The Secret Garden · Chapter
There Is No One Left explained
Mary Lennox, a sickly and disagreeable child born in India to neglectful parents, is orphaned by a cholera outbreak.
What happens
Mary Lennox, a sickly and disagreeable child born in India to neglectful parents, is orphaned by a cholera outbreak. After being forgotten in the nursery during the chaos, she is discovered alone and learns that both her parents have died. She is subsequently sent to live with her uncle at Misselthwaite Manor.
Themes in this chapter
Grief and Healing
Mary experiences the sudden loss of both parents, but her lack of emotional attachment and selfish nature prevent her from grieving. This sets the stage for her later emotional growth.
Childhood and Independence
Mary is forced into independence by being forgotten and orphaned, but her childhood has been marked by neglect and isolation, making her ill-equipped for emotional connection.
Characters to notice
- Mary Lennox
Introduced as a sour, thin, and selfish child who has been neglected by her parents and raised by servants. She reacts to her parents' death with anger and confusion rather than grief.
- Mrs. Craven
Mary's mother, a beautiful socialite who cared little for her daughter. She is shown panicking about the cholera outbreak before dying.
- Captain Lennox
Mary's father, who held a government position in India and was often ill and busy. He dies of cholera along with his wife.
- Ayah
Mary's Indian nurse, who died of cholera during the outbreak. Mary shows no affection for her.
Key passages
“She had a little thin face and a little thin body, thin light hair and a sour expression.”
Mary was physically frail and had an unpleasant, scowling appearance.
Establishes Mary's initial unattractive and disagreeable nature.
“She was as tyrannical and selfish a little pig as ever lived.”
Mary was extremely bossy and self-centered.
Highlights Mary's spoiled and demanding behavior due to being indulged by servants.
“It is the child no one ever saw! ... She has actually been forgotten!”
This is the child that was always hidden away; she was completely overlooked during the crisis.
Reveals how neglected and invisible Mary was to everyone, including her parents.