Anne with an E: Episode 6 (S1E6)
Death comes to Avonlea and it does not tread lightly. It stomps angrily, as death does.
S1E6 is titled "Remorse is the Poison of Life" / Alt Title: The Heroine of Her Own Story
Per usual, this episode’s title is borrowed from Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre.” Like Anne, the fictional Jane Eyre was a precocious and intelligent girl who was also an orphan.
“Remorse is the poison of life. Reformation may be its cure.”
As the title suggests, this episode ushers in regret by way of grief at the passing of Gilbert’s sickly father. Gilbert, now an orphan, enters a period of deep mourning. Anne, typically articulate and full of empathy, struggles to find the right words to comfort him. Instead, her attempts backfire, leading her to inadvertently insult both Gilbert and herself. This misstep sends Anne into a spiral of self-recrimination throughout the episode, during which her actions betray the feelings she vehemently denies—feelings that suggest she may care deeply for the boy she claims to despise.
“I must admit she’s got a presence of mind quite unusual for someone her age” - Aunt Josephine (Diana’s great aunt)
Anne’s introduction to Diana’s Aunt Josephine in this episode profoundly influences her sense of identity and agency. Josephine, grieving the loss of her long-time partner, embodies a bold and unconventional spirit for her time. She speaks freely and challenges societal norms, offering Anne a new perspective on life. When Anne berates herself for upsetting Gilbert, Josephine reassures her, emphasizing that she can define her own path. She tells Anne she doesn’t need to marry. This interaction inspires Anne to consider living as an independent woman and being the heroine of her own story.
Read on for this episode’s show-song connection, if onions on the soles of the feet really do bring down a fever, other major subplots (Minnie May almost dies!), and the people behind the show.
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Grief, heros, regrets, foregiveness, unlikely companions, and challenging the status quo are all part of this episode’s themes.
Who was your hero when you were 13?