Depiction Of 'Coming-Of-Age In The Film The Secret Garden'

Another example of coming-of-age is captured in the 1949 film The Secret Garden directed by Fred M. Wilcox. The main character, Mary Lennox, is forced unwillingly into living with reclusive, long-widowed uncle Archibald Craven. The embittered Craven has a son named Colin that Mary’s attitude constantly clashes with. Her only real friend is the neighbor boy named Dickon. Things soon change after Mary discovers the key to the Craven household's garden in the dirt, which has been locked up and neglected since the death of Craven's wife. Through the influence of the Secret Garden, Mary learns to think of others rather than herself. Since Mary was not loved, and had a childhood surrounded by a great deal of anxiety and negative thinking, it is almost as though her parents wished that she would fall ill. Furthermore, Mary is so bitter and selfish because they are lonely and utterly without friendship: she requires the company of other children to check their selfish impulses and inspire their innate kindness. The instant Mary and Colin begin to attach themselves to each other, to Dickon,

In this film it focuses on the same story as the book and 1949 film version. When Martha Sowerby meets Mary the first day and announces to get dressed for the day, Mary is shocked. Her servants always dressed her in India and obeyed to everything she said. However, Martha finds it funny Mary has never dressed herself and explains that it is not her job to be Mary’s servant. This is very different from how Mary grew up and she immediately throws a tantrum. When Mary realizes the servants really only cater to Colin, she is forced to grow up. Mary makes friends so she doesn’t feel so lonely, dresses herself, and grows to be more independent. She begins to care about her friends and others around her which is different from herself in the beginning that was considered a