Background: Marilla Cuthbert and her brother, Matthew, owned the Green Gables farm and took in Anne as a young orphan despite the fact they had ordered a boy from the Halifax orphanage. Everything was black and white in Marilla's world until Anne's arrival.

Marilla was a sour woman of 60, who found it very difficult to show her feelings, but her tough exterior hid an extremely soft heart. A hard working farmwoman, she found Anne's imagination frustrating but enchanting. Despite the trials Anne brought into her life, Marilla loved Anne deeply.

Marilla's laugh and the power of her inner-soul were strong tonics in Anne's upbringing. The confidence Marilla learned to hold in Anne, her respect for Anne's accomplishments, and her unconditional love, allowed Anne to achieve greatness in her own life.