11/11/2023 0 Comments Frances hodgson burnett secret gardenThough she died 10 years before, she serves as an important character in the story. Lilias Craven was the wife of Archibald Craven, the uncle of Mary. With this he recognizes he must be a better father to Colin and thus returns to his estate with the intention of starting life anew. By the end of story, Archibald has somewhat of an epiphany while at an Austrian riverside, triggering him to realize that he must reignite his will to live and honor his wife's memory by acknowledging those things she held dear. Craven's misery is underscored in the novel as an example of how grief keeps people from growing and experiencing life to its fullest. He has constantly mourned his wife since her tragic death 10 years prior, becoming a recluse and avoiding anything that reminds him of her, including the secret garden where she died and his very own son, Colin. Archibald CravenĪrchibald Craven is Mary's uncle and the master of Misselthwaithe Manor. He is also shown as a highly compassionate boy in his kindness towards Colin at his lowest moment. Dickon's seemingly effortless connection to nature is put to use when he leads the effort to bring the secret garden back to life.ĭickon's warm and generous heart is key in helping Mary to open up and have an appreciation for the beauty of life. Dickon speaks in a thick Yorkshire accent that Mary tries to copy, admiring his unpretentious and poetic ways of expressing himself. He is portrayed throughout the novel being accompanied by various animal companions, who follow him around as if he is one of them. He is a down-to-earth farm boy who has a naturally happy temperament and strong, almost magical ability to connect with nature. Mary immediately takes a strong liking to Dickon as he represents the complete opposite of her former life in India. Dickon Sowerbyĭickon is the younger brother of Martha, Mary's main servant at her uncle's estate. This change sparks within him a new zest for life, and by the end of the novel, all of his symptoms and ailments subside, underscoring the power of belief to determine one's health. With the help of Mary and Dickon, Colin leaves behind his known routine to explore the gardens and experience the natural world. It is not until he is found by Mary that Colin finally feels understood and seen for the innocent child that he is, rather than as a sick patient. With this defeatist attitude, Colin is constantly acting out and throwing temper tantrums, earning him the reputation of being terrifyingly misbehaved by the manor staff. Throughout the book, however, the reader comes to realize that this sickness is less of a physical condition than a psychological malaise born from the sense of being unwanted and unloved.Īt 10 years old, Colin is already anticipating death, having been told by the nurses and doctors around him that his health is on the decline. For his whole life, Colin has been made to believe by the servants who care for him that he is very sick and crippled. Colin's mother died when he was an infant, and thus his father mostly avoids the boy, finding his presence too painful of a reminder of his deceased wife. Colin CravenĬolin is the son of the wealthy and reclusive Archibald Craven. In this way, the revival of the Craven household runs parallel to Mary's own development into a wise and compassionate young girl. At the same time, she meets her cousin Colin and encourages him to heal and regain his optimism, recognizing in the boy her own former complacency towards life. Whereas in India she spent all her time indoors, Mary has now become a lover and caretaker of nature, eager to bring vibrancy back into the neglected garden. Her discovery of the secret garden marks the point when Mary truly starts becoming joyful and enthusiastic about living. She begins to open her heart to new friendships with the many characters-human and animal alike-who populate her uncle's estate. Slowly we see Mary mature as she comes to terms with the selfishness and isolation that has characterized her early life. Here, Mary quickly discovers that her spoiled behavior will not fly in this new environment. The sudden death of both her parents as well as her main servant, Ayah, catalyzes the greatest transition in her life thus far: a cross-continent move to her uncle's manor in Yorkshire, England. In the beginning, she is described as a sour and rude little girl who has been accustomed to being endlessly catered to by her servants in India. Mary undergoes a major transformation throughout the course of the novel. Mary Lennox is the protagonist of the story.
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