The Secret Garden
Mary speaks aloud to the portrait of a 'stiff, plain little girl' who is 'rather like herself'. What does this interaction, imagined or real, reveal about Mary's character, her deepest needs, and how she is beginning to change?
Some were pictures of children—little girls in thick satin frocks which reached to their feet and stood out about them, and boys with puffed sleeves and lace collars and long hair, or with big ruffs around their necks. She always [Pg 70]stopped to look at the children, and wonder what their names were, and where they had gone, and why they wore such odd clothes. There was a stiff, plain little girl rather like herself. She wore a green brocade dress and held a green parrot on her finger. Her eyes had a sharp, curious look.
'Where do you live now?' said Mary aloud to her. 'I wish you were here.'
💡 Writing Tips
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Think about why Mary would speak to a painting. What does her question ('Where do you live now?') and wish ('I wish you were here.') suggest about her current situation and desires? Consider the significance of her identifying with the 'stiff, plain' girl in the portrait. This shows a longing for companionship, understanding, and perhaps even a reflection of herself.
📝 Sample Answer
Mary's imagined interaction with the portrait reveals her profound loneliness and her deep-seated desire for connection. Up until this point, Mary has been presented as an unlikable, solitary child who resents company. However, by stopping to look at the children's portraits, wondering about their lives, and especially by speaking aloud to the 'stiff, plain little girl' whom she identifies as being 'rather like herself,' she shows a burgeoning capacity for empathy and a yearning for companionship. Her question, 'Where do you live now?', and her wish, 'I wish you were here,' indicate a longing for someone to share her strange new world with, a peer who might understand her feelings or alleviate her isolation. This moment signifies a subtle shift in Mary's character, moving away from her complete self-absorption towards a quiet yearning for connection and belonging.
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