comes months later, during a winter evening when Marilla and Mrs. Lynde are away at a political rally. Diana rushes to Green Gables in a panic, crying that her three-year-old sister, Minnie May, is "awful sick" with croup and that both parents are in town. Anne immediately takes charge, telling Diana, "I know exactly what to do for croup. You forget that Mrs. Hammond had twins three times." She administers ipecac, builds up the fire, and works tirelessly through the night, keeping the child alive until Matthew returns with a doctor from Spencervale at three o'clock in the morning. The doctor later tells Mr. and Mrs. Barry that Anne "saved that baby's life, for it would have been too late by the time I got there." The next day, Mrs. Barry comes to Green Gables to see Anne. She tells Marilla she is "very sorry she acted as she did in that affair of the currant wine" and hopes Anne will forgive her. Anne goes to Orchard Slope that evening, where Mrs. Barry kisses her and cries, saying she "could never repay" her. Anne, feeling "fearfully embarrassed," responds with dignity: "I have no hard feelings for you, Mrs. Barry. I assure you once for all that I did not mean to intoxicate Diana and henceforth I shall cover the past with the mantle of oblivion." The friendship between Anne and Diana is fully restored, and Anne is treated as "real company," with Mrs. Barry setting out her "very best china" for tea.

Thematic Significance

The arc of Anne's relationship with Mrs. Barry illustrates a central theme of the novel: the power of genuine character to overcome prejudice and misunderstanding. Mrs. Barry's initial judgment is based on appearances and hearsay, and she is quick to condemn Anne without seeking the truth. Anne, in turn, is forced to endure the injustice of being misjudged. The resolution comes not through argument or apology, but through Anne's demonstration of competence, courage, and selflessness in a crisis. Mrs. Barry's willingness to admit her mistake and apologize marks a significant moment of growth for her character, while Anne's gracious acceptance of the apology shows her own maturation. The episode reinforces the novel's belief that actions speak louder than words and that even the most strained relationships can be healed through genuine acts of kindness and understanding.