The Secret Garden · Character

Mrs. Sowerby

A moorland cottage mother with a rosy, comfortable face, who mothers every child she meets and quietly nudges the whole story toward its healing.

supporting

Also known as Susan Sowerby, Susan, Mother

First appearance: iv martha

As a supporting figure in The Secret Garden, Mrs. Sowerby is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Martha speaks of her mother's wisdom and good nature; Mary says she likes Mrs.

In the storyVII: The Key of the GardenOpen this moment free

See Mrs. Sowerby in VII: The Key of the Garden Book page

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She is Dickon and Martha's mother, poor in coin but rich in sense, and the one adult the children trust with their secret. When she sees Colin's uplifted face she calls him 'dear lad' instead of 'Mester Colin,' and tells him his father must come home. Her warm, supported feeling is exactly what two motherless children have been starving for, and she becomes the story's quiet engine of restoration.

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The fuller portrait of Mrs. Sowerby sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Mrs. Sowerby in iv martha

Character Web

16 connections

A slice of how Mrs. Sowerby sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Social
Family
Other

Character groups

Misselthwaite Manor household
India and periphery characters
Protagonist

+11 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because Mary consciously chooses her own burgeoning joy and independenc…

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Relationships

Mary Lennox
social · positive
Martha Sowerby
family · positive
Dickon Sowerby
family · positive
Mary Lennox
social · positive
Martha Sowerby
family · positive
Dickon Sowerby
family · positive
Dickon Sowerby
family · positive

Mary Lennox
Mrs. Sowerby is the warm, motherly figure who provides comfort and wisdom to Mary from afar.
Martha Sowerby
Martha is the devoted daughter of Mrs. Sowerby, who raises her large family with love and practicality.
Dickon Sowerby
Dickon is Mrs. Sowerby's son, sharing her deep connection to nature and her nurturing spirit.
Mary Lennox
Mrs. Sowerby is the warm, motherly figure who provides comfort and wisdom to Mary from afar.
Martha Sowerby
Martha is the devoted daughter of Mrs. Sowerby, who raises her large family with love and practicality.
Dickon Sowerby
Dickon is Mrs. Sowerby's son, sharing her deep connection to nature and her nurturing spirit.
Dickon Sowerby
Dickon is Mrs. Sowerby's son, sharing her deep connection to nature and her nurturing spirit.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mrs. Sowerby in iv martha

In the story

Mrs. Sowerby appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

VII: The Key of the Garden
Martha speaks of her mother's wisdom and good nature; Mary says she likes Mrs. Sowerby without having met her.
The Robin Who Showed the Way
Martha's mother who buys the skipping rope for Mary and expresses concern about Mary being alone.
The Nest of the Missel Thrush
Mentioned as one of the five people Mary likes and as the one who packs Dickon's lunch.
XIX: “It Has Come!”
Quoted by Mrs. Medlock for her wisdom about children and the 'whole orange' metaphor.
XXIV: “Let Them Laugh”
Mrs. Sowerby sends fresh milk and currant buns to the children, demonstrating her kindness and 'magic.' She is thanked profusely by Colin.
XXVI: “It’s Mother!”
Susan Sowerby enters the garden, comforts Colin and Mary, and reassures Colin that his father will return.
In the Garden
Writes a letter urging Mr. Craven to return home, which prompts his journey back.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mrs. Sowerby unlock in the free preview.

See Mrs. Sowerby in iv martha

See Mrs. Sowerby in VII: The Key of the Garden