The book's protagonist, Rilla (Marilla) is the youngest child of many living at Ingleside. Most of her brothers and sisters have grown and gone on to pursue their educations in different parts of Canada. Rilla, however, has no ambitions as a fifteen-year-old. Perhaps because she is the youngest, she has a tendency to act spoiled and to disregard the wishes of others in favor of her own desires, such as when she buys the very expensive green hat against her mother's will. As the book continues, though, Rilla develops in important and interesting ways. Namely, she grows into an intelligent and wise woman of nineteen.
