著者

矢村 篤子

出版者

園田学園女子大学

雑誌

園田学園女子大学論文集 (ISSN:02862816)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.30, pp.197-209, 1995-12-30

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This thesis is to study the characters of mothers in Frances Hodgson Burnett's three most popular works, in view of Jungian idea of Great Mother. Although there are no fairy godmothers, witches, or murderers, there are many reminiscences of fairy-tale characters that represent various elements of Great Mother. In Little Lord Fauntleroy, Cedric's mother represents the positive side of Great Mother that loves and fosters children, while hysteric and selfish Bevis' wife represents the negative side of Great Mother that devours and kills children. In Little Princess, Sara inherits motherly characteristics from her dead mother, while Miss Minchin is the very "step-mother"of a fairy tale. In The Secret Garden, Mary's mother represents the negative side of Great Mother as she neglects her child. On the other hand, Martha's mother represents the positive side as she loves Mary and Colin as well as her own children. Although children need the positive side of Great Mother in order to grow, they also need to experience the negative side in order to become independent adults. Cedric is a young boy before experiencing the negative side, while the two heroines experience both sides fully, and they seem to become fine mature women.