The Secret Garden

by

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Secret Garden makes teaching easy.

Mary's Mother Character Analysis

Mary's mother was a beautiful woman who wanted to spend all of her time attending parties and conversing with other beautiful, happy people. She didn't want to have a child, and so when Mary was born, she passed Mary off to an Ayah and continued on with her fun-filled lifestyle. Despite the neglect she showed Mary, Mary loved catching sight of her mother, who was always dressed beautifully. She dies when cholera sweeps through the house.
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Mary's Mother Character Timeline in The Secret Garden

The timeline below shows where the character Mary's Mother appears in The Secret Garden. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1 
Healing, Growth, and Nature Theme Icon
Childrearing and Friendship Theme Icon
...she's constantly sick and has a yellow complexion. Mary's father suffers the same ailments, while Mary's mother is beautiful, likes going to parties, and never wanted a baby. Mary's mother gave newborn... (full context)
Healing, Growth, and Nature Theme Icon
Childrearing and Friendship Theme Icon
...about the names she's going to call her Ayah. As Mary is absorbed in this, Mary's mother comes onto the verandah with a young officer. Mary's mother seems scared and upset. The... (full context)
Chapter 2
Healing, Growth, and Nature Theme Icon
Childrearing and Friendship Theme Icon
Secrets and Independence Theme Icon
Because Mary is self-absorbed and because Mary's mother never showed her love or affection, Mary doesn't miss her parents much. She simply assumes... (full context)
Childrearing and Friendship Theme Icon
...is that Mary is so plain and unattractive and attribute this to the neglect that Mary's mother showed her daughter. (full context)
Healing, Growth, and Nature Theme Icon
The Power of Thought Theme Icon
Childrearing and Friendship Theme Icon
...himself away and won't see anyone. She thinks that Mrs. Craven must have been like Mary’s own mother , and that her existence would've made the manor pretty. Finally, Mrs. Medlock tells Mary... (full context)
Chapter 26
Healing, Growth, and Nature Theme Icon
The Power of Thought Theme Icon
Childrearing and Friendship Theme Icon
...to Mary and says that with how well she's looking, she'll look as pretty as Mary's mother and will be "like a blush rose" when she grows up. Mary is pleased to... (full context)