This week, enjoying a snow day with my son, we watched Disney’s Peter Pan. Having seen this classic Film Peter Pan Disney numerous times recently, one aspect consistently strikes me: Peter Pan’s rather unpleasant character, at least from an adult perspective. While ostensibly the hero, his behavior often seems far from heroic. However, this viewing, snuggled on the couch as snow fell outside, brought a new realization: the heart of the story isn’t really about Peter Pan at all. It’s about Wendy, and much like many beloved Disney movies, it’s profoundly about growing up.
We are introduced to Wendy on the cusp of change, her last night in the nursery. Her father, frustrated with her “childish” tales of Neverland and Peter Pan, declares it’s time for her to mature. Yet, Wendy, like many children, resists this transition. She cherishes the nursery, a space where she can still dream and await Peter Pan’s arrival.
However, when Peter Pan finally appears, he isn’t quite the idealized figure Wendy envisioned. Wendy is already in the process of growing up, whether she fully acknowledges it or not. Her feelings for this charming, playful boy are evolving beyond childhood admiration. While her younger brothers, John and Michael, are thrilled by the promise of pirates and adventures, Wendy yearns for a deeper, more mature connection with Peter – perhaps even a kiss.
In a parallel to Snow White’s nurturing role with the dwarves, where she practices domesticity and care, Wendy assumes a maternal role with the Lost Boys in Neverland. Declared their mother by Peter, she embraces this responsibility. But her feelings for Peter transcend mere caretaking. Wendy desires Peter to be more than just another child to look after; she seeks a partner, a figure akin to a father or even a husband. Her affection for him carries a romantic undertone, unlike a mother’s love for her son. Yet, Peter remains oblivious, incapable of reciprocating such feelings.
Through Wendy’s perspective, which the film Peter Pan Disney largely adopts, Peter Pan can appear almost sociopathic. He certainly deviates from the charming prince archetype we might hope for, especially for Wendy’s sake. He laughs when Tinkerbell insults Wendy’s appearance and seems indifferent when the mermaids attempt to harm her. He becomes irritated when Wendy encourages gentlemanly behavior among the Lost Boys and resents her success in charming them with songs of motherhood. Furthermore, he sees no issue in abandoning Wendy to join Tiger Lily at an Indian celebration. His behavior is markedly narcissistic, embodying the self-centeredness often seen in young children.
There isn’t inherently anything wrong with Peter Pan being a child. Children are naturally self-centered and may not grasp the complex emotions of a girl on the verge of adolescence. However, Peter’s narcissism is particularly striking against Wendy’s burgeoning romantic interest, and considering his ambiguous age – he has, after all, lived far longer than Wendy, eternally preserved in boyhood by Neverland’s magic. This perpetual state, viewed through Wendy’s maturing eyes, becomes somewhat unsettling.
John and Michael, being younger, are perfectly content to remain in Neverland indefinitely. Their developmental stage aligns with Peter and the Lost Boys’ unchanging existence. They are yet to perceive the world beyond childhood that Wendy is beginning to recognize. Had they not returned home, they would have happily continued their adventures, oblivious to the experiences they were forgoing by not growing up.
Peter Pan and Wendy soaring through the skies of Neverland in a still from the film peter pan disney, capturing the allure and fantasy of eternal childhood.
But the audience sees, almost painfully, what they would miss. Wendy initially envisioned Neverland as a romantic paradise, where she and Peter Pan would cultivate a blossoming romance amidst mermaids and fairies. However, Peter’s interest in Wendy is limited to her storytelling about him and her admiration for his exploits. The mermaids and fairies, whom Wendy was initially excited about, exemplify a potential future for Wendy should she choose to remain in Neverland, caught between childhood and womanhood without progressing.
Tinkerbell and the mermaids share Wendy’s romantic feelings for Peter. Their jealousy towards Wendy is intense, even to the point of wanting to eliminate her. When Peter approaches, the mermaids become preoccupied with attracting his attention. Tinkerbell, driven by jealousy, even reveals Peter Pan’s secret hideout to Captain Hook. However, because Peter is incapable of seeing them as they desire – as mature individuals – Tink and the mermaids devolve into jealous, petulant figures, a stark contrast to ideals of feminine grace and virtue.
Childhood is precious, but it is not intended to last forever. Peter Pan’s stagnation in childish narcissism means he misses out on the full spectrum of human experience. Wendy, on the brink of adulthood, has glimpsed a world beyond the nursery and cannot regress. She must leave Peter Pan to his eternal games and embrace the richness of life. “I am ready to grow up,” she declares to her father, signaling that Peter Pan, in his arrested development, no longer suffices for her.
Yet, the film Peter Pan Disney subtly suggests we shouldn’t entirely discard our childhood spirit. The carefree, adventurous, and playful essence of Peter Pan should still resonate within us. Without it, we risk becoming like Wendy’s father, Mr. Darling, initially depicted as rigid, irritable, and monotonous. However, when Mr. Darling sees the shape of Peter Pan’s ship in the clouds, a wistful look transforms his face. “You know,” he muses, “I have the strangest feeling that I’ve seen that ship before. A long time ago. When I was very young.” The music swells, his family embraces him, indicating his emotional growth. We must, the movie implies, carry our childhood selves with us as we navigate the world beyond the nursery.
On the surface, Peter Pan might seem like a celebration of Peter — the embodiment of childhood joy and freedom. But ultimately, the film Peter Pan Disney is Wendy’s story of accepting the necessity of growing up. Peter Pan skillfully illustrates that eternal youth is not only unattainable but also undesirable. Peter chooses to remain in Neverland, oblivious to what he forfeits. Yet, with a respectful gesture, he returns Wendy home. He implicitly acknowledges that Wendy possesses a wisdom he cannot grasp. Growing up, the film Peter Pan Disney ultimately conveys, is an essential part of life.
