Emily Of New Moon

For Emily, writing is as essential to her well-being as eating, drinking, and sleeping. When her father was alive, he encouraged her to pursue this creative outlet by giving her a pad of paper and the freedom to roam outside, where she got much of her inspiration. As a journalist himself, he must have understood her impulse to capture her environment in words. She is often “overcome” by ideas, inspiration, and enthusiasm for her ideas and imagery, moments she refers to as “the flash.” When she hears a beautiful phrase or thinks of the perfect way to describe something, she is thrilled and cannot wait to write it down.

Similarly, Teddy Kent is a gifted artist who captures the world around him in a visual and artistic way. Montgomery stated that Emily’s drive to become a writer is similar to her own, so the overall message of the novel, and by extension, the author, is that the ability to express oneself is an important aspect of one’s identity and people who have an artistic gift should be nurtured and encouraged to hone it.

Not only is writing Emily’s dream profession, but it is also a coping mechanism for her when she is angry, frustrated, or lonely.