Poor Dora. :(( She tries so hard! And the result of her trying so hard is that Anne and Marilla both conclude that Davy "needs" them more, because why would a well-behaved six-year-old need love and attention? She's so well-behaved! Obviously everything must be fine; just let her coast for a while. And Davy's just one of those characters you can tell the author likes A LOT better than you do, like Neelix on Voyager.
It's gratifying to re-read & find that Dora isn't actually being neglected. But all the little conversations about how much more "lovable" Davy is break my heart. It makes me sad that we never (or seldom? I haven't finished my re-read yet) get a letter from Dora to Anne, though we get more than enough from Davy.
I know, I know, I take bit characters in LMM novels way too seriously. :/
Ugh, Gilbert. He's not as bad as that annoying narrator guy from Kilmeny of the Orchard and that's all I feel like saying for him today. No, that's not fair; there's nothing wrong with him except terminal smugness, but I definitely don't get the love.
Gene Stratton Porter's The Girl of the Limberlost also had a naughty little boy character who the author clearly liked far more than I did. I want to read more about moths and Elnora's difficulties with her bizarre mother! Not about this annoying child! So maybe it's an early twentieth century literature thing.
I like to think that once Dora left Green Gables, she found people who loved and appreciated her as she was, and therefore felt no need to write Anne. Although probably she dutifully sent a Christmas card or two, which Anne barely notices because she always did favor Davy. :(
It's gratifying to re-read & find that Dora isn't actually being neglected. But all the little conversations about how much more "lovable" Davy is break my heart. It makes me sad that we never (or seldom? I haven't finished my re-read yet) get a letter from Dora to Anne, though we get more than enough from Davy.
I know, I know, I take bit characters in LMM novels way too seriously. :/
Ugh, Gilbert. He's not as bad as that annoying narrator guy from Kilmeny of the Orchard and that's all I feel like saying for him today. No, that's not fair; there's nothing wrong with him except terminal smugness, but I definitely don't get the love.
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I like to think that once Dora left Green Gables, she found people who loved and appreciated her as she was, and therefore felt no need to write Anne. Although probably she dutifully sent a Christmas card or two, which Anne barely notices because she always did favor Davy. :(
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