Peter Pan: Close Reading
Many people around the world are very familiar with the story of Peter Pan. The story line is used in many different sequels, plays, and film productions. James M. Barrie, the original author of the novels, has a much different story to tell then the kid friendly Disney version about the boy who never grows up. In the novel, the three Darling children are in their nursery when they get a visit from Peter Pan. He invites them into Neverland, a magical place where a kid can be a kid forever. The original Peter Pan, written by James M. Barrie, portrays women as objects that are used by men rather than a wholesome human being multiple times throughout the story, which conveys to the children audience that women have no real worth.
One of the ways that women are used by men in this story is by the fact that none of the characters in the novel are normal human beings. They all have some sort of role that they play. In an article called, “Fairies, Mermaids, Mothers, and Princesses: Sexual Difference and Gender Roles in Peter Pan,” the author Heather Shipley explains that females are only allowed in socially acceptable roles in Neverland such as, a mistress (Tinker Bell), non- human characters (mermaids), mother (Wendy), and an un- touchable (tiger lily) (2012, p. 166). None of these female characters take a huge role in being a part of the adventures in Neverland.
For example, Peter takes Wendy from the nursery because he does not want her to grow up, and The Lost Boys need a mother. The only role that Wendy plays in Neverland is only fulfilling the role of The Lost Boys mother. The male characters are only using Wendy as an object to fulfill a duty by taking care of their every need as children. This is evident when Peter brings Wendy back to Neverland and only tells The Lost Boys that she is their mother, which means that they will be looking at her as an object rather than a civil human being. Michael understands her roll of a mother very quickly and asks her to make dinner the second that he was hungry. The Lost Boys and Peter Pan expect her to “play house,” and do things like cook, clean, and other housewife duties, all while the children are out being adventurous and having fun. It is very evident in the beginning of the novel that Wendy is excited to grow up, but she is also expected to once she lives in Neverland. The only reason she is a great mother to The Lost Boys is because she has seen the cultural norms for being a housewife, and also watching Mrs. Darling who is her mother. Wendy finally has a chance to be a mother figure and grow up just like she has always wanted, but it does not seem to be a positive thing.
The female characters that take part in the Neverland adventure all have some sort of restriction on their voice. In the book, we notice that the mermaids only talk one time in the entire story, Tinker Bell does not have the capability to talk, and Tiger Lily never says a word. The only female character in Peter Pan who has a voice is Wendy. Although she has a voice in Neverland, she is only good for two things, telling stories, and being a mother figure for The Lost Boys. This portrays that men have full rule and authority over women due to the fact that they have no voice, and cannot speak their opinion. The article says that, “ This demonstrates the control of speech that Irgaray (1981, p.91) sees in societal organizations as well… that the communication between women is confined to male parameters and regulation” (2013, p.157). The men in the novel monitor everything that goes on because the women cannot speak up. Maybe many things would have gone differently in the novel if the author gave the women the right to speak.
Throughout the novel Peter Pan, James M. Barrie conveys many different times that women are only used as objects. Neverland is a very male dominated society that puts men above women. This idea can portray negative things to young children readers. Boys will think that they are supposed to treat girls and their mothers like they have read in the story, and girls will begin to settle for thinking those things are okay. In an article called, “Gender Stereotyped Descriptors in Children's Picture Books: Does "Curious Jane" Exist in the Literature?” the author points out that, “as children develop, they learn their own gender assignment and come to understand the ways certain behaviors and activities are associated with gender categories. Children learn to assign certain personality characteristics to girls and boys” (1996, p.462). This proves that children are more than capable of pointing out the male and female characteristics throughout the novel.
Bibliography
Shipley, Heather E. "Fairies, Mermaids, Mothers, And Princesses: Sexual Difference And
Gender Roles In Peter Pan." Studies In Gender & Sexuality 13.2 (2012): 145-159. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.
Turner-Bowker, Diane M. "Gender Stereotyped Descriptors In Children's Picture Books: Does
“Curious Jane” Exist In The Literature?." Sex Roles 35.(1996): 461-488. Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 10 Dec. 2014.
One of the ways that women are used by men in this story is by the fact that none of the characters in the novel are normal human beings. They all have some sort of role that they play. In an article called, “Fairies, Mermaids, Mothers, and Princesses: Sexual Difference and Gender Roles in Peter Pan,” the author Heather Shipley explains that females are only allowed in socially acceptable roles in Neverland such as, a mistress (Tinker Bell), non- human characters (mermaids), mother (Wendy), and an un- touchable (tiger lily) (2012, p. 166). None of these female characters take a huge role in being a part of the adventures in Neverland.
For example, Peter takes Wendy from the nursery because he does not want her to grow up, and The Lost Boys need a mother. The only role that Wendy plays in Neverland is only fulfilling the role of The Lost Boys mother. The male characters are only using Wendy as an object to fulfill a duty by taking care of their every need as children. This is evident when Peter brings Wendy back to Neverland and only tells The Lost Boys that she is their mother, which means that they will be looking at her as an object rather than a civil human being. Michael understands her roll of a mother very quickly and asks her to make dinner the second that he was hungry. The Lost Boys and Peter Pan expect her to “play house,” and do things like cook, clean, and other housewife duties, all while the children are out being adventurous and having fun. It is very evident in the beginning of the novel that Wendy is excited to grow up, but she is also expected to once she lives in Neverland. The only reason she is a great mother to The Lost Boys is because she has seen the cultural norms for being a housewife, and also watching Mrs. Darling who is her mother. Wendy finally has a chance to be a mother figure and grow up just like she has always wanted, but it does not seem to be a positive thing.
The female characters that take part in the Neverland adventure all have some sort of restriction on their voice. In the book, we notice that the mermaids only talk one time in the entire story, Tinker Bell does not have the capability to talk, and Tiger Lily never says a word. The only female character in Peter Pan who has a voice is Wendy. Although she has a voice in Neverland, she is only good for two things, telling stories, and being a mother figure for The Lost Boys. This portrays that men have full rule and authority over women due to the fact that they have no voice, and cannot speak their opinion. The article says that, “ This demonstrates the control of speech that Irgaray (1981, p.91) sees in societal organizations as well… that the communication between women is confined to male parameters and regulation” (2013, p.157). The men in the novel monitor everything that goes on because the women cannot speak up. Maybe many things would have gone differently in the novel if the author gave the women the right to speak.
Throughout the novel Peter Pan, James M. Barrie conveys many different times that women are only used as objects. Neverland is a very male dominated society that puts men above women. This idea can portray negative things to young children readers. Boys will think that they are supposed to treat girls and their mothers like they have read in the story, and girls will begin to settle for thinking those things are okay. In an article called, “Gender Stereotyped Descriptors in Children's Picture Books: Does "Curious Jane" Exist in the Literature?” the author points out that, “as children develop, they learn their own gender assignment and come to understand the ways certain behaviors and activities are associated with gender categories. Children learn to assign certain personality characteristics to girls and boys” (1996, p.462). This proves that children are more than capable of pointing out the male and female characteristics throughout the novel.
Bibliography
Shipley, Heather E. "Fairies, Mermaids, Mothers, And Princesses: Sexual Difference And
Gender Roles In Peter Pan." Studies In Gender & Sexuality 13.2 (2012): 145-159. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.
Turner-Bowker, Diane M. "Gender Stereotyped Descriptors In Children's Picture Books: Does
“Curious Jane” Exist In The Literature?." Sex Roles 35.(1996): 461-488. Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 10 Dec. 2014.