Mrs. Allan

Mrs. Allan arrives in Avonlea as the young, pretty wife of the new minister, Mr. Allan, and from the moment Anne meets her, she falls "promptly and wholeheartedly in love" with her. Anne immediately recognizes Mrs. Allan as another kindred spirit, a discovery that fills her with delight. Mrs. Allan is described as a bright, gentle little lady, full of good and beautiful enthusiasms for her chosen life work. She is dressed in blue muslin with lovely puffed sleeves and a hat trimmed with roses, details that Anne notes with approval, though Jane Andrews considers such fashion too worldly for a minister's wife. Anne, however, makes allowances, knowing what it is to long for puffed sleeves herself.

Role as Teacher and Mentor

Mrs. Allan takes over Anne's Sunday-school class and proves to be a splendid teacher. She immediately declares that she does not think it fair for the teacher to ask all the questions, a sentiment Anne has always held. Mrs. Allan encourages the girls to ask any question they like, and Anne takes full advantage, being "good at asking questions." Mrs. Allan's teaching style is warm and engaging; she talks so nicely about everything that Anne realizes for the first time that "religion was such a cheerful thing." Anne confides to Marilla that she would like to be a Christian if she could be one like Mrs. Allan, who seems glad to be a Christian and would be one even if she could get to heaven without it. Mrs. Allan also tells Anne that she was a dunce at geometry, a confession that greatly encourages Anne in her own struggles with the subject.

A Supportive Friend and Confidante

Mrs. Allan's kindness extends beyond the classroom. When Anne's layer cake, made specially for the minister's tea, turns out to be flavored with anodyne liniment instead of vanilla, Anne is mortified and flees to her room in tears. Mrs. Allan follows her upstairs, sits on her bed, and comforts her with laughter, telling her it is "just a funny mistake that anybody might make." She appreciates Anne's kindness and thoughtfulness just as much as if the cake had turned out right, and she leads Anne down to show her flower garden, effectively soothing her distress. Mrs. Allan visits Anne fourteen times during the seven weeks Anne is laid up with a broken ankle, a fact Anne proudly reports to Marilla. Unlike Mrs. Lynde, who tells Anne it is her own fault and hopes she will be a better girl, Mrs. Allan is a cheerful visitor who never reproaches her. Anne tells Mrs. Allan everything about her life—Mrs. Thomas, the twins, Katie Maurice, Violetta, coming to Green Gables, and her troubles over geometry—and finds in her a sympathetic listener.

Influence on Anne's Moral and Spiritual Growth

Mrs. Allan's influence on Anne is profound and lasting. Anne strives to be as much like Mrs. Allan as possible, considering her perfect. Mrs. Allan's advice that "we should always try to influence other people for good" becomes a guiding principle for Anne. When Anne struggles with her feelings about Mrs. Lynde, she confides in Mrs. Allan, who gently explains that Matthew, though gone, would still want Anne to find pleasure in the world. Mrs. Allan's understanding helps Anne reconcile her grief with her continuing joy in life. Anne's decision to stay at Green Gables and teach rather than go to Redmond College is met with Mrs. Allan's approving words, which bring tears of pleasure to Anne's eyes. Mrs. Allan represents a model of goodness that is neither stern nor melancholy, but cheerful, practical, and deeply humane, and her friendship is one of the great shaping forces of Anne's adolescence.