Diana Barry Character Analysis in Anne of Green Gables

Diana is an 11-year-old girl who lives at Orchard Slope, next door to Green Gables. She has a number of little sisters, although only Minnie May is named. Diana becomes Anne’s closest friend, or “bosom friend,” as Anne likes to put it. Diana has black hair, rosy cheeks, and a happy expression. She loves to read books, though she is not as naturally imaginative as Anne. A loyal friend, Diana is cheerfully game for all of Anne’s schemes and adventures. In a notable episode, Anne accidentally gets Diana drunk on Marilla’s currant wine, leading Mrs. Barry to temporarily forbid their friendship. Though Diana doesn’t have academic ambitions and doesn’t attend Queen’s Academy with Anne, the two remain faithful friends during Anne’s year away from Avonlea.

Diana Barry Character Timeline in Anne of Green Gables

The timeline below shows where the character Diana Barry appears in Anne of Green Gables. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Waters. Matthew points out Orchard Slope, the Barrys’ house, where a little girl of 11, Diana, lives. (full context)

...an “intimate friend” or “kindred spirit” in whom she can confide anything. Marilla mentions that Diana Barry, who lives at Orchard Slope, the neighboring farm, might be a good playmate. She... (full context)

...Then she sits at the window and blows kisses to the Snow Queen, the trees, Diana’s house, and even Katie Maurice and Violetta. (full context)

Mishaps, Milestones, and Growing Up Theme Icon

...had artificial flowers on their hats, after all. Marilla comforts Anne with the news that Diana Barry is home from a trip, so Anne can meet her today. (full context)

Right away Anne begins shaking with nervousness and excitement. She worries that Diana won’t like her. Marilla says Anne should worry about Mrs. Barry instead—she’ll expect Anne to... (full context)

In the Barrys’ lush garden, Anne and Diana look at each other shyly. Finally, Anne asks Diana if she thinks she could like... (full context)

Diana agrees, so they join hands, and Anne solemnly swears to be Diana’s bosom friend forever.... (full context)

...they discover that Matthew has bought Anne chocolates. Anne happily plans to share half with Diana. Though Marilla grumbles about the candy, she privately admires Anne’s generosity. She also tells Matthew... (full context)

One August afternoon Marilla sternly summons Anne inside—she played with Diana too long, and now she’s chatting with Matthew instead of doing her sewing. Anne bursts... (full context)

As Anne reluctantly tackles her sewing, she talks to Marilla about Diana. Diana doesn’t have as much imagination as Anne, but she’s perfect otherwise. The two have... (full context)

Anne and Diana are walking to school by way of some of their favorite wooded paths. They emerge... (full context)

One September morning, Diana tells Anne that Gilbert Blythe, a handsome boy who teases all the girls, is back... (full context)

Diana warns Anne that Gilbert will be joining her class—though he’s nearly 14, he spent a... (full context)

...whisper an apology to Anne, but she acts like she doesn’t hear him. She tells Diana she’ll never forgive Gilbert. (full context)

At the end of the day, Anne takes everything out of her desk and tells Diana she isn’t returning to school as long as Mr. Phillips is there. Marilla calls this... (full context)

One evening, Marilla finds Anne weeping by her window. Anne explains that she loves Diana so much that she can’t bear the thought of someday losing her—she hates whomever her... (full context)

...get supper for Matthew and Jerry the farmhand. In the meantime, she’s allowed to invite Diana over for afternoon tea. She can even use the leftover raspberry cordial she’ll find in... (full context)

When Diana mentions Gilbert Blythe, Anne changes the subject by suggesting they go inside and have some... (full context)

...tears. She confesses to Marilla that Mrs. Barry told Mrs. Lynde that Anne had sent Diana home in bad shape the other day—Diana was drunk. Anne is a terrible little girl,... (full context)

...criticized her for making such strong wine. Marilla had retorted that a greedy child like Diana ought to be spanked for drinking three glasses of anything. That evening, Anne sneaks over... (full context)

The next day, Anne glances outside and sees Diana beckoning to her from afar. She rushes down to the hollow and listens in dismay... (full context)

...an armload of books and announces she is returning to school—at least she can see Diana there. Anne is warmly welcomed by her other friends, receiving fruit, flowers, and fond notes... (full context)

Diana is silent at school. But the next morning Anne receives a note from her, explaining... (full context)

...others” are so good at it. And she continues to be grieve the distance from Diana. Yet the world is so interesting that she can’t stay sad for long. (full context)

Just as Anne is coming up from the cellar with some apples for a snack, Diana rushes into Green Gables’ kitchen, and Anne drops everything, candle and all, in shock. Diana’s... (full context)

...about the currant wine incident. She hopes Anne will forgive her and that she and Diana will be close again. Marilla indulgently lets Anne skip washing the dishes, and Anne runs... (full context)

...Barry had tearfully kissed and apologized to her, and she had a lovely time visiting Diana—Mrs. Barry even let them use nice china for their tea. Anne felt so grown up... (full context)

One February evening, Anne is desperate to go to Diana’s. She explains to Marilla that they’ve devised a system of signaling to each other from... (full context)

...Many students have older siblings who are participating in the entertainment. After school, Anne and Diana have tea at her house and then retire to Diana’s room to dress. They spend... (full context)

...and refuses to clap when he’s finished. When the happy concertgoers get home, Anne and Diana talk over everything while changing by the fire. Diana tells Anne that when Gilbert came... (full context)

...they know it, the girls are flying upstairs in the cold and dark. Laughing helplessly, Diana explains that it’s Aunt Josephine, though she doesn’t know why she was sleeping in the... (full context)

...threatening to return to Charlottetown tomorrow and to revoke the gift of music lessons for Diana, since Diana’s proven to be a “tomboy.” Aunt Josephine is wealthy, and the Barrys have... (full context)

...to think before she speaks or acts. Sadly, Anne walks to Orchard Slope and, to Diana’s horror, says that she’s going to speak to Aunt Josephine herself—last night was her fault,... (full context)

...that she can’t walk through “the Haunted Wood”—the spruce wood along the brook. She and Diana imagined it because the idea of a haunted wood is so “romantic.” They’ve imagined that... (full context)

...the past year. Anne relishes the whirlwind of preparations for this important visit. She tells Diana of the various jellies, pies, preserves, cakes, and biscuits they’ve been making. She’s frightened that... (full context)

A week later, Diana gives a small party for the girls in her class. After tea, the girls wander... (full context)

...moralize about Anne’s accident, unlike Mrs. Lynde. But Anne can’t wait to return to school. Diana reports that Miss Stacy has the biggest puffed sleeves in Avonlea and often holds classroom... (full context)

In October, Anne returns to school and happily rejoins Diana at their shared desk. Miss Stacy is a young woman with a knack for connecting... (full context)

After breakfast, Diana runs down to Green Gables with a gift from Aunt Josephine. It contains a Christmas... (full context)

...in Avonlea school soon returns to normal. Later that winter, Anne turns 13. She and Diana walk to school through the woods, wondering what it will be like to be “really... (full context)

...Stacy. But Miss Stacy is also requiring them to write an original story soon, and Diana dreads this because she thinks she has no imagination. Anne, on the other hand, has... (full context)

Diana is deeply impressed by Anne’s story and wishes she had such an imagination. Anne encourages... (full context)

Anne, Diana, Jane Andrews, and Ruby Gillis are planning to reenact a scene from Tennyson’s Idylls of... (full context)

Down at the headland, Diana, Ruby, and Jane don’t know what’s happened. When they see the dory sinking in the... (full context)

...the path at Green Gables, reciting her favorite lines from a Walter Scott poem, when Diana runs toward her with news. Aunt Josephine has written with an invitation for the two... (full context)

...can go to Charlottetown. It’s 30 miles from Avonlea, so Mr. Barry drives Anne and Diana there early in the morning. Around noon they reach Aunt Josephine’s shady, rambling old mansion.... (full context)

Anne and Diana enjoy reliving the whole trip during the drive home, but the Green Gables homecoming is... (full context)

...Anne is interested, but goes on a digression describing her wanderings in the woods with Diana that afternoon. She and Diana no longer talk about childish things, she says—they’re almost 14.... (full context)

Anne savors a glorious, mostly outdoor summer with Diana. Marilla gladly indulges this—earlier, when Minnie May was sick, the doctor sent Marilla a note... (full context)

...Queens scholars don’t expect to come back next year. On the last day, Anne and Diana walk home in tears. Diana is confident that Anne will pass the Entrance exam in... (full context)

In town, Anne stays at Aunt Josephine’s house. She writes to Diana to tell her all about it. She’s very lonely without Diana and struggling not to... (full context)

However, Anne survives the exams and reunites jubilantly with Diana at the end of the week. She still doesn’t know if she passed geometry or... (full context)

One evening, after more than three weeks have passed, Diana comes running down from Orchard Slope with a newspaper in her hand. Anne knows immediately... (full context)

Diana is in Anne’s room, helping her get dressed up. The gable room has changed a... (full context)

...says she’s not at all nervous to recite “The Maiden’s Vow” that night. She and Diana ride to White Sands in a wagon with some other girls; Billy Andrews, a reticent... (full context)

...a triumph, and she and her friends happily relive the event during the ride home. Diana overheard someone in the audience say that Anne has “Titian hair.” Anne explains that it... (full context)

...off, as she takes the train home most weekends along with the other Avonlea students. Diana and other friends meet them at the station, and they walk home as a merry... (full context)

...Anne happily breathes in the familiar sights, smells, and atmosphere of Green Gables. She and Diana get reacquainted, and Diana teases Anne about replacing her with her new Queen’s friends. Anne... (full context)

...visit Green Gables. Anne tucks Matthew’s favorite flowers around his casket, feeling unable to cry. Diana offers to spend the night at Green Gables, but Anne feels she needs time alone... (full context)

The next evening, Anne returns from a visit to Diana’s and finds Marilla sitting at the kitchen table looking depressed. Concerned, she asks what the... (full context)

Just then Diana flashes her old candle signal from Orchard Slope, so Anne runs over to talk to... (full context)