Chapter XIX: A Concert, a Catastrophe, and a Confession

In the very next scene after Anne’s chat with Mrs. Lynde, we see Anne approaching Miss Josephine Barry, intent on confessing that the spare-room incident had been her idea, and even modeling an empathetic approach, telling Miss Barry that, while she had never experienced it, she could imagine how it felt to be awakened after a long journey by being bounced on.  Just as she did with Mrs. Lynde, Anne makes a bid for empathy from Miss Barry. Anne asks Miss Barry to “imagine what you would feel like if you were a little orphan girl who had never had such an honor [of sleeping in a spare-room bed],” when Miss Barry reprimands Anne for disturbing her sleep.  Unlike in the exchange with Mrs. Lynde, though, Miss Barry accepts Anne’s bid for empathy, responding, “I dare say your claim to sympathy is just as strong as mine.  It all depends on the way we look at it.”  Miss Barry then further opens the situation up to understanding and dialogue, inviting Anne to “sit down here and tell me about yourself.”

Miss Josephine Barry and Anne Shirley come from different generations, backgrounds, and experiences, and yet, they became “firm friends.” They both use empathy and imagination to overcome their differences and, ultimately, enrich their lives.  In this chapter, we see Anne keeping Miss Barry in good humor, and we know that later on, Miss Barry becomes Anne’s benefactor. Here, Montgomery shows that imagination can be one of the most powerful tools when we use it for empathy and communication.  Even though Miss Barry’s imagination is “a little rusty,” she’s able to use it and begin a relationship with Anne that is mutually beneficial.

For me, the themes of empathy and imagination in this chapter connect to a larger idea about empathy and imagination, one that has to do with the act of reading. Many research studies have shown that reading fiction can increase human empathy, because fiction readers are asked to imagine and understand characters’ feelings, experiences, and motivations as part of the reading practice. This practice of reading, of imagining, and of empathizing helps readers develop the desire and the strategies, like the ones Anne and Miss Barry demonstrate in this chapter, for communicating and connecting with others. Because of this, Lucy Maud Montgomery and other writers that capture the imagination and heart of so many readers, worldwide, are continuing to equip us with the skills we need to bring disparate individuals and viewpoints into meaningful conversation and new directions.

At the end of the chapter, Anne declares that, “kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of the in the world.” Are there really more kindred spirits, or is Anne’s definition of kindred spirit expanding as she comes into contact with and stays open to new people, places, and ideas? Either way, I agree with Anne—it is splendid to live life this way and find out just how many kindred spirits there are in the world.