Mary Lennox

Mary Lennox
Background information
Feature films	The Secret Garden
Portrayed by	Kate Maberly
Inspiration	Mary Lennox from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Character information
Occupation	Resident of Misselthwaite Manor
Alignment	Good
Nationality	British
Goal	To restore her late aunt's garden (succeeded)
Relatives	Major Lennox † (father) Mrs. Lennox † (mother) Lilias Craven † (maternal aunt) Archibald Craven (maternal uncle by marriage) Colin Craven (cousin)
Allies	Colin, Dickon Sowerby, Martha Sowerby, Ben Weatherstaff, The Robin
Enemies	Mrs. Medlock (briefly)
Dislikes	Being mistreated
Paraphernalia	Gardening

Mary Lennox is the fictional character and the protagonist of the original 1911 novel The Secret Garden, created by Frances Hodgson Burnett. She is also the protagonist from the 1993 film of the same name, directed by Agnieszka Holland and portrayed by Kate Maberly.

Role in the film

Mary Lennox is a sour-faced ten-year-old girl who was born and raised by spoiled British parents in India. Spoiled, rude, and temperamental, she has been tended to by servants because her parents never wanted her.

One day, her parents are killed by a cholera epidemic (in the movie's case, an earthquake, perhaps to be less disturbing to younger audiences), and Mary is sent away to live with her uncle Archibald Craven in Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, England, which is tended by the strict housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock. Mary starts out in her usual bad ways, not liking the house, and Mrs. Medlock forbids her to explore. It takes a while for Mary to learn a magnificent garden next door to the house. Lord Craven has kept the garden a secret because of the death of his wife Lilias, who had died ten years prior after an accident in the garden. Thanks to a robin that lives in the secret garden, Mary finds the key to the secret garden.

She makes friends with Martha Sowerby, the maid, and her twelve-year-old brother Dickon, who cares for the animals. Mary notices crying in the house and discovers that it's her bedridden cousin, Colin, who is troubled by the death of his mother and has a problem with his spine. She discovers that he is as spoiled and mean as she was, but instead of mistreating him, Mary takes Colin into the garden where, with Dickon, they befriend Ben Weatherstaff, the gardener, and rise above their pain. Lord Craven discovers them and is surprised and happy to see the children together. As for Mary, she grows into a strong and caring girl.

Trivia

Differences from the source material

• In the book, Mary is described having blonde hair, but in the movie, she has brown hair.
• In addition to above difference, in the beginning, it is described her skin is a sickly, yellow color. But this is not shown in the movie, most likely because it would not be possible without a lot of makeup or special effects.

v - e - d
Media The Secret Garden • Soundtrack • Video Characters Mary Lennox • Dickon Sowerby • Colin Craven • Archibald Craven • Mrs. Medlock • Mrs. Lennox • Lilias Craven • Martha Sowerby • Ben Weatherstaff • Major Lennox Locations British Raj • Yorkshire, England • Allerton Castle • Great Maytham Hall See also Frances Hodgson Burnett • A Little Princess