# The Good Anna explained — Three Lives

> Chapter companion for Three Lives by Gertrude Stein.

## What happens

The chapter introduces Anna Federner, a German immigrant who works as a servant for Miss Mary Wadsmith. Anna is depicted as a hardworking, self-sacrificing woman who manages the household with strict efficiency, often clashing with other servants like Jane over household matters. Her life is defined by routine, loyalty, and a deep sense of duty, but also by a longing for connection and control.

## Themes in this chapter

### Servitude and Self-Sacrifice

Anna's entire existence revolves around serving Miss Mary, sacrificing her own desires for the sake of duty and order.

### Repetition and Routine

Anna's life is governed by strict daily routines, from managing the household to her interactions with other servants, emphasizing the monotony of her existence.

## Character check-ins

### Anna Federner

The central figure of the chapter, a German servant devoted to Miss Mary Wadsmith, known for her strictness and self-sacrifice.

### Miss Mary Wadsmith

Anna's employer, a gentle and somewhat passive woman who relies heavily on Anna's management.

### Jane Harden

A fellow servant who clashes with Anna over the use of blue dressings, representing a conflict of authority.

### Mrs. Lehntman

A widow who becomes a significant figure in Anna's life, offering a different kind of relationship.

## Key lines

> The good Anna was a German woman, who had come to America with her mother when she was a child.

Anna Federner immigrated to America from Germany as a young girl with her mother.

_Introduces Anna's immigrant background, setting the stage for her life of service._

> She was a good servant, and she was a good woman, and she was a good friend to Miss Mary.

Anna was both a loyal servant and a devoted companion to Miss Mary.

_Highlights Anna's dual role as servant and friend, central to her identity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/three_lives_se/chapters/the-good-anna
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/three_lives_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/three_lives_se/chapters