The story of Peter Pan is a classic which tells a tale about a boy who doesn't want to grow up. Him and the lost boys live in an adventure filled island, Neverland without any grownups. Later on in the story, he comes to visit the "normal" world and finds Wendy Darling whom he takes to Neverland to flee the grownup things in her world. The comparison I saw between these stories is that Peter Pan is like Ralph, both leaders and main characters. They are also the paternal figure, who attempt to care for all their "lost boys". The lost boys are the littleuns who are wild and well younger then everyone else. The only people in both stories who seem to understand their problems in a more clear way are both Piggy and Wendy.
Since both stories are based in a war era, in a way the island isolates the boys from all the real things that are going on. The boys in LOTF have kept forgetting to keep the fire going showing how they slowly forget the possibility of being rescued showing how little they have been thinking about the world of their previous lives. At first, they like it there. No authority, no rules, an island just for them! But then the idea of the beast comes in and fear takes control of their thoughts possibly showing how much they actually need their old lives back. This also whole idea ties in with Peter Pan because the boys don't want to grow up. Who does? But then they realize all the important events they would miss: getting married, having a family. Would losing that be worth living forever young?
Gabi,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your thoughts about a connection to Peter Pan, I never saw how well both stories tie in. Also, Pan has to decide whether to go with Wendy, or follow his dreams. It is a easy choice for him, though not all positive, just as Ralph, when realizing himself, doesn't follow Jack. Although Wendy and Jack are very different characters, they play similar roles in these like stories. They influence the character thought of as "main", but at the same time, put themselves in a higher position of power. Captain James Hook is similar to the beast also, because he is the one they all fear. In some ways though, he is like Jack too because he only cares about killing the "danger", and he is certain he will be able to reach his goals.
Phoebe
Gabi,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very thoughtful connection. However, I think the parental figure in Peter Pan is Wendy as her character seems to be a more fitting analogue for Ralph's. In the story, Wendy is immediately chosen to become the "mother" of the Lost Boys, like how Ralph is elected to be leader. However, as both stories progress, Wendy realises that she is not fit to mother so many children, similarly to how Ralph is now realising that having no adults around is not as fun as he had initially imagined it would be and being a leader is no easy task. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the connection you made between the two stories. I would have never thought of this!
Gabi,
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw this title I just immediately knew what you were going to talk about, but I was wrong. I never thought about what Wendy represented nor Peter. I just thought about the Lost Boys. This is a fantastic connection that you have made, but I think you can go deeper. For example, what do the Indians (Peter Pan) symbolize? Or Jack?
Great connection. Good job.
This is a great connection! I really hadn't thought about how much the two stories compare before. On the idea about staying forever young: when we've read the book, everyone has been shocked by how quickly some of the boys have turned into "savages" after their time on the island. What is truly disturbing is that the boys range from around 5-12 years old. At such a young age, how do humans have such a high capacity for evil? 5-12 year olds committed murder. Some turned into bloodthirsty hunters. When you think about how far children went, it's almost impossible to imagine how much worse it could be for adults. What is the full amount of evil we are capable of? How hard do we have to fight for the good in us to triumph over that evil?
ReplyDeleteTo fight for the good in us, I believe that it would take way more work than we would ever imagine. Even as a monk, a nun etc. it is impossible to think that we are 100% pure, after all if it part of our nature to be evil how can we ever get rid of it? By being "good" are we just lying to ourselves and those around us by covering what nature intended us to be? Or is society nurturing us by telling us that there are only two parts of who we are that can dominate: good or evil? Is it even possible for us to be none and/or both at the same time without even being aware of it?
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DeleteThis is a great connection! I never thought of how Wendy and Piggy are so alike. They both represent reason and science. Both of them try to show the others what they are missing. I also love how you made the connection with the beast and a fear of growing up. Growing up is a part of us. We all have to mature and take bigger responsibilities at some point in our lives. I wonder if anything in Peter Pan represents the conch for order and the fire as hope.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great connection! I never thought of how Wendy and Piggy are so alike. They both represent reason and science. Both of them try to show the others what they are missing. I also love how you made the connection with the beast and a fear of growing up. Growing up is a part of us. We all have to mature and take bigger responsibilities at some point in our lives. I wonder if anything in Peter Pan represents the conch for order and the fire as hope.
ReplyDeleteWatching Lord of the Flies on TCM last night, I thought:
ReplyDeleteLord of the Flies is Peter Pan gone wrong.
You could even say that Jack is Peter, Ralph is Wendy Darling, Piggy is John, and Simon is Michael. Or maybe Ralph is John and Piggy is Wendy. Heck, there is even a pair of twins.
And yes, some Internet pages, like this one, compare the two novels. I wonder if PP inspired LotF.