Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables

Who is Diana Barry?

Diana Barry is Anne Shirley’s closest childhood companion in Avonlea, the gentle and sensible counterpoint to Anne’s impulsive imagination. Introduced when Anne first arrives at Green Gables, Diana almost immediately bonds with Anne over shared play in Mrs. Barry’s flower garden and the solemn “bosom friend” oath. She provides emotional companionship, participates in Anne’s imaginative enterprises (Idlewild, the story club, dramatic plays), and also serves as a social anchor—her family’s respectability and domestic circle shape several plot turns. Their friendship endures trials: the currant-wine accident that temporarily severs ties, the reconciliation after Anne’s courageous care for baby Minnie May, the great excitement of shared outings like the Exhibition, and the intimacy of secret confidences such as Anne’s hair-dyeing mishap. Diana supports Anne in triumphs and anxieties—bringing the paper with the Entrance pass list, dressing Anne for concerts, and rejoicing at her successes—making her an essential presence in Anne’s social world and emotional development.

In the book: Diana Barry is Anne Shirley’s closest friend in Avonlea, a steady, kind-hearted counterpart to Anne’s impulsive imagination. Coming from a respectable village family, she provides companionship, social grounding, and emotional support, highlighting themes of loyalty, girlhood, and the sustaining power of friendship throughout the story.

Personality

Loyal

After the currant-wine incident Mrs. Barry forbids the girls to associate, yet Diana secretly sends Anne a folded note and a red tissue bookmark reaffirming her love (Chapter 17).

Kind

When Anne falls and later recovers, Diana visits and brings company and comfort during Anne’s weeks of convalescence (Chapter 23).

Conventional

Diana comes from a respectable village family and initially follows her mother’s authority, obeying Mrs. Barry when she forbids the friendship after the tea mishap (Chapter 16).

Affectionate

She gives Anne a lock of her hair and they enact a tearful, romantic farewell when Diana is ordered to break the friendship, promising eternal loyalty (Chapter 17).

Playful

Diana joins Anne in imaginative pastimes—Idlewild, dramatisations of Tennyson’s Elaine, and the story club—sharing and encouraging Anne’s romances (Chapters 13, 26, 28).

Character arc

Diana’s role is steady rather than transformational: she remains Anne’s constant companion and emotional mirror from their first meeting through Anne’s youth. Early on she embodies the respectable Avonlea girl—shy, merry, and obedient to family authority—forming an immediate, fervent friendship with Anne (Chapter 12). The currant-wine mishap (Chapter 16) tests that bond as Diana obeys her mother and temporarily distances herself, but Diana’s private gestures (a folded note, a red bookmark) show fidelity even when public association is curtailed (Chapter 17). The crisis with baby Minnie May (Chapter 18) reveals Diana’s trust in Anne and cements reconciliation when Anne’s calm bravery saves the child and earns Mrs. Barry’s gratitude. Afterward Diana continues as Anne’s companion in everyday pleasures—concerts, the Exhibition, school concerts, and the Queen’s Girl celebrations—sharing in Anne’s successes and consolations (Chapters 19, 29, 36). Diana does not undergo a dramatic inner change; instead, her constancy and affectionate support allow Anne to grow, and Diana quietly matures alongside her through shared experiences and loyalties.

Relationships

• Anne Shirley Bosom friend and closest companion; they swear a solemn oath, share imaginative play, confide secrets, and support each other through crises.
• Mrs. Barry Diana’s mother; a strict, respectable woman whose authority temporarily forbids Diana’s association with Anne after the tea incident.
• Miss Josephine Barry Aunt Josephine is a formidable but ultimately sympathetic relative whose forgiveness preserves Diana’s family stability and social standing (Chapter 19).
• Marilla Cuthbert Acquaintance and occasional critic; Marilla negotiates Anne’s visits to Diana and observes their friendship with practical skepticism.
• Matthew Cuthbert Warm family friend; Matthew’s quiet kindness facilitates meetings (he brings Anne small gifts) and he later helps in crises affecting Diana’s household.
• Ruby Gillis School friend and fellow member of Anne and Diana’s play circle and story club, sharing in dramatizations and social activities.

Quotes by Diana Barry

““I love you devotedly, Anne,” said Diana stanchly, “and I always will, you may be sure of that.””

Chapter 17Diana reassures Anne during their emotional farewell, giving Anne hope and a pledge of lifelong friendship despite her mother's orders.

““Anne, you’ve passed,” she cried, “passed the very first—you and Gilbert both—you’re ties—but your name is first. Oh, I’m so proud!””

Chapter 32Diana bursts in with the newspaper to tell Anne the pass list news; this announces Anne's top placement and releases the novel's built-up suspense.

Why Diana Barry matters

Diana embodies the stabilizing, domestic virtues of Avonlea and functions as the social and emotional anchor for Anne’s imaginative life. Through Diana, Montgomery contrasts romantic fancy with steady friendship and community expectations: Diana’s conventional background and loyalty test and ultimately strengthen Anne, proving that imagination flourishes best within enduring human bonds. Diana’s constancy highlights themes of girlhood intimacy, the moral value of forgiveness (after the currant-wine and the croup crises), and how affectionate, everyday companionship sustains personal growth. Her presence makes Anne’s triumphs and sorrows shared experiences, underlining the novel’s emphasis on community, belonging, and the sustaining power of friendship.

Chapters with Diana Barry

• Chapter 2
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 18
• Chapter 19
• Chapter 20
• Chapter 21
• Chapter 22
• Chapter 23
• Chapter 24
• Chapter 25
• Chapter 26
• Chapter 27
• Chapter 28
• Chapter 29
• Chapter 30
• Chapter 31
• Chapter 32
• Chapter 33
• Chapter 34
• Chapter 35
• Chapter 36
• Chapter 37
• Chapter 38

More Anne of Green Gables characters

• Anne ShirleyProtagonist
• Marilla CuthbertMajor character
• Matthew CuthbertMajor character
• Jane AndrewsMinor character
• Ruby GillisMinor character
• Rachel LyndeMinor character
• Gilbert BlytheMajor character
• Josie PyeMinor character