From Redemption to Realism: A Comparative Study of Child Characters in Frances Hodgson Burnett and Susan Hill

Abstract

This article offers a comparative analysis of child character portrayal in the works of Frances Hodgson Burnett and Susan Hill, focusing particularly on The Secret Garden and A Little Princess by Burnett, and I’m the King of the Castle along with selected short stories by Hill. It examines the literary, historical, and psychological contexts that shaped each author’s depiction of childhood, emphasizing contrasting views of the child as either a morally redemptive figure or a psychologically burdened subject. Burnett’s Edwardian narratives frame childhood as a stage of healing and growth facilitated by nature and interpersonal care, while Hill’s late twentieth-century fiction exposes the emotional fragility and trauma of children in oppressive or haunted environments. The article also analyzes narrative techniques, symbolic settings, and the critical legacy of both authors through feminist, psychoanalytic, and pedagogical lenses. By situating these texts within their respective cultural frameworks, the study reveals how evolving representations of children mirror broader societal shifts in understanding trauma, development, and emotional resilience.