THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN PROMOTING SOCIAL MOBILITY IN LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY’S ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

Abstract

This study discusses the role of education in promoting social mobility in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. This is a qualitative research with the novel as the primary data source. Supporting information is obtained from secondary sources such as scientific books, journal articles, and library research. The Data are collected through comprehensive reading and note-taking to identify relevant elements. This study employ’s Wellek and Warren’s theory i.e., sociology of literature and concept of social mobility from Sorokin and the concept of education from Dewantara. The findings identify three main roles of education, they are character building, self-development, and life determination, which reflected through character Anne. She gets informal education through family guidance that plays an important role in character building by developing self-control, responsibility, and humility. She gets formal education at school that contributes to her self-development by providing opportunities to recognize strengths and weaknesses, build self-confidence, and develop social skills.  It is also found that education enables individuals to determine their life direction independently, as it is shown Anne’s decision to continue to university Anvolea school by winning scholarship. It means that she successfully transforms from a marginalized orphan into a respected and independent young woman through informal education especially formal education. This indicates that education is crucial to promote social mobility, and empower people from marginalized backgrounds, particularly orphaned children and women in rural communities.