American Literature

One of the most critical period in human development is said to be from birth to infancy. According to Erik Erikson, trust is to be established between the child and its primary care giver, usually the mother. One can perceive that The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and The Golden  Compass by Philip Pullman have plots and interesting characters that not only entertain its readers but also establish important lessons about the growth and development of children. The novels portray the importance of parent-child relationship that, in reality, people tend to forget. Human personality is shaped based ones life experiences and personal relationships. Individuals have different attitudes towards life and surroundings. Each persons relationships and daily human interactions affect his whole being from birth to old age. The mother supposedly should have the greatest influence upon her child since she was the childs primary care giver and trust should have been established. However, this is not always the case. In the two novels presented, one can see how the lack of maternal bonding shaped the life of the main characters.

The two novels have a rich and lively array of characters. Both novels have children as their main characters. It is very much interesting to read about the thoughts that run through the mind of a child. It is much more exciting since as children, they are prone to be adventurous and imaginative.  The vast characters written in both novels added to their charm. Each child and their relationship to the adults in the novels has been well illustrated.

In The Secret Garden, there are three children that one can read about. These three children were outstanding in terms of their personality and the changes that happened in the story.

Mary Lennox is the girl who lost her parents in a foreign country. This is one fact that may be traumatic for other children but not to Mary.  Mary was practically raised by Indian servants who gave in to her every desire and whim. During her years of growing up, she did not have a real relationship with both her parents.  In the novel, her mother was described as a  great beauty who cared only to go to parties and amuse herself with gay people  (Burnett  7). She was a vain and selfish woman for the reason that she did not wish to see the child often. Mary only remembered her as being beautiful but not for any one motherly act. Mary thought that her mother  was such a tall, slim, pretty person and wore such lovely clothes. Her hair was like curly silk and she had a delicate little nose which seemed to be disdaining things, and she had large laughing eyes. All her clothes were thin and floating, and Mary said they were  full of lace  (Burnett 9)

Growing up without proper guidance and always having her own way with servants made Mary a very difficult child to deal with. She was violent and insulting to the native Indian servants. One instance was when she woke up and was displeased not to find her Ayah (personal servant) instead she found another servant, she kicked and shouted at her. She also thought of things to insult her Ayah, Pig Pig Daughter of Pig  To call somebody a native a pig is the worst insult of all. (Burnett 8). She did not have any friends in India for she proclaimed how she disliked them. She was even teased by Mrs. Crawfords children through a song,  Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow With Silver bells, and cockle shells, And marigolds all in a row.  (Burnett 14). She was close to having a blunt affect, not caring much what others think of her and feeling detached. Her feelings towards her mother was superficial,  but as she knew very little of her she could scarcely have been expected to love her or to miss her very much when she was gone. She did not miss her at all, in fact  (Burnett 13). She turned her face away as Mrs. Crawford tried to give her a kiss. Indeed, this is a sad image of a lonely girl.

However, her personality changed when she was sent back to England. People around her started to take notice and give her attention as well as affection. She became friends with Martha, Mr. Ben Weatherstaff and Dixon. She acquired a motherly figure in the persona of Mrs. Susan Sowerby. In the novel, she once thought that  when Martha told stories of what  mother  said or did they always sounded comfortable  (Burnett 52). These relationships she formed changed her personality, her thoughts and even her physical health. She finally received love and support that eventually sparked her interests in the environment and helped her change other people too, like her cousin, Colin.

The Golden Compass gives its readers another little girl with an adventurous and curious attitude towards life. Lyra is said to be an orphaned girl who lives with scholars in Jordan College. Being raised by mostly male scholars, she had a boyish attitude which portrayed her as being strong yet unrefined in her actions. She was said to be rebellious in the eyes of adults for she often disobeyed rules like going to forbidden places like the Retiring Room and performed tricks like trying to sink Gyptian boats. Her attitude was attributed by adults for her loneliness. There was an instance in the novel where she was consoled by a priest,  You see, none of us would want you to miss all the usual childhood pleasures and pastimes. I sometimes think it must be a lonely life for you here among a company of elderly scholars, Lyra. Do you feel that  (Pullman 19). She shrugged at the concern and denied that she feels lonely. Lyras attitude was made  little refined when she was made assistant by a Mrs. Coulter. She experienced how it was to be  a little girl,  and then they went shopping. Everything on this extraordinary day was the most dizzying  (Pullman 27). She acted like a mother towards Lyra,  then a bath, with thick scented foam. Mrs. Coulter came into the bathroom to wash Lyras hair and she didnt rub and scrap like Mrs. Lonsdale either , she was gentle --- then after the bath, a warm drink with milk and herbs and a new flannel nightdress with printed flowers and a seal loped hem and sheep skin slippers  (Pullman 27).

However, Lyra had a short-lived fantasy of having Mrs. Coulter as a mother for she learned that she was being spied at by Mrs. Coulter. She also learned of the awful things the lady did and so she ran away from her. She learned that she was not to be trusted. Meanwhile, Lyra discovered about her biological parents, Lord Asriel as her father and Mrs. Coulter as her mother. Lyra still chose her own path in the matter. Her independent actions  can be attributed to the fact that she grew up without parental supervision in her life and she decided for herself. She also thought how ill her mother was for lying to her after Mrs. Coulter saved her and her daemon Pan from intercision and even dared harm her. Lyras thoughts were  Oh, Wicked liar, oh the shameless untruths she was telling And even if Lyra hadnt known them to be lies, she would have hated it with a furious passion  (Pullman 93). She has her own beliefs and principles and she stood by them even at a young age. This can also be perceived how little trust Lyra has for her real mother who supposedly be the one she should trust the most.

In both the novels, it was illustrated that there are mothers who cannot play their role towards their children. Readers were introduced to the biological mothers of the main characters, Mrs. Lennox and Mrs. Coulter. They were described to be very beautiful, charming but vain and selfish. One can see that their detachment from their children severed the girls. Mary was a self-absorbed, unhappy and ill child while Lyra was a boyish, stubborn and naughty girl. These two mothers were interested only in the good things in life like shopping, social events and power. It can be said that they just gave birth to their daughters but did not fulfill their role as mother.

Mrs. Lennox did not even want to see her child and let a stranger care for her. She did not even bother check on her from time to time but she had time to attend parties.

Mrs. Coulter craved for power and had little concern for her daughter. She did not present herself as a mother to her own child.  Even though, she did her materials things and cared for her for a little while, she let her be for years. Being a mother should be a full-time job.

One can refer to Mrs. Susan Sowerby as a magnificent mother to her children. She understood that the two worst things for children are to be spoiled and to be left alone. She also knew how children can benefit from each other, how their interactions can shape their bodies and mind. She was the one who gave love and support even from a distance to children she never even saw. She has a pure heart and great motherly instinct that worked its magic towards disagreeable children.