Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

Archibald Craven

Archibald Craven doesn't have the excuse that the Lennoxes or Lilias Craven have for abandoning their children: He is still alive. He just doesn't choose to spend time with Colin, something that Colin knows all too well.

Archibald's willful abandonment of his son totally messes up Colin spiritually and physically for years and years; it's only with Mary's arrival and the opening of the Secret Garden that Colin starts to recover from the emotional wounds caused by Archibald Craven's, er, craven neglect. Still, Archibald comes around to Colin's side in the last chapter—we guess that makes up for something.