

Magic and health are primarily connected through the character of Colin. How does the author connect themes of magic and health in The Secret Garden? By sharing this lamb with the sickly Colin, it also demonstrates his generosity. The presence of the lamb illustrates how Dickon is a kind and gentle boy who can properly care for the smallest and most vulnerable creatures. He brings this lamb when he visits Colin for the first time. At one point in the story, Dickon rescues a newborn lamb who has been orphaned by his mother. Craven never happened.ĭescribe one instance where an animal is used symbolically to further develop the characters.ĭickon is known for being especially well-connected to the animal kingdom he often shows up with a whole flock of creatures trailing behind him. By keeping Colin a secret, Archibald believes that he can somehow pretend the death of Mrs. Yet more deeply we can infer that this refusal to fully parent his son shows a resistance to fully heal and come to terms with the past. On one level, Archibald rejects his son because he is a blunt reminder of the wife he lost. Yet as the story unfolds, the reader comes to understand this character better, seeing the great level of grief he carries from the death of his beloved wife.

Why do you believe Archibald Craven has chosen to neglect his son and leave him in the care of servants?Īt first, this choice of Mr. Instead, she learns to come out of her shell, make new friends, and even becomes the catalyst for the healing of the Craven family. By unexpectedly being placed in a foreign environment, she is forced to leave behind her comfortable yet lonely routine and her identity as the wealthy child of nobles. This change is shown to happen through her immersion in nature and also through the grace of life itself. Most importantly, she transforms from a closed-off and bitter child to a joyful and courageous girl. Mary’s great move from India to England is only the most superficial level of change she experiences in the story. How does Mary transform throughout the novel?
