grow up?

So this is a bit of a surreal post. I’ve decided to ‘play a little’ & analyse the children’s book Peter Pan to shine light on how I might better navigate the advancing years of my life.

Yep, really.

‘When the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a million pieces, & they all went skipping about, & that was the beginning of fairies.’ (Peter Pan)

I don’t mind admitting that once or twice in my life it has been suggested that I should ‘grow up!’ I have a nagging sensation that this partly explain why I’m currently single. This reflection got me to thinking about other archetypes that share similar struggles. So naturally what follows is a brief analysis on the children’s book/play Peter Pan to see if I might distill any wisdom from the eternally-boyish protagonist.

Most of us will recall that Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie is about a boy who never grows up & his adventures in Neverland, a magical island that is home to fairies, pirates, & lost boys. Peter takes Wendy, John, & Michael Darling from their London home to Neverland where they encounter mermaids, Indians, & Captain Hook, the leader of a band of pirates who has a long-standing grudge against Peter. With the help of Tinker Bell the fairy, Peter & the children engage in battles with Hook & his crew, ultimately triumphing & returning to London. The story explores themes of childhood, imagination, & the power of belief.

In this post I will consider what the key characters might represent: Peter Pan; Captain Hook, the crocodile with a ticking clock in it’s belly; Tinker Bell & Wendy. I’ll also consider some key themes of the book plus even throw-in a bit of Jungian analysis.

I spoil you, I really do.

it’s all Greek to me… (a brief aside)

‘Pan’ is a Greek word that means ‘all’ or ‘everything’. I find it an interesting side-note that in Greek mythology, Pan was the god of the wild, shepherds, & flocks, & was often depicted as a half-man, half-goat creature with horns & hooves. Pan was known for his mischievous & playful nature. Pan was associated with nature, music, & fertility, & was often depicted playing a set of pipes known as a syrinx or panpipes worshipped by various groups throughout ancient Greece.

Pan’s influence extended beyond the countryside, & he was also believed to have power over the sea & the weather. In addition to his pastoral & natural associations, Pan was also associated with sexuality & fertility. He was said to be particularly fond of nymphs, & was known for his amorous pursuits. Pan's fertility & sexual prowess were celebrated in various festivals & rituals throughout ancient Greece.

what might Peter Pan represent?

Returning to J.M. Barrie’s account, Peter Pan is a magical boy that won't grow up. Children are magical. They can be anything. They're nothing but potential - Peter Pan doesn't want to give that up. Why? He’s got some adults around him, but the main adult is Captain Hook - not a great role model. Hook is a tyrant constantly chased by the crocodile with a clock in its stomach. That’s what happens when you get older. Time has already got a piece of you & it's got a taste for you & eventually it's going to eat you.

‘I won't grow up. I don't want to go to school.’ (Peter Pan)

I think we can all empathise with this protest.

Peter Pan looks at traumatised Hook & unsurprisingly proves unwilling to sacrifice his childhood for this vision of adulthood. Pan doesn’t want to share the fate of being relentlessly pursued & traumatised by the crocodile with the clock in it’s belly representing the inescapable truth that adults tend to fear death & are consciously or subconsciously aware that we all will die - life is merely death on credit.

So Pan stays ever-young but ends up King of the Lost Boys in Neverland. Neverland is a magical realm that exists beyond the boundaries of ordinary time & space & it is home to Peter Pan & the Lost Boys. It is a place where anything is possible & it is filled with fantastical creatures, including fairies, mermaids, & pirates. The island is said to be located 'second star to the right & straight on till morning’ & it can only be reached by flying. Problem is Neverland doesn't exist & who wants to be King of the Lost Boys? Also Pan sacrifices the possibility that he will ever have a real relationship with a woman.

I feel uncomfortably akin with Peter Pan’s method of approaching life. Oh dear.

The crocodile with the clock in its stomach might represent:

mortality:

The ticking clock inside the crocodile's stomach serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death. The crocodile is constantly pursuing Captain Hook, who has a fear of being eaten alive by the crocodile. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the fear of death that all humans experience.

time:

The ticking clock inside the crocodile's stomach also represents the passage of time. Time is a central theme in Peter Pan, & the crocodile serves as a visual reminder of the ever-approaching future.

revenge:

The crocodile can also be seen as a symbol of revenge, as it is seeking to avenge itself on Captain Hook for having fed it a ticking alarm clock, which caused it to develop an insatiable desire for Hook's flesh.

ambiguity:

The crocodile with the clock in its stomach is a mysterious & surreal element in the story, & its symbolism is open to interpretation. The crocodile's strange appearance & behaviour add to the fantastical nature of the story, & create a sense of uncertainty & ambiguity that is characteristic of the world of Neverland. I sometimes experience life in a mildly dissociative way - it can all feel a bit surreal to me at times.

what might Tinker Bell represent?

Tinker Bell is a fairy who serves as a companion to Peter Pan. She doesn't even exist. She's like the fairy of porn. She's the substitute for the real thing. Oh dear.

loyalty & devotion:

One of Tinker Bell's defining characteristics is her unwavering loyalty & devotion to Peter Pan. She is fiercely protective of him & will do anything to defend him against perceived threats, including Captain Hook.

jealousy & pettiness:

Tinker Bell is also depicted as being jealous & petty at times, particularly when it comes to Peter's interactions with other girls, such as Wendy. Her jealousy & pettiness are a source of conflict throughout the story, & they ultimately lead to her betraying Peter to Captain Hook.

fairy magic & mischief:

‘The reason birds can fly & we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.’

As a fairy Tinker Bell also represents the magical & mischievous elements of the story. She is able to fly & has the ability to use fairy dust to make others fly as well. Her mischievous nature is evident in her playful & sometimes spiteful interactions with the other characters, particularly the Lost Boys.

ambiguity & complexity:

Tinker Bell's character can also be seen as representing the ambiguity & complexity of the world of Neverland. She is neither wholly good nor wholly evil, & her motivations & actions are often ambiguous & difficult to decipher. This ambiguity reflects the overall ambiguity & uncertainty of the world of Neverland, which is a place where anything is possible & nothing is quite what it seems.

what might Wendy represent?

maternal love & nurturing:

One interpretation of Wendy's character is that she represents maternal love & nurturing. Wendy is the oldest of the Darling children & takes on a caretaker role for her younger brothers, John & Michael, as well as for the Lost Boys. She is kind, gentle, & compassionate, & she provides a sense of stability & comfort for those around her.

innocence & purity:

Wendy represents innocence & purity. She is depicted as a pure-hearted, innocent young girl who is fascinated by the idea of adventure & never wants to grow up. Her innocence & purity stand in contrast to the corrupting influence of adult authority, which is represented by Captain Hook.

imagination & creativity:

Wendy is also a character who is full of imagination & creativity. She is a storyteller & loves to create elaborate fantasies & games, both for herself & for those around her. Her imagination is a key part of what allows her to enter into the world of Neverland & to connect with Peter & the Lost Boys.

coming of age:

Wendy's character can also be seen as representing the transition from childhood to adolescence & adulthood. Throughout the story, Wendy grapples with the tension between her desire for adventure & her desire for stability & security. Ultimately, she must choose between staying in Neverland & returning home to her family & the responsibilities that come with growing up.

‘The difference between her (Wendy) & the other people on the earth was that she knew she was living in Neverland.’

Other themes:

loss of innocence:

One of the most common interpretations of Peter Pan is that it is a story about the loss of innocence. The character of Peter represents eternal youth, a state of being that is both desirable & unattainable for humans. The story suggests that growing up involves leaving behind childhood & the innocence that comes with it.

The fear of aging:

Another interpretation of Peter Pan is that it represents a fear of aging. The story suggests that growing up means losing the ability to dream & imagine, & that aging is a slow descent into cynicism & despair. Peter's refusal to grow up can be seen as a refusal to face the inevitable reality of aging & death.

‘Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away & going away means forgetting.’

gender roles:

Peter Pan can also be interpreted as a critique of traditional gender roles. The character of Wendy represents the domestic sphere, while Peter represents the adventurous & free-spirited world outside the home. The story suggests that women are limited by societal expectations & that men are free to explore the world without constraints.

power of imagination:

Peter Pan can also be seen as a celebration of the power of imagination. The characters in the story are able to fly & go on fantastic adventures because they believe in their own ability to do so. The story suggests that the world is a more magical place when we allow ourselves to believe in the impossible.

‘The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.’

‘All the world is made of faith, & trust, & pixie dust.’

fatherhood:

Peter Pan can also be interpreted as a commentary on fatherhood. The character of Peter can be seen as a representation of a neglectful or absent father, while the character of Captain Hook can be seen as a symbol of the strict, authoritarian father. The story suggests that a balance between freedom & discipline is necessary for healthy child-rearing. I too have daddy issues.

escapism:

Peter Pan can also be interpreted as a warning against escapism. The character of Peter is unable to face reality & is instead constantly searching for adventure & excitement. The story suggests that it is important to confront one's problems rather than trying to escape from them. Periods of active addictive certainly represent a failed attempt by my psyche to escape reality & fully embracing adult responsibility.

love & relationships:

Another interpretation of Peter Pan focuses on the theme of love & relationships. The character of Wendy represents the nurturing & caring aspect of love, while the character of Tinker Bell represents the passionate & jealous side of love. The story suggests that both aspects are necessary for a healthy relationship.

psychoanalytic interpretation:

Peter Pan can be analysed through a psychoanalytic lens. The character of Peter can be seen as a representation of the id, the unconscious & instinctual part of the psyche, while the character of Wendy can be seen as a representation of the ego, the rational part of the psyche. The story suggests that a balance between the id & the ego is necessary for psychological health.

Peter Pan can even be analysed through the lens of Jungian thinking, specifically in relation to the concepts of the archetype & the collective unconscious.

Peter Pan embodies the archetype of the eternal youth or the divine child, a symbol of eternal renewal & the potential for growth & transformation. He represents the childlike innocence, playfulness, & creativity that adults often lose as they grow older & become socialised into the demands of society. Peter Pan can be seen as a symbol of the potential for personal growth & transformation, as well as a critique of the rigid social expectations that often stifle individual creativity & imagination.

Peter Pan also embodies the shadow archetype, which represents the dark & repressed aspects of the individual & collective psyche. His rebellious & mischievous behaviour, as well as his disregard for authority, can be seen as a manifestation of the shadow. He is a symbol of the potential for rebellion & resistance against oppressive social norms & expectations.

Peter Pan's Neverland can be seen as a representation of the collective unconscious, a shared repository of archetypal images & symbols that are inherited by all human beings. The characters & creatures that inhabit Neverland, such as fairies, mermaids, & pirates, represent the collective myths & symbols that are shared across cultures & time periods. In this way, Peter Pan can be seen as a symbol of the potential for personal & collective growth & transformation, as well as a reminder of the importance of exploring & embracing the deep symbolic meaning of our experiences.

why must we grow up?

What is the alternative to remaining childlike & avoiding the full responsibilities that come with age?

In essence, you have to sacrifice the exponential potentiality of childhood for the reality of life as an adult. You have to make peace with the fact there's a sacrificial element to maturation. Why would you do that? A key reason is that it happens to you whether you do it or not. You can either choose your limitation or you can let it take you unaware when you’re past your prime.

Refusing to grow up means you're an old infant - not a pretty thing. A ‘man-child’ is a term used to describe an adult man who behaves immaturely or irresponsibly, often exhibiting traits associated with childhood or adolescence. A man-child may have difficulty accepting adult responsibilities, such as holding down a steady job, paying bills on time, or maintaining a healthy relationship. He may prioritise his own needs & desires over those of others, act impulsively, & be unable to take criticism or handle stress. The term is often used pejoratively, suggesting that the man-child is not living up to societal expectations of maturity & responsibility.

Yikes - again I find myself with a worrying degree of identification here!

So part of the reason you choose your sacrifice, because the sacrifice is inevitable, but at least you get to choose it. Also relevant is that the problem with being a child is that all you are is potential. Low resolution potential. The paradox becomes: you could be anything, but you're not anything.

An example to clarify my point. Say you decide to become a carpenter - you choose something & you become something. When you're something that makes the world open up to you again - you develop in all sorts of ways that simply choosing to become a carpenter might not at first be obvious. You may well end up being a good employer. You might run your own business. You might mentor other people, you enlarge their lives., you enlarge your life. You might become a positive force in your community. You may go on to marry & have a family. All this because you committed to an adult choice about a career.

So by choosing one thing you open up the potential to almost all things. Once you pass through that narrow training period which narrows you & constricts you & develops you at the same time, then you can come out to the other end with a greater range of choices. Jung thought that the proper part of development in the last half of life was to rediscover the child that you left behind as you were apprenticing. So then you get to be something & regain that potential at the same time. Clever stuff.

I’ll end with two of my favourite quotes from the book Peter Pan:

‘You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by; but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by.’

&

‘You know that place between sleep & awake? That's where I'll always love you. That's where I'll be waiting.’