Views of Love and Romance

The ideas of love and romance and how it affects one's life are a main theme in Anne of the Island. Anne Shirley has two male friends, Charles Sloane and Gilbert Blythe, who have recently expressed interest in Anne beyond friendship.

At the age of 18, Anne is annoyed and frustrated at their attentions, preferring to keep them as friends. She is heading off to college where she wants to discover her own theories on love and life and not settle for the boys at home. The older women of Avonlea think Anne should marry Gilbert and settle down and that she is just going to college to flirt with boys. Anne is determined to get a good education and puts off thought of boys second in her mind.

Anne is also sure that when love happens in her life it will be full of...