Colin Craven Character Analysis in The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, deals with the reformation of a few characters, particularly Colin Craven. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the definition of reformation is “The action of reforming one’s own character” but also “Improvement in health” (“Reformation,” def. 4.a., 5.b.). Towards the beginning of the story portrays Colin as “a bedridden child, shut away in the house from which he never ventures out” (Foster and Simons 325). However, as the story progresses, “the recovery of Colin to full health” is recognizable (Foster and Simons 325). The imaginary illness and his contrariness are psychological causes of Colin Craven’s illness, but the garden, Mary Lennox, and Dickon Sowerby are the causes of his recovery. 

Colin Craven has had real physical illnesses before, but most of his illnesses are imaginary. While “once he had rheumatic fever an’ once he had typhoid fever,” the hunchback illness is an imaginary one (Burnett 83). His father, Archibald Craven, does in fact have a hunchback and insists Colin will too if he lives to grow any older. All of Colin’s life he is constantly being reminded that he will have a hunchback by not only his father, but also by doctors. One of these doctors even made Colin wear a brace on his back to prevent this imaginary illness from getting any worse. Since “they [were] afraid his back was weak . . . [they kept] him lyin’ down and not lettin’ him walk”; thus, his imaginary hunchback is emphasized (Burnett 82). This psychological illness is causing him to become physically ill as he lies in bed and does not obtain any exercise.  

Colin being spoiled by the servants is another cause of his illnesses. It is without a doubt Colin Craven is an impudent child and always gets his way. Clearly, he knows this as well because he says, “everyone is obliged to do what pleases me,” (Burnett 76). The neglect of his father enables Colin to thrive of this mental illness. Archibald Craven often avoids interacting with and looking at his son which leads Colin to have no discipline. As long as he gets his way, he does not feel the need to be nice to others. Everyone will do what he says, when he says, due to the fact that they do not want to upset the boy. They also know that they must abide by Colins commands to not upset Archibald, either. In fact, if anything they do upsets Colin, “. . . he’ll fair scream just to frighten us,” (Burnett 81). Being neglected by his father and having power over his servants causes Colin to be contrary and troublesome, which in turn, demonstrates a mental illness.

The people Colin begins to associate with assist his reformation into a healthy child. Mary Lennox, a once ill child herself, learns about Colin and without fully knowing it herself, “Mary begins to heal Colin in much the same way she has been healed” (Adams 308). She does not put up with Colin’s commands, instead she disobeys them. Mary stands up to Colin and tells him “You’re the most selfish boy I ever saw,” (Burnett 99). As a result, Colin becomes “furious and slightly pleased” after being reprimanded by Mary about his contrariness and imaginary illness (Burnett 99). The more Mary socializes with Colin on her own time, rather than on his, the less contrary Colin is. He realizes he cannot order her commands like he can the servants. She also notes that Colin’s hunchback is only imaginary and creates a psychological illness since he always pondering on the fact, he “there is a lump coming on [his] back,” and he is “going to die” (Burnett 99). Mary insists that Dickon would help shift Colin’s thoughts from ones of death to ones of living because “He’s always talking about live things. He never talks about dead things or things that are ill,” (Burnett 86). Eventually, Dickon comes to meet Colin with his animals in tow. He shows Colin how to nurture and care for these animals which helps Colin learn to be good-natured. Having children his own age interact with him empowers Colin to act more like a healthy child than an “ill-tempered [child]” (Bixler 287).

Never going outside and only laying down all his life, Colin becomes increasingly weak. He learns about the garden, through Mary, and demands that he see it. Colin has always been told he must “stay out a great deal in the fresh air” in order to become better (Burnett 104). Though he has always refused to go outside, the thought of the blooming garden seems to change his mind. He orders no servants to be in the “Long Walk” while he is in the garden to keep it a secret (Burnett 120). Colin additionally orders Dickon, a strong healthy child, to push his chair further allowing the garden to remain a secret between the children. Eventually, the children get caught in the garden by Ben Weatherstaff who believes Colin to have “a crooked back” and “crooked legs” (Burnett 130). With the power of his newfound health and the garden, Colin proves Ben wrong by standing up. This discovery of strength empowers Colin to further explore it. With the help of Dickon and the garden, he secretly learns exercises that aid in building his muscles. Slowly but surely, after much practice Colin has “grown so strong that [he] can walk and run like any other boy” (Burnett 142). The active lifestyle and fresh air the garden provide Colin with enables him to overcome the imaginary illness he has always been told he has. 

Through Frances Hodgson Burnett’s character, Colin Craven, it can be observed that ones’ health can be reformed. As Phyllis Bixler stated, “Colin proves destructive of himself and others” with his psychological illnesses (Bixler 296). However, “[letting] the garden and Colin do their work” with some assistance from Mary and Dickon, he overcomes these illnesses. With some fresh air, secrecy, and a few acquaintances Colin turns his “imagination away from himself, the past, and his largely imaginary illnesses, and toward others, the future, and good health,” (Adams 309). In doing so, he is psychologically and physically reforming himself.