“The secret garden” is written by “Frances Hodgson Burnett” in 1910, and one of her most popular books. There have been many adaptations of the book with different endings for the theatre, cinema and TV. It is a classic English literature.
The book "The SECRET Garden" is a part of many school syllabus because of its powerful story with a theme of care, friendship, productivity and magic that children have to change the lives.
Here are the character sketches of three main characters of the story Mary, Dickon and Colin. Students should add the character's appearance i.e. clothes, shoes etc depending upon the illustrations given in their books.
The Secret Garden-Character Sketch –Mary
Mary is the main character of story “The Secret Garden”. Mary is nine –years old. She has yellow hair and a pale face. She belongs to a rich family in India. She is very bossy who doesn’t like getting orders from a servant. She doesn’t have any friends. She is unable to perform her little tasks as she is use to of servants. After her parents died, she has to live at her uncle’s big house in England. From here, we observe a significant change in Mary’s character. She wants to make friends. She talks to Martha politely. She also wants to see her brother Dickon, but she thinks that he wouldn’t like her as she is rude. She likes animals and wants a few as her pets. She has good bonding with Dickons as both have same interests. They both like animals and loves gardening.
Mary knows to spend money wisely. She gives money to Martha to get some flower seeds and tools for gardening.
Mary is curious that she finds a key and door to a secret garden. Mary loves nature. She likes gardening and loves to make things grow. She is a hard worker that she works all day in the secret garden to make it wonderful again. She knows the use of spade and other tools in gardening. It shows that Mary knows to use a spare time in productive tasks.
Mary is patient as she can keep secrets for long. For many weeks, she doesn’t tell anyone about the secret garden but continues working there.
Mary is a good counselor. She helps Colin Craven to get out of his fears and illness. She talks to him confidently and wisely. She does everything to feel Colin happy and healthy. With the help of Mary, Colin is able to walk and he turns into a handsome boy.
In my opinion, Mary’s character has a powerful massage that children can do magic and make things better together. Parents should trust children. It reflects the life of any child who goes through any emotional tragedy in life and how they can adapt to new life positively.
COLIN- CHARACTER SKETCH
Colin Craven is ten years old. He has pale face and wide grey eyes. He has brown hair. He is very weak, thin and ill that he cannot even walk. He likes to live alone. He doesn’t come out of his room. Most of the time, he is crying on his bed. He is scared of his upcoming death. He is the only son of Mr. Archibald Craven and a master of big manor. He is bossy and rude. He makes orders and all servants think, Colin is a difficult boy. He doesn’t eat much as he is sick.
As the story goes on, we observe a change in Colin’s character. After meeting with Mary and Dickons, Colin feels better. He talks “please” for the first time to marry. He wants to talk to her and spends time with Mary. He listens to her and get out of his fear of death. He starts walking and running.
Colin loves and misses his father. He wants to surprise him by showing his health improvement. He wants that his father come out of the sorrow of his mother’s death after looking at him. He wants to heal his father’s emotional loss. He remembers his mother and wants to revive her beloved garden.
Colin is good in giving ideas. He gives the idea of picnic and asks the servants to arrange for this. Colin is still bossy and rude that he asks Mary to spend more time with him instead of Dickon. Colin health gets better and his face has a color then. He turns to be health and handsome boy.
Colin is a smart boy that he hints about the intentions of his uncle. He likes Sausan Sowerby and thinks; her care is pure for him.
In my opinion, the character of Colin is very powerful. It tells that no matter how rich and blessed they are, but children need the company of children to grow happy and healthy.
DICKON- CHARACTER SKETCH
Dickon is one of the main characters of “The secret gardens”. Dickon is 12 years old. He has brown hairs and blue eyes. He always has a big smile on his face. He plays music with a wooden pipe and many animals gather around him. A fox, rabbits, a pony, squirrels and black birds are a part of his little zoo. Dickon loves and cares the animals. He takes care of a little lamb that lost its mother.
Dickon likes helping others. He brings tools and seeds for Mary and promised to join her in her gardening venture. He is a hard worker that he reaches in time and work in the garden all day long. Dickon knows to keep promises. Dickon is good in keeping secrets. He doesn’t let anyone know about the secret garden. Colin has a kind heart. He helps Colin in improving his health despite he knows about his rude attitude. He gives idea to bring Colin to garden so that he feels the sun and smell the flowers. He feels sorry for Colin and tells his mother to see and help him. He also show some exercises to Colin to get him stronger. Dickon is a selfless boy who does all work without hoping for any reward.
In my opinion, Dickon is a cheerful Yorkshire boy who brings joy and happiness to the lives of others. He is wise, active and smart and the adorable character with a massage of selfless care and help from the novel “The secret Garden”.