History YMMV / TheSecretGarden

* SpotlightStealingSquad: Mary is supposed to be the protagonist, but the last several chapters shift the focus to Colin's ThrowingOffTheDisability and reunion with his father. Many readers have complained over the years that the ending sidelines Mary in her own story. The 1993 film deals with this during the father/son reunion scene by having Mary run away crying [[LampshadeHanging because she feels ignored and unwanted]], only for her uncle to follow her, comfort her, and express his gratitude for all she's done.

* DesignatedHero: Mary's harshness towards Colin is presented as right because he changes afterwards -- but most, if not all of what she says, is as applicable to her as it is to him. Also in the film version, when Mrs. Medlock blames Martha for letting her in, Mary doesn't tell the truth, that Martha had nothing to do with it and actually tried to stop her. It is Colin who orders Medlock out. To be fair, even Medlock's not a complete {{Jerkass}} as she clearly does care about him and her duty.

** Many critics have described this book as evoking the novels of [[Creator/CharlotteBronte the]] [[Creator/EmilyBronte Brontë]] [[Creator/AnneBronte sisters]], especially ''Literature/JaneEyre'' and ''Literature/WutheringHeights'', with its Yorkshire setting, its similar Gothic (or anti-Gothic) qualities, and its themes of nature, orphans, ParentalNeglect, class issues, and lost love, among others. Essays have been written comparing and contrasting the characters and plots of this book with those of the Brontës'. The name of Martha Sowerby might also be a ShoutOut to the Brontës, since at the time they wrote their novels, their own young housemaid's name was Martha.

** Many critics have described this book as evoking the novels of [[Creator/CharlotteBronte the]] [[Creator/EmilyBronte Brontë]] [[Creator/AnneBronte sisters]], especially ''Literature/JaneEyre'' and ''Literature/WutheringHeights'', with its Yorkshire setting, its similar Gothic (or anti-Gothic) qualities, and its themes of nature, orphans, ParentalNeglect, class issues, and lost love, among others. Essays have been written comparing and contrasting the characters and plots of this book with the Brontës. The name of Martha Sowerby might also be a ShoutOut to the Brontës, since at the time they wrote their novels, their own young housemaid's name was Martha.

* AccidentalAesop: MandatoryMotherhood is bad and can lead to disinterest and apathy on the parents' side ''at best''. Mary's parents have absolutely no interest in their daughter, and her mother in particular didn't want to have children at all; due to the time period and society she lived in, once she learned that she was pregnant Mrs Lennox likely had no choice but to carry Mary to term, and handed her off to someone else as soon as she was born. It can be argued that if Mr and Mrs Lennox had actually ''wanted'' their daughter, they could have been far more attentive, if not necessarily better, parents.

* AccidentalAesop: MandatoryMotherhood is bad and can lead to disinterest and apathy on the parents' side ''at best''. Mary's parents have absolutely no interest in their daughter, and her mother in particular didn't want to have children at all; due to the time period and society she lived in, once she learned that she was pregnant Mrs Lennox likely had no choice but to carry Mary to term, and handed her off to someone else as soon as she was born. It can be argued that if they had actually ''wanted'' their daughter, Mr and Mrs Lennox could have been far more attentive, if not necessarily better, parents.

* AccidentalAesop: MandatoryMotherhood is bad and can lead to disinterest and apathy on the parents' side ''at best''. Mary's parents have no interest in their daughter whatsoever, and her mother in particular didn't want to have children at all; due to the time period and society she lived in, once she learned that she was pregnant Mrs Lennox likely had no choice but to carry Mary to term, and handed her off to someone else as soon as she was born. It can be argued that if they had actually ''wanted'' their daughter, Mr and Mrs Lennox could have been far more attentive, if not necessarily better, parents.

* AccidentalAesop: MandatoryMotherhood is bad for both the mother and the baby, and can lead to disinterest and apathy on the mother's side ''at best''. Mary's parents are incredibly neglectful, but her mother in particular didn't want to have children at all; due to the time period and society she lived in, once she learned that she was pregnant Mrs. Lennox likely had no choice but to carry Mary to term, and handed her off to someone else as soon as she was born. It can be argued that if she had actually ''wanted'' her daughter, Mrs. Lennox likely would have been a far more attentive, if not necessarily better, parent.