The Secret Garden: Wonder, Imagination and Magic
© Susan Jensen
One of the elements that makes the book both unique and charming is its portrayal of Mary and Colin as real children. Both are spoiled, impertinent and naughty. While this may inspire a dislike for them, it lends the story credibility. Any parent will recognize the impossibility of the perfect heroes and heroines that reign in early literature for children. Because the children are realistic, they carry burdens, which endear us to these spoiled playmates. This makes us empathize with their loneliness and heartaches, revel in their pleasures and step into their imaginations.
The wonder and magic of The Secret Garden is tied very closely to reality. The garden is real: it dies when neglected, flourishes when tended. The crying Mary hears is authentic, although the possibility of it being a ghost is introduced. Dickon is the only element that tends toward the fantastic; he seems a magical boy, able to converse with animals and communicate with all living things. He carries the mysteries of the moors with him and his magic touches all. Although Dickon is the only fantastic image in the book, the story conveys magic. It is the magic of imagination, the wonder of childhood and the simplicity of children's love.
A simple search for The Secret Garden turns up numerous Web sites, addressing various issues. Although there are several dealing with the musical, I only found one on the book. The site (http://lausd.k12.ca.us/~cburleso/Lessons... seems to be geared toward teachers, but is also useful for admirers of this book. Although it is not extensively informative, it does contain pictures of the moors, information on the book's author and setting and cute "peer reviews" written by middle school students.
If anyone does find a good site on this book, please inform me.
Go To Page: 1
