The Secret Garden: Essay

Servants in India Comparing to Servants in England

       Throughout the book, The Secret Garden, I found some differences between the servants in India and in England.

The servants in India obeyed their masters on everything. “They always obeyed her and gave her her own way in everything” (Burnett 2). They were scared of their masters. They were afraid that Mrs. Lennox would get angry if she heard Mary cry (2). The servants all “looked frightened” because they were afraid that their masters would be punish them. They didn’t care for their masters. The servants just took off after the plague spread and ditched Mary in the house (5-7). They always tried to avoid their masters as much as possible and were not willing to serve them. The Indian servants were treated differently than in England. They don’t get respect at all. They get beaten up and kicked if they do something not according to the will of their masters (3). They were called “pigs” by their young master which is “the worst insult of all” to a native (3).

The servants in England were different from the servants in India. They tell their masters opinion when masters weren’t making sense. Martha told Mary that “it’s time [Mary] should learn [to dress herself]” when she realized Mary, a big girl couldn’t dress herself (31). She didn’t just dress Mary as told (like in India) but told Mary to learn to dress. Servants in English were not afraid of their masters but friends with them. Mary became friends with Martha really quickly, because Martha was open and talkative. Martha talked about her life (36), Dickon (39), the gardens (39), Mrs. Craven (39-40) with Mary. The servants were willing to serve but not avoiding them. Mary asked Martha if Martha could “sit down on the hearth-rug before the fire” (56). Martha willingly agreed and they chatted. The servants cared for their masters. Martha was being very sweet to Mary and got her a jump rope in case she gets bored (87-90). She was thoughtful and caring. She seemed to love her master from her heart. Servants in England were different from the servants in India. Therefore, they were treated differently – with respect. The servants in England changed Mary’s personality and Mary treated them differently than before. She respected them and were more like friends with them.

The servants in England and India were different in many ways. I think the English servants were better because they had a better relationship with their masters.