Caddie Woodlawn Analysis

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It is not only widowers taking care of their daughters, in Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Matthew is a father-like figure. The family is definitely unconventional with siblings, Matthew and Marilla, raising an orphan girl, but the two adults do still have their own impact on Anne that affects her childhood. Matthew is set up to be the mild mannered sibling from the beginning; all social interaction making him feel out of place (Montgomery 4). He is the quiet one in the house, who does not have much space to express many words. His sister is the ruler of the household; her’s is the final word. Matthew often is the one to nudge her into being more flexible. It was through his quiet, non-confrontational personality that he was able …show more content…

The Woodlawn family are American pioneers, successfully chasing after their dream and living in a fairly new town in Wisconsin. Caddie is closest with her father, John, who was given the unusual opportunity to raise one of his daughters; a story which he tells to explain her behavior. He is proud that his methodology worked and Caddie survived because he “would rather see her learn to plow […] if she can get her health by doing so” (Brink 15). John saw that there was a problem with the health of his daughters, which, as a result, some died. Instead of forcing the continuation of convention, he decided that he would rather make sure Caddie lived over being seen as proper to outside people, never regretting his decision. The two have a bond that he does not share with his other children as he took such a vested interest in, and is credited with, helping to save her, which gives them a special connection to each other. John takes full responsibility for Caddie’s actions. In fact, he takes a certain pride because she is still alive to be getting into her scrapes. However, a deal between the parents, similar to that between Matthew and Marilla, left the mother to punish and the father to nurture. The biggest disagreement that Caddie has with her mother results with her in the bedroom set on running away. Her father visits her that night to console his daughter, sensing that she wanted some comfort. John quietly and soothingly without asking Caddie to change her position reminds her of their closeness, how she is his little girl, the one that was allowed to run free. John is trying to broaden Caddie’s perspective that Caddie without ever claiming that her fears are unfounded. He simply reminds her that she can be so much more, she is not going to become what she hates. John smartly brings up and

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