Children's literature: themes, forms, and development

¶ … Secret Garden

Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1909 "The Secret Garden" is one of the best loved children's stories of all time. As with most children's stories it is based on the fairy tale motif.

No one really knows the exact origin of fairy tales, in fact they seem to have originated in that timeless realm of their subjects (Harischandra Pp). J.R.R. Tolkien describes the realm of fairy tales as "wide and deep and high and filled with many things: all manner of beasts and birds are found there ... beauty that is an enchantment ... there it is dangerous ... To ask too many questions, lest the gate should be shut and the keys be lost" (Tolkien pp). Fairy tales generally have elements of good and evil, often portrayed by evil stepmothers and fairy godmothers, and usually a fair maiden as the protagonist. Burnett modernized the fairy tale motif in "The Secret Garden." Rather than the female being rescued by the male, here it is the female who rescues the male.

The main protagonist in Burnett's story is Mary Lennox. She has been sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, England. Mary was said to be the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen, "little thin face and a little thin body, thin light hair and a sour expression ... her hair was yellow and her face was yellow because she had been born in India and had always been ill in one way or another" (Burnett pp). Her parents found her too tiresome and hideous to spend time with, so Mary was cared for by an Indian servant until her parents died during a cholera outbreak. She was then sent to the Cravens. However, the Craven household is not any more loving than her own was. Mary's uncle cannot bear to look at his son because he reminds him of his wife, who died shortly after Colin's birth. Thus, Colin, like Mary was, is looked after by servants and rarely sees his father.

Two protagonists, one female and one male, who have near identical backgrounds, Mary and Colin are the 'Cinderellas' of Burnett's tale. Both are unloved, both are sickly, both are lonely, and both, like Cinderella, are transformed by magic. Burnett use of magic come in the form of nature. It is a red-breasted robin that shows Mary the hidden key to the secret garden. The garden belonged to Colin's mother and at her death his father locked the gate and hid the key. Now it was overgrown and void of life.

The fairy godmother role comes in the form of Dickon Sowerby, who Burnett describes as a Pan looking child who even carries panpipes, and like Pan is a charmer of animals and people. He is able to tame wild creatures and transform them to pets. He even transforms Mary and Colin by introducing them the wonders of nature.

The evil-stepmother character is represented by Mrs. Medlock. She is the head of the servants and primary caretaker of Colin. Although not evil in the true sense, she is strict, demanding and obedient of all the odd rules that Mr. Craven desires enforced. Mrs. Medlock is the main obstacle that Mary and Colin must overcome in order to enjoy the garden and their time with Dickon, for she has been instructed to never allow Colin outdoors or to even allow sunlight to enter his room through opened curtains.

The elf type character is represented by Ben Weatherstaff, the old gardener who was a favorite of Colin's mother. He introduces Mary to the robin and also helps the children keep the garden a secret from the rest of the household.

Archibald Craven represents the kingly character in a fairy tale. As master of the manor, his orders are obeyed to a fault. Since the death of his wife, depression has overshadowed reason and compassion. He has spent most of the last few years traveling abroad, unable to be around anything that reminds him of his wife, including his son. He represents the element that must have a change of heart in order for the story to have a happy ending.