Who’s who in The Secret Garden, the 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, with a guide to every character in our retelling for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.
The Secret Garden has a small, close cast, and each person helps Mary Lennox come back to life. At the center are Mary, a lonely girl sent to Yorkshire after her parents die of cholera, and her cousin Colin, a boy who has spent his life in bed. Around them are the people of Misselthwaite Manor: Martha, the cheerful maid, Mrs. Medlock, the strict housekeeper, Ben Weatherstaff, the grumpy gardener, and their uncle, Mr. Craven, who is still grieving for his wife.
Beyond the manor lives the Sowerby family of the moor. Dickon, who is friends with wild animals, and his mother, Susan, show the children what warmth and plain good sense can do. Parents will find many gentle talking points in these characters, from loneliness and grief to kindness, courage and the healing effect of fresh air and friends.
Sour orphan girl • Growing happy and strong
Mary Lennox is a lonely, sour little girl who comes from India to live in her uncle’s huge, quiet manor in Yorkshire. With help from a friendly robin, she finds a buried key and a secret garden that has been locked for ten years. As Mary digs, plants and makes friends, her scowl melts away, and she helps her cousin Colin grow strong.
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Misselthwaite housekeeper • Strict and bustling
Mrs. Medlock is the strict head housekeeper at Misselthwaite Manor. She wears a rustling black dress, carries a ring of heavy brass keys and likes rules and total quiet. She tells Mary to stay in her rooms and never wander, and she is shocked to find Mary visiting Colin. Still, she does her job carefully and helps bundle Colin up for his first trip outside.
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Warm Yorkshire housemaid • Cheerful and kind
Martha Sowerby is the friendly young maid who looks after Mary at Misselthwaite Manor. She comes from a cottage on the moor with eleven brothers and sisters, and she is chatty, honest and full of good humor. Martha is the first person to tell Mary about the locked garden, and she gently encourages Mary to do things for herself.
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Crusty Yorkshire gardener • Gruff but gentle
Ben Weatherstaff is the old head gardener, bent like an old tree, with a scowling face and sharp blue eyes. He barks at Mary at first, but his face lights up whenever his friend the robin hops near. Ben has a soft heart under his crusty outside, and once he discovers the children’s secret, he joins them in the garden every day to cheer them on.
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Grieving estate master • Seeking lost joy
Archibald Craven is Mary’s uncle and Colin’s father, the master of Misselthwaite Manor. He has been deeply sad for ten years since his wife died, so he locked her garden and traveled far away. Though he seems distant, he is gentle with Mary and gives her a bit of earth to plant. In the end, a dream and a kind letter call him home to his son.
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Animal whisperer • Friendly and wild
Dickon Sowerby is Martha’s brother, a gentle boy from the moor who can make friends with wild animals. A crow, a squirrel, a lamb and a fox cub all trust him. Dickon brings Mary garden tools and flower seeds, keeps her secret, and helps her wake up the sleeping garden. Later he wheels Colin outdoors and helps him grow strong.
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The secret invalid • Finding new hope
Colin Craven is Mary’s cousin, a boy who has spent his whole life in bed in a hidden room, believing he is too sick to grow up. He can be bossy and full of fears, but Mary’s stories, Dickon’s animals and the secret garden fill him with hope. Little by little, Colin learns to stand, then walk, and finally run races in the sunshine.
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Loving moorland mother • Wise and comforting
Susan Sowerby is the mother of Martha and Dickon, a wise and loving woman who lives in a whitewashed cottage on the moor. She buys Mary a skipping rope, and when she visits the secret garden she hugs Mary and Colin with tears of wonder. Afterward, Susan writes a kind letter asking Mr. Craven to come home at once.
Full character guide