Marilla Cuthbert is a fictional character from the novel "Anne of Green Gables," written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. She is a stern but caring woman who, along with her brother Matthew Cuthbert, adopts an orphaned girl named Anne Shirley. Marilla is known for her practical nature and strong sense of responsibility. Throughout the story, Marilla's character evolves as she learns to embrace love and imagination through her relationship with Anne. Despite her initial strictness, she becomes a nurturing figure, guiding Anne as she grows up in the small community of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island.