Romantic quest in The Secret Garden

All three set off on quests to find fulfillment, during which each must pass tests to prove they are deserving. One of Mary's first tests arises when she is in transit to Misselthwaite and encounters the clergyman's children who call her "Mistress Mary, quite contrary," because of her sourness. It is the first time that Mary gets an idea of how she is, an event that plants the seeds for change. The desire to change begins to grow when Mary realizes, with the help of Martha's bluntness, that there are things she must do for herself. By the time she is able to count friends on her fingers, Mary is well on her way beyond her self-centered world and to caring for something besides herself.

There are two forces that mirror Mary's own state and therefore work to challenge her to leave behind her alienation: the garden and Colin. Both demand action from Mary, and she responds, finding exhilarating results that continue to feed the fire of renewed life for her. Thus, as Mary learns to help herself and then to reach beyond herself to others, she proves her worthiness to receive that which she lacks.

Colin, like Mary, must find something to jolt him out of his self-centered world and bring the joy of living. Mary provides that jolt, first in her mere presence, which intrigues him enough to ask questions, and later when he sees himself mirrored in the temper tantrum she displays for him. . . After that turning point, Colin begins setting tests and goals for himself, first going outside, gaining strength and appetite, and eventually wanting to be an athlete and a scientific discoverer. Most importantly, though, Mary and the secret garden present challenges that help Colin to find reasons to want to live. . .

Mr. Craven, like the children, embarks upon a quest - literally to all corners of the world, but to no avail. Like Colin, he can see no joy in living. However, when Susan Sowerby provides advice for him, Mr. Craven must decide whether to ignore it or heed it. Both when Mary first approaches him and later when he returns home, he doesn't heed that advice, thereby proving he does have the ability to care for and love the children, even when he had thought his heart to be so hardened it was beyond feeling.

- B.B., December 19, 1994