Magic - Allegories

Magic is definitely a topic of paramount importance throughout the novel because this supernatural power has been mentioned several times and in different situations. First of all, Colin Craven uses to explain his return to the health of both him and the Secret Garden possibly because of the ghost of the dead wife, or possibly because of God. Also, when Colin gets up for the first time, he thinks that the Magic that is healing his legs comes from Dickon, but Dickon tells him:

"Tha's doin' Magic thysel' […] It's same Magic as made these 'ere work out o' th' earth," and he touched with his thick boot a clump of crocuses in the grass. (Hodgson, chapter XXVII)

Therefore, it can be inferred that magic was apparently involved in this sense and this was what helped Colin to stand up and which brings the plants out of the earth from the seeds. And there are not only positive physical effects (curing careless children and producing green and growing things), but also spiritual magnitude. Another  proof for magical presente in the novel is when Dickon tells Mary in private that Mrs. Sowerby believes that Garden Magic is a maternal power that comes from the persistent spirit of Lilia’s Craven. This is shown when he said:

Mrs. Craven was a very lovely young lady," [Dickon] had gone on rather hesitatingly. "An' mother she thinks maybe she's about Misselthwaite many a time lookin' after Mester Colin, same as all mothers do when they're took out o' th' world. They have to come back, tha' sees. Happen she's been in the garden an' happen it was her set us to work, an' told us to bring him here." (Hodgson, chapter XXVI)

Having considered all these, magic is a combination of two central ideas in this novel: the importance of positive energy and thought for the general health of a person, and the redeeming and healing power of maternal love. Lilias Craven is a mother who cannot let his son alone in life and somehow has been sent to real life again to explain and make everyone understand her death and tell that there is nothing to be afraid of. She is happy and lives peacefully, but she wants the same for her siblings. She wants each person in the house to feel joyful and not sad about her death. As a good mother, she has to keep watching Colin even from beyond the grave. Thus, magic was beneficial at the end on account of the fact that it helped grow the relationship among everyone in the house and it also brought peace and tranquility back to the lives of all the people in the home that was becoming dark and even terrifying.

Magic in the garden - https://www.storyboardthat.com

Explanation of the story. Colin can walk - https://www.storyboardthat.com

The Garden, a symbolism

The Garden

After reading most of the chapters, one can already fully understand the meaning of the garden in the novel. Believe it or not, this place has gone through different chances because, at the beginning, the Secret Garden was originally meant for two people Archibald and Lilias to celebrate their love. They were an inseparable couple who loved each other sincerely and this setting was their refuge to escape from the cruel world of outside.

Nevertheless, the garden suddenly became a sad and horrible place where instead of being a place that Craven never wanted to leave, it became the last place where he wanted to be. All of these happened due to the fact that his wife died tragically in the garden. In this matter, Craven looked the garden with other eyes, but Colin, his son, started to understand or realize how the garden could change his life or his feelings at least. Mrs. Sowerby helped him comprehend the garden by expressing }Thy own mother's in this 'ere garden, I do believe~. This means that he should see the garden as a spiritual place of connection with his mother and that is what he did. Colin spent more time in the garden and he was finally able to look at his mother's portrait again.

Therefore, the garden seems to be the home of Lilias where she is waiting for Craven and Colin, but unless they start changing their behavior they will not feel her. Moreover, Mary also has a story with the garden and this consists in her first visit to the garden. When she had the chance to get into the garden this was in a detrimental situation, just like her life. Mary has been suffering a lot because of her parents and the incomprehension; thus, I believe one can compare the garden with her multiple problems. However, once she started restoring the garden, she also began to grow as a person. This demonstrates that the garden is a reflection of growth or evolution. If the characters learn from their mistakes and behave effectively, the garden will come alive again. Even a sort of peace has arrived in the Craven family.

Overall, there is definitely a connection between the characters and the garden and it consists of being a good and a happy person so that your life can be transformed immensely.

Painted by Marie Southarn Ospina

The Secret Garden film 1993