# There Is No One Left explained — The Secret Garden

> Chapter companion for The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/i-there-is-no-one-left
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_garden_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters