Martha Sowerby in The Secret Garden

Who is Martha Sowerby?

Martha Sowerby is a good‑natured young housemaid at Misselthwaite Manor who becomes Mary Lennox’s first friendly, practical contact on the moor. She insists Mary learn to dress and feed herself, tells plain tales of cottage life, and teases the spoiled child into using her legs and breathing fresh air. Martha explains the local grief over Lilias Craven and mentions the locked garden; she encourages Mary’s curiosity about the moor and suggests Dickon as someone who can help with flowers. She gives Mary a skipping‑rope, dictates the letter to Dickon, and helps arrange visits between Mary and the Sowerbys. Martha is cautious about breaking household rules—fearful she might lose her place when Mary explores Colin’s room—but she still brings Mary breakfast, visits Colin when summoned, and acts as a conduit between the manor and the Sowerby cottage. Throughout the chapters in which she appears, Martha is a steady, earthy presence whose plain Yorkshire warmth nudges Mary from sulkiness toward curiosity, action, and companionship.

In the book: Martha Sowerby is the good‑natured young housemaid Mary Lennox meets on her first morning at Misselthwaite Manor. She’s frank, practical, and kind, teaching Mary to fend for herself, chatting about the moor and her big family, and nudging the prickly new girl toward curiosity instead of sulks.

Personality

Practical

She insists Mary learn to dress and care for herself on their first morning (Chapter 4) and brings Mary breakfast when Colin is ill (Chapter 18).

Frank

She speaks to Mary 'in plain Yorkshire' rather than flattering her, openly teasing Mary about her lack of playthings (Chapters 4–5).

Kind

She gives Mary a skipping‑rope and dictates the letter to Dickon so Mary can send for help in the garden (Chapter 8–9).

Loyal/Protective

She is terrified when Mary admits visiting Colin for fear she will lose her place but still helps conceal and facilitate the children's meetings when needed (Chapter 14 & 16).

Character arc

Martha appears as a down‑to‑earth, no‑nonsense servant who expects children to behave sensibly and work with their hands. From Mary’s first rude reaction to her plainness, Martha steadily becomes the child’s guide to Yorkshire life: she teaches Mary everyday self‑care, tells stories of the moor and Dickon, and supplies the practical means (a skipping‑rope, a dictated letter, local advice) that allow Mary to pursue the secret garden. Though Martha never undergoes a dramatic inner transformation, she shifts from a cautious rule‑keeper—frightened that Mary’s disobedience (visiting Colin) might cost her job—to a quiet ally who supports the children’s secret scheme. She balances fear of authority with a maternal, commonsense inclination to help: she warns Mary about breaking orders yet brings Mary breakfast when Colin is ill, and she arranges or approves contacts between the manor and the Sowerbys. By the later chapters she stands as a steady adult presence who enables the children’s restorative work without seeking credit, sustaining her practical kindness to the very end.

Relationships

• Mary Lennox Martha is Mary’s first friend and practical teacher, insisting she dress herself, giving her a skipping‑rope, and encouraging her curiosity about the moor and garden.
• Dickon Sowerby Martha is Dickon’s sister and the link who suggests him as the helper for the secret garden and dictates the letter to summon him.
• Susan Sowerby Martha is part of the Sowerby household; she reports on cottage life and speaks of their large family, which includes Susan as motherly figure.
• Ben Weatherstaff Martha knows the gardeners and discusses Ben and his robin with Mary, helping bridge Mary’s relationship with the estate’s gardeners.
• Mrs. Medlock Martha is wary of the manor’s authority: she mentions Mrs. Medlock’s rules and fears losing her place when Mary visits Colin.
• Colin Craven Martha is aware of Colin’s illness and secrecy, brings Mary to him when summoned, and worries about the consequences of Mary’s visits.

Quotes by Martha Sowerby

““That’s th’ moor,” with a good-natured grin.”

Chapter 4Martha points out the moor from Mary’s window, introducing the local landscape and a cheerful regional voice that contrasts with Mary’s attitudes.

““One of th’ gardens is locked up. No one has been in it for ten years.””

Chapter 4Martha mentions the locked garden and the buried key, introducing the chapter’s central mystery and the motif of closed spaces.

“If Mrs. Medlock’d let thee go into th’ library, there’s thousands o’ books there.”

Chapter 6Martha tempts Mary with the idea of a vast library, which motivates Mary’s decision to explore the house.

Why Martha Sowerby matters

Martha embodies the novel’s theme that ordinary, steady human kindness and practical work can unlock life and healing. Her plain speech, cottage knowledge, and readiness to help connect the sheltered children to the living world of the moor. She mediates between social worlds—the manor and the village—showing how everyday labor, familial warmth, and common sense can counteract grief, isolation, and spoiled indulgence. In doing so, Martha helps set the conditions for the garden’s restorative magic and the children’s emotional recovery.

Chapters with Martha Sowerby

• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 18
• Chapter 19
• Chapter 20
• Chapter 24
• Chapter 26
• Chapter 27

More The Secret Garden characters

• Mary LennoxProtagonist
• Dickon SowerbyMajor character
• Mrs. MedlockMajor character
• The RobinMinor character
• Ben WeatherstaffMajor character
• Colin CravenMajor character
• Archibald CravenMajor character
• Lilias CravenMinor character