The Secret Garden Summary: Plot, Characters and Ending
The Secret Garden follows Mary Lennox, a spoiled, sickly orphan sent from India to her uncle's gloomy manor in Yorkshire. She discovers a walled garden that has been locked for ten years, and as she brings it back to life with new friends, she, her sickly cousin Colin and her grieving uncle come back to life too.
Much of the dialogue is written in Yorkshire dialect.
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Mary Lennox | Sour, lonely ten-year-old orphan |
| Archibald Craven | Mary's grieving uncle |
| Colin Craven | His son, who believes he is an invalid |
| Dickon Sowerby | Boy who charms animals |
| Martha Sowerby | Cheerful maid, Dickon's sister |
| Ben Weatherstaff | Grumpy old gardener |
| Mrs. Medlock | Strict housekeeper |
| The robin | Bird who befriends Mary |
How does Mary come to Yorkshire?
Mary grows up in India, ignored by her parents and waited on by servants. When cholera kills her parents and most of the household, she is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor on the moors. He is rarely home and avoids everyone.
↑ Back to the topHow does Mary find the secret garden?
Martha tells Mary about a garden Mr. Craven locked after his wife died following an accident there. A friendly robin leads Mary to the buried key and then to the hidden door under the ivy. Inside everything looks dead, but green shoots are pushing up. Mary begins to work in it and grows healthier and kinder. Martha's brother Dickon, who talks to animals, helps her.
↑ Back to the topWho is crying at night?
Mary hears crying in the night and follows it to a hidden bedroom, where she finds Colin, her cousin. He has been kept in bed all his life, sure he will grow a hunched back and die young. Mary loses her temper at one of his tantrums and tells him there is nothing wrong with him. Soon she and Dickon take him into the garden in a wheelchair.
↑ Back to the topHow does Colin change?
In the garden, Colin feels strong for the first time. When Ben Weatherstaff sees him and says he has crooked legs, Colin stands up in fury. He begins to walk and then to run, calling the force that helps them Magic. The children keep it secret, wanting to surprise his father.
↑ Back to the topHow does The Secret Garden end?
Far away in Europe, Mr. Craven dreams that his wife is calling him from the garden. He returns home and hears laughter behind the garden wall. The door bursts open and Colin runs straight into his arms, healthy and strong. Father and son walk back to the house together, in front of the astonished servants.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Secret Garden
This summary reveals the whole plot, including the ending.