“Peter Pan” by J.M. Barrie viewed through the lens of children psychology
A literary piece that is of intellectual value must possess the capacity to illuminate the realities of the world, including its pain and suffering, hopes and visions. Because of the true, human qualities, literature exceeds beyond fantasies and idealizations; it becomes a doorstep to the world. Moreover, it should contain knowledge that inspires and fuel their understanding of the society to which they belong. Therefore, a literary piece with intellectual value can significantly change people’s outlook on life. Such characteristic is J.M. Barrie’s classic novel, “Peter Pan”.
Barrie’s “Peter Pan” delves into the story of a young boy who never grows up and his many adventures of seeking fulfillment beyond the real world. It is a tale of fantasy dealing with the grim truth of adulting and familial longing seen through the lens of children's psychology. The story represented these struggles in such a playful, imaginative approach that would appeal to the minds of children and adults alike.
Peter Pan is an exact portrayal of the concept of escapism. Merriam-Webster defines the term ‘escapism’ as “habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine” (Definition of ESCAPISM, 2020). This occurrence is the primary theme of the plot. The complete ignorance of Peter in fulfilling his duties as a son shows his withdrawal from the truth that he is a human who must also grapple with the consequences of life. “I don’t ever want to be a man,” “I won't always to be a little boy and to have fun,” Peter said in the chapter ‘Of Kisses and Fairies’. This is followed by the instance wherein Wendy, John, and Michael have flown away from their home with Peter which presents escapism as a ‘pass’ card for their curiosity. Escapism is materialized into an imagined territory that is Neverland where the reality is distorted and the impossible becomes possible. Perhaps, the goal of escapism is to please its hosts.
The story also reflects the significance of familial longing. The Lost Boys, Peter, and the pirates' need for a guardian figure is presented in the story using different approaches. One is illustrated in the chapter ‘Peter Returns’ when the Lost Boys desperately knelt and begged Wendy to become their mother. Even the vicious of minds also desire the care of a mother. Smee, Captain Hook’s sideman, told the antagonist to chase after Wendy, “Could we not kidnap these boys’ mother and make her our own mother?” The author also made use of Peter’s narrative to tell the harsh reality of abandonment and the consequences that come along with it. In the chapter ‘Wendy’s Story’, Peter countered Wendy’s affirmation that mothers are always forgiving and accepting by telling that, “I thought, like you, that my mother would always keep the window open for me, so I stayed away for moons and moons. When I flew back, the window was shut, for my mother had forgotten all about me, and there was another little boy sleeping in my bed.” Barrie’s interplay between the fascination of children’s psychology and the concept of familial longing deliberately shows the realities of youth development. Neuroscientist Rosalind Ridley stated that Barrie, in his classic work, had pointed out these key stages of children’s development and their differences in consuming ideas and thoughts as they grow, calling it “theory of mind” (Flood, 2016).
Barrie’s use of mythological elements and whimsicalities in narrating the sense of childhood and the struggles they go through is indeed a commendable move in understanding the various perspectives of children in their age of innocence. The moral structure of the story compels the readers to contemplate the experiences of the youth and hopefully, respond to them. Peter Pan is a piece of literature that exceeds the misconceptions of fairy tales are only fairies and swordfights. It is excellent writing that puts light into the common truth that children are also humans who are capable of showing cognition and developing emotions.
