Kindred spirit

For Anne Shirley, the phrase "kindred spirit" is not a casual compliment but a precise and deeply felt category of human connection. It describes a person who instinctively understands her way of seeing the world—her need for imagination, her love of beauty, her dramatic emotional life—without requiring explanation or apology. The concept is central to Anne's emotional and social development, serving as both a compass for friendship and a measure of character. Throughout the novel, Anne's search for kindred spirits charts her journey from a lonely, misunderstood orphan to a beloved member of the Avonlea community, and the term itself becomes one of her most distinctive contributions to the language of the book.

The Meaning of the Term

Anne first uses the phrase within hours of arriving at Green Gables, when she tells Marilla that Matthew is "a kindred spirit" because "he didn't mind how much I talked—he seemed to like it" . For Anne, the defining quality of a kindred spirit is a sympathetic, non-judgmental receptiveness to her own nature—especially her talkativeness, her imagination, and her emotional intensity. The term implies a bond that bypasses social convention and superficial judgment, operating on an intuitive, almost spiritual level. When Anne later asks Marilla if Diana is "a kindred spirit," she is not asking whether Diana is a nice girl, but whether Diana shares her capacity for imaginative play and emotional depth . The concept is thus Anne's personal litmus test for genuine friendship, one that values inner affinity over outward propriety.

The First Kindred Spirits: Matthew and Diana

Matthew Cuthbert is Anne's first kindred spirit at Green Gables, and their bond is established almost instantly. On the drive from Bright River, Matthew, who normally dreads the company of women and children, finds himself enjoying Anne's ceaseless chatter—a reaction that astonishes him. Anne recognizes this immediately: "I felt that he was a kindred spirit as soon as ever I saw him" . Matthew's silent, accepting presence provides Anne with the first stable, unconditional affection she has ever known, and their relationship becomes the emotional bedrock of her new life. Diana Barry is the second, and their friendship is sealed with a solemn oath of eternal loyalty. When Anne asks Diana, "do you think you can like me a little—enough to be my bosom friend?" and Diana agrees, Anne experiences a revelation: "I never hoped you LOVED me. Why, Diana, I didn't think anybody could love me" . The discovery that she is capable of inspiring love in a kindred spirit is transformative for Anne, who has internalized a lifetime of rejection.

Recognizing Kindred Spirits in Unexpected Places

Anne's concept of kindred spirits expands as she encounters people who initially seem unlikely candidates. Miss Josephine Barry, Diana's stern, elderly aunt, first appears as a formidable figure who is furious after Anne and Diana accidentally jump on her in bed. Yet when Anne bravely confesses and appeals to Miss Barry's imagination, the old woman laughs and becomes a firm friend. Anne later reflects, "Miss Barry was a kindred spirit, after all. You wouldn't think so to look at her, but she is. You don't find it right out at first, as in Matthew's case, but after a while you come to see it" . This insight marks a maturation in Anne's understanding: kindred spirits are not always obvious, and recognizing them requires patience and openness. Mrs. Allan, the new minister's wife, is another such discovery. Anne falls "promptly and wholeheartedly in love" with her, finding her a kindred spirit because of her warmth, her encouragement of questions, and her cheerful approach to religion . When Anne accidentally flavors a cake with liniment, Mrs. Allan's gracious, laughing forgiveness confirms the bond: "it was really providential that Mrs. Allan was a kindred spirit" .

The Rarity and Abundance of Kindred Spirits

Initially, Anne believes kindred spirits are exceedingly rare. Her childhood was spent in a series of homes where no one understood her, and she created imaginary friends—Katie Maurice, Violetta—to fill the void. The arrival at Green Gables changes this. After meeting Miss Barry, Anne tells Marilla, "Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world" . This realization is a measure of Anne's growing sense of belonging. She also learns to distinguish between kindred spirits and people who are merely good or respectable. Miss Stacy, the new teacher, is a candidate: Anne hopes she will be a kindred spirit, and the hope itself reflects Anne's expanding social world . The concept thus functions as a narrative device that tracks Anne's integration into Avonlea, as each new kindred spirit represents another thread in the web of relationships that makes Green Gables a true home.

Thematic Significance

The idea of the kindred spirit is central to the novel's exploration of belonging, identity, and the transformative power of love. Anne's relentless search for understanding and connection is the emotional engine of the story, and each kindred spirit she finds confirms that she is not fundamentally unlovable or out of place. The term also embodies the novel's values: it privileges imagination, emotional honesty, and intuitive sympathy over social status, appearance, or conventional behavior. In a world that often tells Anne she talks too much, dreams too much, and feels too much, the kindred spirit is the one who says, in effect, that her way of being is not a flaw but a gift. The concept thus becomes a quiet but powerful argument for the legitimacy of a sensitive, imaginative temperament—and for the profound human need to be truly seen and accepted.