Martha Character Analysis in The Secret Garden

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 Yorkshire, and through her speech patterns and her love of telling stories, she introduces Mary to aspects of her new home. As the oldest of twelve children, Martha has had lots of practice caring for young children, but Mary's inability to dress herself and other moments of learned helplessness present special problems for Martha. She dedicates herself to teaching Mary how to be more self-sufficient and is successful in this endeavor. Martha is extremely kind and adores her mother, Mrs. Sowerby. She gets one day off per month, which she spends at her family's cottage, helping her mother bake and clean and care for her siblings. She and Mary form a more friendly relationship as Mary learns to do things for herself, and so Martha begins to tell Mary all about her family and life on the moor, and specifically, about her little brother Dickon. Though she initially tries to keep Colin's existence a secret, per Mr. Craven's request, when Colin and Mary finally do meet, Colin instructs Martha to facilitate Mary's visits. Martha is also the first to let slip that there's a secret locked garden somewhere on the grounds, piquing Mary’s interest.

Martha Quotes in The Secret Garden

The The Secret Garden quotes below are all either spoken by Martha or refer to Martha. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Mary had never possessed an animal pet of her own and had always thought she should like no one. So she began to feel a slight interest in Dickon, and as she had never before been interested in any one but herself, it was the dawning of a healthy sentiment.

Related Characters: Martha, Mary Lennox , Dickon

Page Number and Citation: 36

Explanation and Analysis:

During Mary's first morning at Misselthwaite, Martha tells her about her brother Dickon, who makes friends with animals on the moor, including a moor pony. This is an intriguing idea for Mary, and it's one of the first moments in which she begins to think of other people outside of herself. This has to do in part with the way that Martha treats her: because Martha isn't a fully trained lady's maid, she treats Mary more like she would one of her sisters, not her mistress. This means that Martha speaks more freely than she might otherwise and is harsher Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibu

But the big breaths of rough fresh air blown over the heather filled her lungs with something which was good for her whole thin body and whipped some red color into her cheeks and brightened her dull eyes when she did not know anything about it.

But after a few days spent almost entirely out of doors she wakened one morning knowing what it was to be hungry, and when she sat down to her breakfast she did not glance disdainfully at her porridge and push it away, but took up her spoon and began to eat it and went on eating it until her bowl was empty.

Related Characters: Martha, Mary Lennox

Page Number and Citation: 52

Explanation and Analysis:

The narrator explains how the fresh air from the moor was able to make Mary hungry for breakfast after only a few days. The novel positions being hungry as a sign of health; Mary is unhealthy in India and her unwillingness to eat much there is a symptom of that. Notably, the novel attributes her poor health in India to India's climate. In England, on the other hand, the novel suggests that the environment and specifically, the outdoors and the moor are elements that can actively make a person healthier, whether they know it or realize it. This all suggests Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusanti

"I wonder," staring at her reflectively, "what Dickon would think of thee?"

"He wouldn't like me," said Mary in her stiff, cold little way. "No one does."

Martha looked reflective again.

"How does tha' like thysel'?" she inquired, really quite as if she were curious to know.

"Not at all—really," she answered. "But I never thought of that before."

Related Characters: Mary Lennox (speaker), Martha (speaker), Dickon

Page Number and Citation: 75

Explanation and Analysis:

One morning, as Martha and Mary discuss Mrs. Sowerby and Dickon and the fact that Mary is starting to like people, Mary admits that nobody likes her, and that she doesn’t exactly blame them for that—she doesn’t like herself either. This exchange truly situates Martha as someone who bridges the gap between friend and caregiver. Before this point, Mary has never had a friendly relationship with someone who cared for her: she slapped her Ayah when she was angry and never liked any of the women or adults who cared for her between India and Misselthwaite. Because Martha isn't a Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste.

She walked away, slowly thinking. She had begun to like the garden just as she had begun to like the robin and Dickon and Martha's mother. She was beginning to like Martha, too. This seemed a good many people to like—when you were not used to liking.

Related Characters: Mary Lennox (speaker), Martha, Ben Weatherstaff , The Robin , Dickon, Susan Sowerby / Mother

Page Number and Citation: 78

Explanation and Analysis:

After a brief conversation with Ben Weatherstaff about the secret garden, Mary takes stock of all the people she's starting to like. The novel attributes Mary's transformation to learning to like people to the time she spends in nature, even at this point when she hasn't yet discovered the secret garden. This also shows how her time in nature gradually begins to give her happy things to think about, especially other people, which in turn makes Mary happier and healthier. Taken together, this all shows that Mary's engagement with the garden and the growing number of good thoughts that she's Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperia

"Martha," she said, "they were your wages. It was your twopence really. Thank you." She said it stiffly because she was not used to thanking people or noticing that they did things for her. "Thank you," she said, and held out her hand because she did not know what else to do.

Related Characters: Mary Lennox (speaker), Martha

Page Number and Citation: 87

Explanation and Analysis:

When Martha gifts Mary a jump rope, courtesy of Mrs. Sowerby, Mary awkwardly thanks Martha for her kindness—the first time she's ever done so. Because this moment takes place only a few weeks into Mary's time at Misselthwaite, it illustrates the extreme power of all the good things that Mary is experiencing at the Manor. Her time in nature is making her more introspective, while her conversations with Martha about Dickon and Mrs. Sowerby are beginning to make Mary more curious about people other than herself. Specifically, the fact that Martha is simultaneously a maid, authority figure, and a friend Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti sol

Mary's lips pinched themselves together. She was no more used to considering other people than Colin was and she saw no reason why an ill-tempered boy should interfere with the thing she liked best. She knew nothing about the pitifulness of people who had been ill and nervous and who did not know that they could control their tempers and need not make other people ill and nervous, too.

Related Characters: Colin Craven, Mary Lennox , Martha

Page Number and Citation: 201

Explanation and Analysis:

After Mary spends a few blissful days outside, Martha grows concerned that Colin is going to be upset that Mary has been outside instead of visiting with him. Mary, being selfish, doesn't see why Colin should keep her from the garden. This begins to show how Mary and Colin, because of their very similar upbringings, will be able to function as a mirror for each other and in doing so, check each other's behavior. It's especially telling that Mary can recognize that Colin is spoiled in the first place, as it suggests that she's already learning how to look at Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. E

Martha Character Timeline in The Secret Garden

The timeline below shows where the character Martha appears in The Secret Garden. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...She points out the window and asks what it is. With a smile, the maid, Martha, says that it's the moor and asks Mary if she likes it. Mary declares that... (full context)

Martha laughs and says if Mrs. Craven were alive, she wouldn't even be a servant—she's too... (full context)

Martha says that it's time Mary learned and notes that Mother spoke often about "grand people's... (full context)

This frightens Martha, so she comforts Mary and begs her to stop crying. Despite herself, Mary finds Martha's... (full context)

Martha talks the entire time. Mary tries not to listen at first, as to express her... (full context)

Then, Martha tells Mary to go outside and play. Mary doesn't want to go out, but decides... (full context)

...a few days of this routine, Mary wakes up and knows that she's truly hungry. Martha insists that this is because of the moor and encourages Mary to play. Mary notices... (full context)

...up. By the end of the day, Mary is pleasantly tired. After supper, she asks Martha why Mr. Craven hates the garden. Martha is happy to sit with Mary and talk.... (full context)

...a strange cry from somewhere within the house. Mary tries to point it out to Martha, but Martha insists that the house makes strange sounds. Suddenly, the wind gusts through the... (full context)

...Mary wakes up to gray, cloudy skies and knows she can't go outside. She asks Martha what her family does on days like this, and Martha explains that some kids play... (full context)

Mary insists that she has nothing to do, as she can't sew or knit. Martha suggests she read and says that it'd be wonderful if Mrs. Medlock would let Mary... (full context)

...is greeted by a brilliant blue sky that's brighter than any she saw in India. Martha cheerfully explains that the weather fluctuates this time of year with spring on the way.... (full context)

Wistfully, Mary says she'd like to see Martha's cottage. Martha thinks that Mary doesn't look so sour now and says that she'll ask... (full context)

Mary feels lonely knowing that Martha is gone. She heads outside, runs around the fountain ten times, and then finds Ben... (full context)

...She also thinks that she likes the garden, just like she likes the robin, Dickon, Martha, and Mother. (full context)

Martha returns the next day with stories of her day out. She and Mother washed and... (full context)

Martha leaves and returns with a present for Mary, courtesy of Mother: a jump rope. Having... (full context)

As Mary heads outside, she stiffly thanks Martha for the jump rope and holds out her hand. Martha shakes it, laughs, and says... (full context)

...so she runs back to the manor and eats the biggest dinner she's ever eaten. Martha is delighted and remarks that Mother will be pleased at the effect of the jump... (full context)

...she had a spade. Carefully, as to keep the secret garden a secret, she tells Martha that Misselthwaite Manor is lonely, so she wants to be like Ben Weatherstaff and grow... (full context)

Martha explains that Dickon will bring the purchases to Misselthwaite himself, which again excites Mary—she finds... (full context)

Mary races back to her room and excitedly tells Martha that she's been with Dickon and thinks he's beautiful. Martha is confused and says that... (full context)

As Mary grabs her hat to go back outside, Martha says that Mr. Craven is back and wants to see her. Mary turns white as... (full context)

...Medlock enters and tells Mary to put on her best dress and brush her hair. Martha helps her and then Mary silently follows Mrs. Medlock. Mrs. Medlock leaves Mary with Mr.... (full context)

As soon as Mary is back in her room, she excitedly tells Martha all the good news and that Mr. Craven is nice, just miserable. She races back... (full context)

Later, Mary shows the note to Martha. Martha explains that the nest is a missel thrush nest, and Mary understands that he's... (full context)

...moment, Colin decides that he's going to keep Mary a secret too. He explains that Martha is caring for him now while his nurse is away, and she'll tell Mary when... (full context)

It's still raining in the morning, so Mary stays inside. Martha comes to sit with her in the afternoon and notices immediately that there's something bothering... (full context)

Martha insists that Mary bewitched Colin, and Mary asks if Martha is talking about Magic. She... (full context)

...muses that it might do Colin good to get outside to see things growing, but Martha says that they took him outside once to see roses and it was a disaster:... (full context)

Colin is settled among cushions when Mary arrives. Mary mentions Martha's fear of being dismissed, so Colin summons Martha. He curtly reminds Martha that she must... (full context)

...Mary now notices that she looks very different now than when she arrived from India. Martha insists that this is the work of the moor air. (full context)

Mary returns to the house late for dinner and asks Martha to tell Colin that she's too busy in the garden to visit. Martha looks afraid,... (full context)

Martha is waiting in Mary's room and says that Colin has been throwing a tantrum all... (full context)

Mary finds Martha in her room with a box of gifts from Mr. Craven. The box contains games,... (full context)

The next morning, Mary sleeps late and then listens to Martha as she eats breakfast. Martha says that Colin is quiet, but feverish and worn out... (full context)

...his creatures are going to visit and are to be brought right to him by Martha. The nurse is uncertain about the animals, but Colin says that Dickon is an animal... (full context)

About ten minutes later, Colin and Mary hear Dickon's animals in the hallway. Martha shows Dickon in, accompanied by Soot, Captain, Nut, Shell, and the lamb. Colin stares in... (full context)

Martha Character Analysis

Martha Quotes in The Secret Garden

Chapter 4 Quotes

Chapter 5 Quotes

Chapter 7 Quotes

Chapter 8 Quotes

Chapter 16 Quotes

Martha Character Timeline in The Secret Garden