The Good Master by Kate Seredy
"The Good Master" by Kate Seredy is a children's novel set in the Hungarian plains that explores the themes of nature, childhood, and personal growth. The story follows Jancsi, a boy from the countryside, who eagerly anticipates the arrival of his cousin Kate from Budapest. The stark contrast between Jancsi's rustic upbringing and Kate's sophisticated city lifestyle highlights the central theme of a return to nature. Through a series of humorous and mischievous events, Kate's character evolves under the loving discipline of her Uncle Marton, the titular Good Master, who embodies a life intertwined with nature and tradition.
As Kate experiences the simple yet rich life of the countryside, she transforms from a spoiled city girl into a generous and caring individual. The narrative also incorporates Hungarian customs and the beauty of the natural landscape, reflecting Seredy's own experiences growing up in Hungary. Published in 1935, "The Good Master" has remained popular due to its engaging storytelling and beautiful illustrations, resonating with children as they witness Kate's journey of self-discovery and the importance of family and heritage. This book serves as a celebration of childhood, connection to nature, and the values of love and discipline.
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Subject Terms
The Good Master by Kate Seredy
First published: 1935; illustrated
Type of work: Domestic realism/moral tale
Themes: Family, nature, and coming-of-age
Time of work: Pre-World War II
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: Hungarian plains
Principal Characters:
Kate , a delicate but wild and spoiled young girl, whose mother is dead; she stays with her uncle, the Good MasterJancsi Nagy , the son of the Good Master and Kate’s cousinMarton Nagy , the Good Master, who tames Kate with love and disciplineMother , the wife of the Good Master and Jancsi’s motherSandor Nagy , Kate’s widowed father and Marton’s brother
The Story
The central theme of The Good Master is the return to nature that is basic to all literature of the Romantic period. The story begins with Jancsi, the son of the Good Master, who lives in the Hungarian plains, excitedly awaiting the arrival of his cousin, Kate, from Budapest. The contrast between Jancsi, the uneducated and unsophisticated boy from the country, and Kate, the sophisticated, delicate, and educated girl from the big city, establishes the basic theme of the return to nature. Jancsi sees a train, which looks like “a black monster,” for the first time as he and his father wait for Kate. Not only does this delicate girl from the city manifest how physically unhealthy life in the city can be, but also her behavior reflects how difficult it is to discipline a child and to form the child’s personality apart from the world of nature. The railroad guard introduces Kate as an “imp” and an “unspeakable little devil,” saying that he would rather travel with “a bag of screaming monkeys.” Kate immediately ridicules Jancsi’s ethnic attire and instructs her uncle to phone for a taxicab. This language of the city is so foreign to Jancsi that he thinks Kate is swearing. The ride to Uncle Marton’s home not only establishes Kate as an imp who needs discipline but also describes how Kate is touched by the beauty of nature on the vast Hungarian plains. The beauty of nature has only a momentary effect upon Kate at this point. After pushing Jancsi from the wagon, she grabs the reins and rides away with the horses, moving at breakneck speed. After Kate arrives at the Good Master’s house, her angelic expression convinces Jancsi’s mother that Kate is a “little motherless lamb”; however, in a few seconds, Kate again engages in mischief by climbing the rafters to steal sausages.
This incident is the first to reflect the major theme of the book—the loving discipline of the Good Master, who lives close to nature. Uncle Marton is adamant that no one may assist Kate to come down from the rafters; however, after the family has gone to bed, Jancsi sees his father hugging Kate and stroking her hair. How she came down is left to the reader’s imagination.
The Good Master’s taming of Kate through his union of discipline and love is described in the incidents that occur in the life of this family whose existence is so intimately interwoven with nature, the cycle of the seasons, the traditional ethnic customs such as coloring Easter eggs, sprinkling the girls with water at Easter, listening to Gypsy music, and waiting for Mikulas to bring gifts on Mikulas Day. Because of the Good Master’s care for, and nurturing of, Kate in this simple life that is close to nature, Kate has become not only a healthy child but one who is generous and considerate as well. When Kate’s father arrives on Mikulas Day, he is so amazed at her transformation that Kate and the Good Master persuade Kate’s father to remain in the country with the Good Master.
Context
The Good Master (1935), which was Kate Seredy’s first book, reflects Seredy’s own experiences in Hungary, as do all of her works. Although Kate Seredy resided in Budapest in winter during her childhood, she spent the summer months on the Hungarian plains with her family. As a youngster, she often accompanied her father and an entourage of artists and scientists to the Hungarian countryside, where they studied peasant art and life. The impression of her homeland proved to be lasting. One particular farm she visited served as the background for The Good Master and The Singing Tree (1939). In both books, the character called Kate is, presumably, Kate Seredy herself; but her experiences and values pervade her other works as well, especially as they pertain to her unique heritage and personality.
The White Stag (1937) is based upon Seredy’s favorite childhood story in Hungary—the legend of the white stag that led Hunor and Magor to the Carpathian Basin to found Hungary. The Singing Tree (1939) describes how a farm in Hungary provides a refuge for people of several nationalities during World War I. In The Chestry Oak (1948), Seredy describes the struggles of Michael, a homeless Hungarian boy, to adapt to the values and life in the United States, to which he is sent after the bombing of Hungary in World War II. Michael’s experiences reflect many of Seredy’s own in adjusting to life in a new country; they also reveal the suffering she witnessed in front-line hospitals during World War I.
These works reflect Seredy’s emphasis upon the importance of a union with nature, which is basic to The Good Master. The return to nature on the farm in The Singing Tree unites people of diverse nationalities in a spirit of peace and interdependence. In The Chestry Oak, Michael derives support and solace from an acorn which he brings to the United States from a fallen oak tree on a Hungarian estate. Seredy’s own experiences of life in Hungary and her values of peace and interdependence are thus interwoven with the theme of the importance of a life that is close to nature. These themes are dominant not only in The Good Master but in Seredy’s other works as well.
The Good Master remains the most popular of Seredy’s works. From the moment it was published, it became an instant favorite with children. The beautiful illustrations in an old world style appropriately portray the amusing antics, energetic actions, and important relationships in the book. Characters come to life in a story drawn from Kate Seredy’s own childhood in Hungary. Children see Kate, the central character, develop a new sense of self through her experiences. With warmth, humor, and vigor, Seredy tells an enduring story of growth, affection, family, and heritage.