Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Sara Crewe; Or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's Boarding School, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
“And now, my dear,” said good Mrs. Carmichael, patting Sara's hand, “all
your troubles are over, I am sure, and you are to come home with me and
be taken care of as if you were one of my own little girls; and we are
so pleased to think of having you with us until everything is settled,
and Mr. Carrisford is better. The excitement of last night has made him
very weak, but we really think he will get well, now that such a load
is taken from his mind. And when he is stronger, I am sure he will be as
kind to you as your own papa would have been. He has a very good heart,
and he is fond of children--and he has no family at all. But we must
make you happy and rosy, and you must learn to play and run about, as my
little girls do--”
“As your little girls do?” said Sara. “I wonder if I could. I used to
watch them and wonder what it was like. Shall I feel as if I belonged to
somebody?”
“Ah, my love, yes!--yes!” said Mrs. Carmichael; “dear me, yes!” And her
motherly blue eyes grew quite moist, and she suddenly took Sara in her
arms and kissed her. That very night, before she went to sleep, Sara had
made the acquaintance of the entire Large Family, and such excitement
as she and the monkey had caused in that joyous circle could hardly be
described. There was not a child in the nursery, from the Eton boy who
was the eldest, to the baby who was the youngest, who had not laid
some offering on her shrine. All the older ones knew something of her
wonderful story. She had been born in India; she had been poor and
lonely and unhappy, and had lived in a garret and been treated unkindly;
and now she was to be rich and happy, and be taken care of. They were so
sorry for her, and so delighted and curious about her, all at once. The
girls wished to be with her constantly, and the little boys wished to be
told about India; the second baby, with the short round legs, simply
sat and stared at her and the monkey, possibly wondering why she had not
brought a hand-organ with her.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Sara Crewe; Or, What Happened at Miss Minchin’s Boarding School by Frances Hodgson Burnett
This passage comes from the conclusion of Sara Crewe (later expanded into A Little Princess), a children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924), best known for works like The Secret Garden and Little Lord Fauntleroy. The story follows Sara Crewe, a wealthy girl sent to a London boarding school by her doting father. When her father dies and his fortune is lost, Sara is reduced to a servant in the cruel Miss Minchin’s school. The novel explores themes of poverty and wealth, kindness and cruelty, imagination, and belonging, with Sara’s resilience and kindness contrasting sharply with the harshness around her.
This excerpt occurs after Sara’s fortunes reverse: her father’s lost wealth is recovered by his friend, Mr. Carrisford, who had been searching for her. Mrs. Carmichael, a kind neighbor of Carrisford’s, takes Sara into her home, offering her love and security after years of hardship.
Key Themes in the Excerpt
Belonging and Family
- The central emotional conflict in this passage is Sara’s longing for belonging. After years of being treated as an outcast—first as a privileged but motherless child, then as a penniless servant—she struggles to believe she can truly be part of a family.
- Mrs. Carmichael’s reassurance—“you must learn to play and run about, as my little girls do”—highlights the restoration of childhood Sara has been denied. Her question, “Shall I feel as if I belonged to somebody?” is heartbreaking, revealing how deeply her isolation has affected her.
- The Large Family’s immediate acceptance of Sara (and even her monkey) symbolizes the unconditional love she has been starved for. Their excitement contrasts with Miss Minchin’s cruelty, reinforcing the novel’s moral that kindness and generosity are more valuable than wealth.
Redemption and Transformation
- Sara’s journey from riches to rags and back to riches is not just about money but about emotional and moral growth. Her suffering has made her empathetic, and now she is rewarded with both material comfort and genuine affection.
- Mr. Carrisford’s role as a father figure (“he will be as kind to you as your own papa would have been”) suggests that Sara’s loss is being healed, though not erased. His lack of family makes Sara’s presence meaningful for him as well, reinforcing the theme of found family.
Childhood and Innocence
- The Large Family’s nursery is a space of joy, curiosity, and innocence, everything Sara has been denied. The children’s reactions—offering gifts, asking about India, staring in wonder—show how Sara’s story captivates them.
- The second baby’s confusion (“possibly wondering why she had not brought a hand-organ with her”) adds humor but also underscores how foreign Sara’s experiences are to these sheltered children. Her past is both tragic and exotic to them.
Wealth vs. Kindness
- The novel critiques materialism through Miss Minchin’s greed and Sara’s ability to remain kind despite poverty. Here, Mrs. Carmichael’s warmth (her moist eyes, her embrace) contrasts with Miss Minchin’s coldness, showing that true wealth is love and security, not money.
Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices
Dialogue as Character Revelation
- Mrs. Carmichael’s speech is warm, maternal, and repetitive (“yes—yes! dear me, yes!”), mirroring her nurturing personality. Her physical gestures (patting Sara’s hand, kissing her) reinforce her kindness.
- Sara’s quiet, questioning responses (“I wonder if I could… Shall I feel as if I belonged to somebody?”) reveal her vulnerability and lingering doubt. She is not yet fully able to trust her good fortune.
Imagery & Symbolism
- The Large Family’s nursery symbolizes safety, abundance, and childhood joy, everything Sara has lacked. The gifts laid at her “shrine” (a quasi-religious image) suggest she is being worshipped as a survivor, her suffering making her almost mythic to the children.
- The monkey (a remnant of Sara’s time in India) serves as a bridge between her past and present, fascinating the children and marking her as different but beloved.
Juxtaposition
- The excitement of the Large Family is contrasted with Sara’s quiet, almost disbelieving reactions. While they see her as a fairy-tale figure (poor girl made rich), she is still processing her trauma.
- The past (garret, loneliness) vs. the present (warm nursery, belonging) is a recurring contrast in the novel, emphasizing Sara’s transformation.
Irony & Foreshadowing
- Mrs. Carmichael’s assumption that “all your troubles are over” is ironic in a broader sense—Sara’s emotional scars will linger, even if her circumstances improve. This hints at the complexity of healing beyond material change.
- The baby’s expectation of a hand-organ is darkly humorous, reminding the reader that Sara’s life has been far from a performance—she was truly suffering.
Significance of the Passage
Emotional Climax
- This moment is the emotional payoff of Sara’s suffering. After being starved, overworked, and verbally abused, she is finally seen, loved, and cared for. The reader shares her relief and cautious hope.
Reinforcement of the Novel’s Morals
- Burnett’s story argues that kindness and imagination are more powerful than wealth. Sara’s ability to remain kind despite hardship makes her deserving of happiness, while Miss Minchin’s greed leaves her isolated.
- The Large Family’s generosity (despite not knowing Sara well) contrasts with the boarding school’s cruelty, reinforcing that human connection is what truly matters.
Sara as a Cinderella Figure
- The rags-to-riches trope is subverted because Sara’s true riches are love and belonging, not just money. Unlike traditional Cinderella stories, her inner strength (not just beauty or passivity) is what makes her worthy of a happy ending.
Historical & Social Context
- Written in the late 19th century, the novel reflects Victorian ideals of childhood (innocence, protection) but also critiques class inequality and the harsh treatment of orphans. Sara’s story would have resonated with readers aware of child labor and poverty in industrial England.
Final Thoughts: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt is not just a happy ending—it’s a moment of fragile hope. Sara’s question—“Shall I feel as if I belonged to somebody?”—captures the lingering trauma of her past, even as she steps into a brighter future. The Large Family’s immediate love for her suggests that healing is possible, but the reader is left wondering: Will Sara ever fully trust this happiness?
Burnett’s genius lies in making Sara’s emotional journey as compelling as her external struggles. The passage reminds us that belonging is not automatic—it must be learned, earned, and sometimes re-learned, especially after deep loss. In this way, Sara Crewe is not just a children’s story but a profound meditation on resilience, love, and the meaning of home.