The Conflict between Imagination and Societal Expectations in Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables

Abstract

Anne of Green Gables is considered as one of the iconic of classic literature at the 20th century, mostly known by its protagonist Anne Shirley, a young woman who has a vivid imagination, this latter clashes with her community’s social norms. The present study explores the conflict between imagination and societal expectations through the character of Anne Shirley by using two different lenses: the Freudian Psychoanalysis and the Orphan archetype, the research aims at examining the inner psychological phenomenon that occurred within the protagonist’s character, also it attempts to investigate Anne’s orphan archetype in order to prove that she embodies its essential qualities. The study revealed that the main character experienced a conflict to balance between her imagination and the real world, this conflict resulted her to develop challenges within her societal environment