Gender representation in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden
Date
2011
Authors
Rana, Jhak Bahadur
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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.
Description
Keywords
Gender representation, Protective mother