The Portrayal of the Second World War in “Rilla of Ingleside” by L.M. Montgomery

Abstract

In “Rilla of Ingleside” by L.M. Montgomery, war is portrayed with a stark and deeply emotional realism, marking a significant departure from the idyllic settings typical of Montgomery’s earlier works. Set during World War I, the novel follows Rilla Blythe, the youngest daughter of Anne Blythe (née Shirley) from “Anne of Green Gables,” as she matures into adulthood amidst the turmoil of the war. Montgomery herself was deeply struck by the First World War. Her emotional investment was such that she reported being unable to sleep or eat after reading newspaper headlines and learning about yet another devastating event. In her journal, she wrote, “This war is slowly killing me. I am bleeding to death as France is being bled in the shambles of Verdun” (10 June 1916) (Montgomery & Rubio, p. 185).