The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett takes place in a dreary Misselthwaite manor in England during the Victorian era. The protagonist is Mary Lennox a selfish and spoilt 11 year old. The other major characters are Master Colin Craven her sickly cousin, Dickon Sowerby the animal charmer, Master Archibald Craven her reclusive uncle, Martha Sowerby a hearty housekeeper, a dour gardener, a cheerful robin and the secret garden. The tone is melodramatic and is told in the third person omniscient. The message about life to be learned from the story is that its never too late to change, no matter how terrible, you can make the best of things. Face the problems instead of cowering from them because if your don’t they’ll never go away. Have a positive attitude, live life and share it with the people around. Alienating yourself is not the solution. Mary, Colin and Archibald Craven are examples of this. Mary didn’t care for anything, she was so spoilt that nothing and no one meant anything to he; she was so used to everybody hating her. Colin is also spoilt . . .
She doesn’t give in to his hysterics and proves to him that the only lumps on his back are his bones. " There was no meaning in Mary’s life and that’s why she was bitter, that changed when she moved to Misselthwaite where she discovers the secret garden with fantastic healing powers. Mary was used to being served and being alone, neglected by her parents she becomes bitter. She realizes that the way that Colin acts was the same way she used to be and she sets him straight. "Full of disagreeable thoughts about her dislikes and sour opinions of people and her determination not to be pleased by or interested in anything. Archibald is the coward that can’t face reality or the hope for a better tomorrow. After that Mary takes him to the garden and this view on life changes, he says "I shall live for ever- and ever- and ever. The garden seems to have a wonderful, magical effect on all those who come into it, allowing Mary to help restore Colin to health and a reunion with his father. It’s a story where faith restores health, flowers refresh the spirit and the magic of the garden coming to life after years of neglect brings both Colin and Mary health and happiness. society Mary is unloved by her parents and by most of those who she encounters. her/himself is found when Mary, Colin and Master Craven have to find the courage to face the harsh world. But it all starts with Mary’s arrival to the manor and her curiosity about the secret garden.
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