MovieChat Forums > The Secret Garden (1993) Discussion > Were Dickon and Mary in love?

Were Dickon and Mary in love?

posted 15 years ago by thenerdwithin
9 replies | jump to latest

There are several parts in the movie (and the book) that subtly suggest that Mary and Dickon were in love (the photo scene). But it's never said explicitly. Were they really in love?

Even the title song "Winter Light" suggests that, if you look at it from Dickon's point of view. Why did Dickon help Mary so much with the garden and with Colin?
"Hope whispers and I will follow till you love me too"

Anyway, best movie ever.

[–] fairyqueen 15 years ago

In love? No, they were only about ten years old. There may have been a bit of a mutual crush though.

[–] thenerdwithin 15 years ago

There's no age limit to true love. I'm not talking about puberty or sexual attraction or anything as petty as that. True love can happen at any age.

[–] limesoda2 15 years ago

I don't think so. I think she just admired and was fascinated by him seeing as how she has never met anyone like him. At least that's what I got from the book.

"Wait! We can't stop here. This is bat country!"

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] thenerdwithin 13 years ago

Very nicely said. Only, I don't believe there's any minimum age for falling in love. I fell in love the first (and only) time when I was 9 (she was my best friend, I never told her).

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fairyqueen 12 years ago

I noticed that the film played certain music when Mary and Dickon were together* and it seemed to be a pretty romantic sounding tune. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDjmRW4wQBY starting at about 1:00. Even if the movie doesn't feature any romance between them (understandable considering their age!), I have a feeling that the filmmakers were trying to convey a romantic mood with Mary and Dickon.

* When Mary is coming to Misselthwaite Manor and Dickon, riding on his horse, sees the carriage.
* When Mary first sees Dickon spying on her, she chases him but he gets on his horse and rides away before she can talk to him.
* When she first shows him the garden.
* When they're looking at each other on the swing and Colin gets jealous

[–] thenerdwithin 8 years ago

You forget the last scenes amongst them, where Dickon looks back at Colin, Mary and the Lord and smiles incredibly sadly and rides away into the moors and winter light plays in the background. He realized that ultimately class would come in the way and he would never be as close to Mary as Colin could. I remember feeling very sad the first time I saw it. It's a sad ending, not happy.

[–] Iconoclast321 (386) 4 years ago

I didn't see it as sadly as you did. To me it looked like he was happy at their reunion.