The novel's ten-year-old protagonist. Mary's mother didn't want her, and Mary's father was busy, so Mary spent the first ten years of her life in Colonial India in the care of an Ayah. She…
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Colin Craven
The young master of Misselthwaite Manor. Mary meets him after hearing crying from somewhere in the manor house several times. Ten years ago, around the time of Colin's birth, his mother, Mrs. Craven, died…
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Dickon
Dickon is Martha's twelve-year-old brother. He spends most of his time out on the moor, enjoying the fresh air and befriending animals, especially abandoned baby animals that he then tames. Martha begins talking to…
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Ben Weatherstaff
The elderly and cantankerous gardener at Misselthwaite Manor. Mary meets him on her first day outside, and the two initially don't like each other much. Despite this, Ben Weatherstaff introduces Mary to his friend the…
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Susan Sowerby / Mother
Susan Sowerby is Martha and Dickon's mother. Because Martha refers to her only as "mother" when she speaks about her to Mary, Mary also uses "mother" to talk about Mrs. Sowerby until she…
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Get the entire The Secret Garden LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
Martha is a young maid at Misselthwaite Manor who is put in charge of caring for Mary when she arrives, though she's not technically a nurse or lady's maid. A local, Martha speaks in broad…
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Mr. Archibald Craven
Colin's father and the owner of Misselthwaite Manor. Rumor has it that he has a hunchback, though when Mary meets him, she observes that he's actually a handsome man whose only faults are slightly…
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Mrs. Craven
Colin's mother; she died about the time of his birth after a tree branch in the secret garden broke, and she fell. She and Mr. Craven were madly in love, and the garden was…
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The Robin
A young male robin that was born in a tree in the secret garden, but as a fledgling was unable to make it back to the nest. At that time, he befriended Ben Weatherstaff…
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Dr. Craven
Mr. Craven's cousin and the doctor who, for the last several years, has been caring for Colin. He dismisses the London doctor’s opinion that Colin is fine but needs fresh air in…
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Mrs. Medlock
A formidable woman who works for Mr. Craven. She performs a number of duties, but according to Martha, spends most of the time drinking tea in her sitting room. She dislikes Mary and…
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Mary's Mother
Mary's mother was a beautiful woman who wanted to spend all of her time attending parties and conversing with other beautiful, happy people. She didn't want to have a child, and so when Mary…
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The London Doctor
A doctor that saw Colin several years ago and prescribed nothing but fresh air, recognizing that there was nothing wrong with Colin. Because this wasn't what Colin wanted to hear at the time, he never…
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Mary’s Ayah
Mary's Indian nursemaid. Mary thinks little of Ayah when she's in the woman’s care and often slaps her when she's upset or angry. However, as Mary begins to grow and develop at Misselthwaite, she…
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Colin’s Nurse
Colin's nurse. She doesn't like her job or Colin; she often leaves him in the care of Mrs. Medlock or Martha. When she learns of Colin and Mary's budding friendship, she capitalizes…
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Minor Characters
Basil
A little boy whose family Mary stays with between her home in India and Misselthwaite Manor. He teases her by singing the nursery rhyme "Mistress Mary, quite contrary" to her and getting all of his siblings to sing it as well.
Mr. Roach
The head gardener at Misselthwaite. When he sees Colin for the first time, he thinks that Colin has a perfectly grand air—though he also has to try to hide his laughter, given that Colin is humorously full of himself.
Bob Haworth
A local Yorkshire champion wrestler who shows Dickon some simple strength training exercises; Dickon then passes the exercises on to Mary and Colin.
Mary's Father
An official in the English government in India. Like Mary, he's often ill, sour, and yellow. He dies when cholera sweeps through the house.
Mr. Pitcher
Mr. Craven's personal servant. He travels with Mr. Craven throughout Europe.
Mrs. Crawford
Basil's mother. She cares for Mary for a short time after officers rescue Mary from her parents' home.
Captain
A fox that Dickon found abandoned as a cub, rescued, and tamed. He follows Dickon everywhere.
Soot
A tame raven. He rides on Dickon's shoulder.
Nut and Shell
Two squirrels that Dickon tamed; they often travel in Dickon's pockets or on his shoulder.