The Secret Garden: Character Guide

Main Characters

1. Mary Lennox

Mary Lennox is a young, orphaned girl with blonde hair who is described as initially unpleasant. After her parents die of cholera in India, she is sent to live with her uncle, Mr. Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire. Over time, her temper improves, and she becomes happier.

2. Martha

Martha is a kind servant at Misselthwaite Manor who befriends Mary. She is Dickon's sister and plays a significant role in helping Mary adjust to her new life.

3. Mr. Craven

Mr. Craven is Mary's uncle and Colin's father. He is a recluse who hates the locked garden because his wife died there. He has a crooked back and is often gloomy.

4. Mrs. Craven

Mrs. Craven is Mr. Craven's deceased wife who loved the garden. She taught Ben Weatherstaff about roses.

5. Other Important Characters

• Ben Weatherstaff: An old gardener whose only friend is the robin. He helps Mary with the secret garden.
• Kamala: Mary's servant in India who was quiet and reserved. She passed away.
• Robin: A redbreast who helps Mary find the key to the secret garden.
• Mrs. Medlock: The strict housekeeper at Misselthwaite Manor who follows Mr. Craven's rules meticulously.
• Dickon: Martha's brother who lives on the moor. He has blue eyes, loves animals, and plays the flute. He becomes a close friend to Mary and Colin.
• Colin: Mr. Craven's son who has been confined indoors due to illness. He is initially pessimistic but becomes more optimistic with Mary's help. He has a strained relationship with his father.

Plot Points

Mary discovers the secret garden and wants to keep it a secret, especially from the servants. Colin eventually learns about the garden and joins Mary and Dickon in restoring it. Mr. Craven returns to Misselthwaite Manor after having a dream about his wife calling him to the garden and receiving a letter from Dickon's mother.

Vocabulary

• Hunchback: A person with a hump on their back.
• Housekeeper: A person who manages a household.
• Gloomy: Dark or poorly lit, especially so as to appear depressing or frightening.
• Moor: A tract of open uncultivated upland.
• Whitled: To make a whistle sound.
• Fluttering: To move lightly and quickly.
• Humming: To make a low, continuous sound.
• Chattered: To talk rapidly or incessantly about trivial matters.
• Orchard: A piece of land planted with fruit trees.
• Knob: A rounded handle.
• Tantrum: An uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.
• Lump: A compact mass of a substance, especially one without a definite or regular shape.
• Gasped: To catch one's breath with an open mouth, owing to pain or astonishment.
• Rug: A floor covering of thick woven material or animal skin, typically not extending over the entire floor.