An old (and quick) "review" of Peter Pan

I found this "review" I wrote on Senscritique, from January 2019. I think it would be interesting to share it here as well (with a few changes), so here I am. Peter Pan is a book that influenced me more than my words can describe, which probably deserves another article.

There is so much to be said about Peter Pan and his world created by the genius Sir James Matthew Barrie, and I am merely listing a few down below, to show how much it means to me on the one hand, and to remind me of writing something more about this childhood crush (by this I mean both the book and Peter Pan himself) on the other.

1. The never-ending childhood of Peter Pan.

As a little girl (I watched Disney's Peter Pan at a very young age, way before reading the book) this was the most fascinating part for me. Unlike so many girls of my age, I was horrified by the idea that I would grow up someday. I HATED the very idea of growing up and PITIED my parents, my grandparents, my teachers etc. for their adulthood because it seemed to me that they always had this weary smile, even when they were happy. And because they seemed to have so much to do every day, My anti-marriage theory developed at the marvelous age of 5 helped in this as well.

So the knowledge of some other child who will never grow up filled my little heart with joy. I wanted to be like him. To be honest, I still do sometimes and I have never really felt totally and completely grown-up. Some childhood crush and fantasy !

2. The Neverland.

For many years I would sit by the window at night and look up at the sky, trying very hard to find "Second star to the right and straight on till morning" where my hero, my idol, this super cool kid lives-the Neverland. This became such an obsession that I first liked the Netherlands because it sounds a lot like Neverland.

A little something I read about somewhere : Why can Peter Pan fly ? It is not because of faith, trust or pixie dust. It is because he lives in Never-LAND. He NEVER LANDS. (Which might not be very serious after all, since we all know that Peter doesn't fly 24/7. Nevertheless, it might be fun to think about this while reading the book in English-as far as I am concerned, the French translation of Pays imaginaire ruined this word game. Another reason for learning languages, by the way : to enjoy the fun of word games, of these fascinating jeux de mots.)

3. Tiger Lily has a crush on Peter Pan.

Honestly I should read the book again...the author might have mentioned this but I simply can't remember x(

4. Wendy Darling has a crush on Peter Pan and vice versa.

I'll just leave this part here but I can totally prove it...when I re-read the book. It is definitely true.

5. Why is Wendy's family name "Darling" ?

The real answer : I do not know.

But I guess it has something to do with the author's personal life : after all, Barrie was in love with Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, whose boys were a great inspiration for the story of Peter Pan.

6. The Peter Pan syndrom.

It is very possible that Barrie himself had this kind of trouble with being a grown-up, far before the term was invented. Peter could be the author himself.

7. If Peter Pan could grow up, he would become the next captain James Hook.

I read about this and totally agreed : Peter is arrogant, selfish, and the Lost Boys, known as his friends, have to be extra careful around him. Had he the chance to grow up without someone like Wendy, he could easily become the person he hates as an eternal child.

8. Why is the bad guy in JAMES Barrie's novel called JAMES Hook ?

Might have something to do with low self-esteem or a miserable personal life.

9. Is Wendy's father James Hook ?

According to the 2003 film adaptation, yes, it's a hidden message : Wendy's father and captain Hook are played by the same person.

Might be true in the book, since these two men have one thing in common : they are both kill-joys for childish things.

10. Tinker Bell loves and takes good care of Peter Pan, but he is ungrateful.

Easily jealous, Tinker Bell is nevertheless the one who takes care of Peter before Wendy comes and even at some point after Wendy's arrival at the Neverland. Peter, however, at the end of the story, can barely remember that Tink ever existed. For me, this is one of the saddest parts in the whole novel. (Doesn't it sound like some unrequited love story with one of the two characters just not caring as much ?)

11. Peter Pan is a dark story. The Lost Boys are actually dead and Peter is the one who accompanies them on their way to Death.

This is one of the darkest things that I've heard about, but I can't seem to get it out of my head After all it is only in death that we don't age : whoever dies, for example, at 37 years old remains 37 years old, even buried "down there". But even with this dark side of the story, Peter is still a 50% nice boy who happened to be my very first crush (this is to guarantee a good night without nightmare, but I mean it).