# Mary Lennox — The Secret Garden character guide > Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mistress Mary, sour little Mary, Mistress Mary Quite Contrary, Susan Ann, little Susan Ann, Miss Mary, Sarah Ann **First appearance:** 0000-i-there-is-no-one-left ## Snapshot A sour, unwanted girl from India, orphaned by cholera and shipped to a desolate Yorkshire manor, where she must learn to want something before she can grow. ## Who they are Mary Lennox arrives at Misselthwaite Manor as a girl nobody has ever really wanted, least of all herself; servants fled the cholera that killed her parents, and her mother scarcely looked at her. Her only defense is a stony, contrary temper that repels the kindness she doesn't trust. When Martha talks of moors and robins, a first flicker of curiosity stirs in her, and that small appetite for the world is what the story will feed. ## Relationships ### [Colin Craven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/colin_craven) _friendship_ Colin and Mary form a transformative friendship, healing each other through shared secrets and the magic of the garden. ### [Dickon Sowerby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/dickon_sowerby) _friendship_ Dickon is Mary's gentle, nature-wise friend who teaches her about animals and gardening, grounding her in Yorkshire. ### [Martha Sowerby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/martha_sowerby) _friendship_ Martha is Mary's first kind acquaintance at Misselthwaite, introducing her to Dickon and the moor. ### [Ben Weatherstaff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/ben_weatherstaff) _friendship_ Ben is a gruff but kind gardener who initially clashes with Mary but later becomes her ally in the garden. ### [Mrs. Medlock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/mrs_medlock) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock is the stern housekeeper who oversees Mary's care at Misselthwaite Manor with distant authority. ### [Archibald Craven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/archibald_craven) _family_ Archibald is Mary's uncle and guardian, initially distant but grateful for her positive influence on Colin. ### [Mrs. Sowerby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/mrs_sowerby) _social_ Mrs. Sowerby is the warm, motherly figure who provides comfort and wisdom to Mary from afar. ### [Colin Craven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/colin_craven) _friendship_ Colin and Mary form a transformative friendship, healing each other through shared secrets and the magic of the garden. ### [Dickon Sowerby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/dickon_sowerby) _friendship_ Dickon is Mary's gentle, nature-wise friend who teaches her about animals and gardening, grounding her in Yorkshire. ### [Colin Craven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/colin_craven) _friendship_ Colin and Mary form a transformative friendship, healing each other through shared secrets and the magic of the garden. ### [Martha Sowerby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/martha_sowerby) _friendship_ Martha is Mary's first kind acquaintance at Misselthwaite, introducing her to Dickon and the moor. ### [Ben Weatherstaff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/ben_weatherstaff) _friendship_ Ben is a gruff but kind gardener who initially clashes with Mary but later becomes her ally in the garden. ## In the story ### [There Is No One Left](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/i-there-is-no-one-left) 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. ### [Mistress Mary Quite Contrary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/ii-mistress-mary-quite-contrary) Mary is depicted as self-absorbed, lonely, and contrary. She resists affection, feels disconnected from others, and is curious yet defiant about her new life in England. ### [Across the Moor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/iii-across-the-moor) Mary travels across the moor, feeling small and lost as she arrives at Misselthwaite Manor and is instructed to keep to her rooms. ### [Martha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/iv-martha) Mary is introduced to her new life at Misselthwaite Manor. She is initially imperious and ignorant of basic self-care, but begins to feel curiosity about Dickon and the robin, and acknowledges her loneliness. ### [The Cry in the Corridor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/v-the-cry-in-the-corridor) Begins to thrive outdoors, gains appetite, communicates with the robin, and becomes curious about the secret garden and the crying sound. ### [VI: “There Was Some One Crying—There Was!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/vi-there-was-some-one-crying-there-was) Explores the house, hears crying, and becomes curious about the moorland cottage. ### [VII: The Key of the Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/vii-the-key-of-the-garden) Mary awakens to the transformed moor, feels lonely after Martha leaves, explores the gardens, and discovers the key to the secret garden. ### [The Robin Who Showed the Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/viii-the-robin-who-showed-the-way) Discovers the key and later the hidden door to the secret garden, feeling excitement and wonder as she enters. ### [IX: The Strangest House Anyone Ever Lived In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/ix-the-strangest-house-anyone-ever-lived-in) Discovers the secret garden, explores it with wonder, and begins to feel a sense of belonging and purpose. ### [The Nest of the Missel Thrush](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xi-the-nest-of-the-missel-thrush) Works eagerly in the garden with Dickon, learning to identify living wood and planting seeds. She shares the 'Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary' rhyme and asks Dickon if he likes her. ### [XII: “Might I Have a Bit of Earth?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xii-might-i-have-a-bit-of-earth) Mary is excited after meeting Dickon and nervous about her meeting with Mr. Craven. She bravely asks for permission to play outdoors and have a garden, and is overjoyed when he agrees. ### [I Am Colin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xiii-i-am-colin) Mary shares the secret garden with Colin, persuades him to keep it hidden, and later investigates his crying, discovering him in his room. ### [A Young Rajah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xiv-a-young-rajah) Mary boldly discovers Colin, talks with him through the night, and later tells Martha and Colin about Dickon and the moor, sparking Colin's interest in life. ### [Nest Building](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xv-nest-building) Mary spends time with Colin, considers trusting him with the secret garden, and discusses plans to bring him outside with Dickon. ### [XVI: “I Won’t!” Said Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xvi-i-won-t-said-mary) Mary is absorbed in gardening with Dickon, growing stronger and happier. She defies Colin's demands, showing her stubborn and independent nature, but later feels warmth from Mr. Craven's gift. ### [XVII: A Tantrum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xvii-a-tantrum) Confronts Colin during his tantrum with anger and later comforts him with a gentle description of the secret garden. ### [Tha' Munnot Waste No Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xviii-tha-munnot-waste-no-time) Visits Colin after his crying fit, goes to the garden to meet Dickon, and decides to reveal the secret garden to Colin. ### [XIX: “It Has Come!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xix-it-has-come) Brings news of spring's arrival, describes the garden and the newborn lamb, and encourages Colin to breathe fresh air. ### [XX: “I Shall Live Forever—and Ever—and Ever!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xx-i-shall-live-forever-and-ever-and-ever) Mary guides Colin and Dickon along the secret route, pointing out key landmarks from her own discovery of the garden. She shares in the joy of the moment. ### [Ben Weatherstaff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xxi-ben-weatherstaff) Shares in the joy of the garden, believes in Dickon's Magic, is confronted by Ben Weatherstaff. ### [When the Sun Went Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xxii-when-the-sun-went-down) Watches with breathless interest, silently urging Colin on with her mantra 'You can do it!' ### [Magic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xxiii-magic) Observes Colin's rudeness, reflects on her own past behavior, agrees about the Magic, and supports Colin's secret plan. ### [XXIV: “Let Them Laugh”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xxiv-let-them-laugh) Mary breakfasts with Colin and struggles to suppress laughter when Colin claims an unnatural appetite. She has filled out and lost her sour look, now laughing with Colin. ### [The Curtain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xxv-the-curtain) Explores the house with Colin, observes the robin's nest, and notices the change in the curtain. ### [XXVI: “It’s Mother!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xxvi-it-s-mother) Mary walks with Colin to meet Susan Sowerby and feels her pulse beat faster. She is told she will grow up to be like a blush rose. ### [In the Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xxvii-in-the-garden) Runs with Colin in the garden and witnesses the reunion with his father. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/mary_lennox - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters