Gender representation in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden

Abstract

This research on The Secret Gardendigs out the subversion of gender roles through the characterization of Mary, Colin, Dickon and Ben Weatherstaff. Mary and Colin are two characters who transform with the development of the novel. Mary is ugly, rude, ignored and unsocialized in the beginning but she transforms herself into a socialized, beautiful and likeable girl through her inborn nature of strong, independent and curious individual at the end. She is absent in the last chapter because she does not want to bow down before the hands of patriarchy. Mary doesn’t join hands with Colin and Archibaldto be independent and free from patriarchal hegemony. Similarly, Colin also transforms himself into a likeable boy from weak, crippled and hysteric. On the other hand, Dickon and Ben Weatherstaff remain static throughout the novel. These two characters subvert the traditional roles of mothering. They play crucial roles to transform Mary and Colin by providing proper guidance, advices and suggestions. They do not reveal any dominant male characteristics; rather they exhibit feminine roles of nurturing, caring, nourishing and protective mother.