rabbit

The rabbit is one of the wild creatures of the Yorkshire moor that, like the other animals, is instinctively drawn to Dickon Sowerby's gentle and understanding presence. It appears in the secret garden as part of the living community that gathers around Dickon, demonstrating the natural trust and peace that his companionship inspires.

Role in the Garden Community

When Mary Lennox first encounters Dickon in the wood, he is sitting under a tree playing a rough wooden pipe, and quite near him are two rabbits sitting up and sniffing with tremulous noses, drawing near to watch him and listen to his pipe. The rabbits are not frightened; they approach as if they recognize a friend. Later, in the secret garden, a white rabbit with long ears becomes a regular member of the circle. Dickon holds it in his arm, stroking it softly while it lays its ears along its back and enjoys itself. The rabbit is part of the "creatures" that trail after Dickon during the procession around the garden, hopping along or stopping to nibble, as comfortable in the garden as any of the children.

Symbol of Trust and Harmony

The rabbit's presence in the secret garden underscores the theme of natural harmony that the garden represents. Like the fox, the rook, the squirrels, and the lamb, the rabbit is not a pet in the ordinary sense but a wild creature that chooses to stay near Dickon because it feels safe. When the children sit in their Magic circle under the plum tree, the rabbit draws near and settles into a place of rest as if of its own desire, participating in the ceremony. This behavior reflects the deep connection between the children and the natural world, a connection that is central to the healing that takes place in the garden. The rabbit, like the other animals, is a living symbol of the trust and peace that the secret garden restores to all who enter it.