Point of View

The story of The Secret Garden is told by a third-person, omniscient narrator who is privy to the action that takes place and to the thoughts and feelings of the characters. This is important because the characters are quite varied and diverse. It is helpful for the reader to get a peek into their individual ways of thinking. It becomes especially important as Mary, the main character, begins to undergo changes after arriving at Misselthwaite Manor. In the beginning, she was portrayed as a selfish, arrogant, somewhat hateful child. It is instructive for the reader to share her journey as she initially begins to see herself as others see her and experiences new feelings for the first time.

While omniscient, the narrator is also subjective, offering commentary on the characters' motivations from time to time, as well as observations about the times in which the...