John Blythe was the husband of Mrs. Blythe, the father of Gilbert Blythe and the former love interest of Marilla Cuthbert.
Biography
Early life
John Blythe was born in Avonlea in early 1820s to Blythe family. He was raised there and attended Avonlea school. There he met Marilla Cuthbert, who lived at Green Gables, and they became good friends. After some time, Marilla and John started courting.
- "John Blythe was a nice boy. People called him my beau."
- —Marilla Cuthbert[src]
However, they quarreled. Marilla didn't want to forgive John when he asked her to. She was angry and wanted to punish him, but John never came back.
Marriage
John met his future wife and fell in love with her. They were married probably in old age, because their only son Gilbert was born in 1862, when they were almost 40 years. It is possible they were married earlier and couldn't have a baby after the wedding.
Later life
John lived in Avonlea with his family and had a farm there. In 1873 he was ill and went to Alberta with Gilbert. They returned back after three years.
John was happy when Gilbert and Anne Shirley were engaged. He and his wife were invited for their wedding at Green Gables in September 1890. He visited them in their new house in Glen St. Mary and loved his grandchildren very much. He knew only Jem, Walter, Nan, Di and Shirley. He wasn't at Joyce's birth and died a few months before Rilla was born.
When his wife died, he was devastated. He died a year later, in spring 1899, and was buried at Avonlea graveyard next to his dead wife.
Personality
Physical appearance
Etymology
John is male given name of Hebrew origin and means God is gracious.
- John shared name with John Meredith, the minister of Glen St. Mary, and with John Selwyn, the Schoolmaster.
Behind the scenes
Gallery
| Anne of Green Gables Wiki has 5 images of John Blythe (view category). |
Appearances
Book appearances
- Anne of Green Gables
- Anne's House of Dreams
- Anne of Ingleside (mentioned only)