#anyway he reminds me of aunt elizabeth lolol

[batrachised]

Chapter 6 establishes a dynamic we'll see throughout the series: the E's of New Moon never quite understanding each other. Aunt Elizabeth and Emily talk past each other repeatedly in this chapter because they're essentially speaking a different language. There's an emotional culture clash here that represents a gap never to be bridged. As the previous chapter said, Aunt Elizabeth understands with her head first, not her heart; Emily understands with her heart first, not her head.

The Emily series takes this even further by presenting Emily as some sort of fey child. There's many a thing about Emily that can't be understood with a head or be explained rationally at all. Emily doesn't just feel things deeply; she experiences the flash, a thinning of the veil between worlds. It would be difficult enough for Aunt Elizabeth to understand a sensitive, artistic child, but Emily's second sight tendencies defy explanation or comprehension. I have more thoughts, but they're very spoilery stuff, so see underneath the cut below for them.

From Aunt Elizabeth's perspective, she sees a child who doesn't like the food, and she kindly orders different food. She doesn't want Emily to sleep alone because she thinks that would be bad for her. She knows Aunt Laura won't sleep well if she sleeps with Emily, so Aunt Elizabeth sleeps with Emily instead. You see Aunt Elizabeth trying to be kind in her own way, but it's so stiff and cold that to Emily, it doesn't really matter. (Which makes complete sense - Emily is a little girl who is grieving.) Also, Aunt Elizabeth's attempts to be kind aren't thoughtful. She isn't taking into account Emily's feelings on the matter at all - instead, she's actively dismissing them. On top of this disastrous clash in communication styles, Emily has a tendency to dig up old graves (figuratively and literally, as we'll see!) which does not help one bit.

From Emily's perspective, she's met with a cold, stern woman who views all attempts at explanation as impertinence, a "griffin." It's funny, because Emily is doing exactly what Anne does consistently and repeatedly in Anne of Green Gables. Every time someone like Marilla is mystified at Anne's feelings, Anne explains: how would you feel if you were me? How would you feel is said by Anne so often it could genuinely be used as her catchphrase - and most of the time, it works! Characters are charmed by Anne, and almost without fail, she wins them over. They tended to be amused by her sensitive ways, not frustrated or downright cold.

Emily's attempts, though, are viewed as alien instead of winsome. They also have the unfortunate tendency of forcing Aunt Elizabeth to confront various psychological closet skeletons. Anne's characteristics endear Anne to her community; Emily's isolate her.

Following up on the second sight bit: that's why Aunt Elizabeth's commitment to plumbing the well in face of all logic and reason is the pinnacle of her character arc in this book. It's, at last, the conjoining of the head and heart. It makes no sense to do to check the well from a rational perspective, but also, it's the only rational choice when it comes to keeping Aunt Elizabeth's word and Emily safe - so that is what Aunt Elizabeth chooses. The Aunt Elizabeth at the beginning of the book would have never committed so recklessly; the Aunt Elizabeth at the end is true to her inflexible ways, but in a way that allows room for the side of Emily that will forever mystify her: the sensitivity that allows Emily to know something is at the bottom of that well, and the same sensitivity that Emily uses to write.