Matthew Cuthbert - Popular Character Encyclopedia

Quotes

Well now

Trivia

Smokes tobacco only when mentally unstable.
Shy and weak with women, tends to get nervous immediately when talking to women.
Green Gables was built in a quiet location away from the woods due to his shy personality.
Collapsed from the shock of the bank failure and died.
The episode of mistaking Anne for a boy and bringing her from the orphanage is the source of the original author's inspiration.

Alternate names

Matthew Cuthbert Matthew Cuthbert

Profile

Species: human
Gender: Male

Appearance

Overall appearance: Short and slightly stooped with black hair streaked with gray. An elderly man in his 60s with an ungainly build.
Eye color: Brown
Hair color: Black
Distinguishing features: gray-streaked hair

slightly stooped

ungainly build
Iconic items: tobacco

farm tools

Personality and abilities

Core personality: kind
Detailed personality: Extremely shy and sensitive personality. Weak with women and gets flustered when laughed at by women. Serious and mild-mannered, considerate of others. Supports his sister Marilla and devotes himself to raising Anne.
Keywords: shy

reserved

kind

sensitive

devoted
Talents: agricultural knowledge

manual dexterity

animal care
Skills: farm work

household assistance

understanding Anne's feelings
Motivation: To give love to the orphan Anne and provide her with a stable life.
Habits: Smokes tobacco when mentally unstable. Makes modest assertions but generally prefers to remain silent.
Favorite foods: currant wine, home cooking
Favorite places: Green Gables, country roads
Disliked situations: noisy places, being teased by women

History

Backstory: Eldest son of the Cuthbert family and Marilla's brother. Lives together with his sister at Green Gables on Prince Edward Island. Had a weak heart and lived frugally, but intended to adopt a boy from the orphanage, only to end up taking in the red-haired girl Anne. Developed deep affection for Anne and supported her gently and warmly.
Debut date: 1908-06
Work title: Anne of Green Gables
Media type: Novel

Meeting with Anne

Significant event: Meeting with Anne
Description: Intended to welcome a boy from the orphanage but mistakenly took in the red-haired girl Anne.

Decision to become Anne's family

Significant event: Decision to become Anne's family
Description: Consults with Marilla and resolves to accept Anne as an adopted daughter.

Bank failure and heart attack

Significant event: Bank failure and heart attack
Description: Learns of the bankruptcy of the bank he owned from the newspaper and collapses from a heart attack due to the shock.

Death

Significant event: Death
Description: Does not recover from the collapse and dies. Died at 65.

Relationships

Marilla Cuthbert

Sibling

Younger sister. Together they protect Green Gables and take in Anne. A presence that balances Marilla's strong personality.

Deceased father

Deceased mother

Anne Shirley

Adoptive child

Girl mistakenly brought back from the orphanage. Held deep affection for her and raised her dearly.

Rachel Lynde

Friend

Neighbor in the village, on friendly terms.

Cuthbert family

Cuthbert family: head-male

Media appearances

Anne of Green Gables

Novel / Protagonist

Published in 1908

Anne of Green Gables (1979 TV anime)

Anime / Supporting

1979 TV series

Anne of Green Gables (1985 film)

Movie / Supporting

1985 Canadian TV movie

Anne Shirley (2025 anime)