Peter Pan Review

                       

Peter Pan was a magical book. It was an engrossing read, filled with rich imagery. I was surprised at how closely the Disney movie followed the book since I’ve come to expect movies to  greatly deviate from the original material.

However, the tone is different in the book. Before reading Peter Pan, I read up a little on the history of the book. Many scholars have stated that Peter Pan was written by J.M Barry in memorial of his older brother who died when he was a child. Reading the novel under this lens changes the story from being just about a mischievous boy who doesn’t want to grow up to a story about a lost boy who craves a mother’s love but is unable to return to her and the emotions that stem from that longing. There is a moment in the book where Peter worries that he’s about to die and he says to himself, “To die will be an awfully big adventure,” which poignantly struck me. 

I’ve read reviews by people who found Peter to be unbearable as a character due to his cocky and manipulative nature. However, I feel like the characterization of Peter brought more depth to the book. Those are the characteristics that are common in immature children. Peter is willful and arrogant in part because he refuses to grow up, and it makes his character three-dimensional, and it makes the ending so much more triumphant when Peter decides to go against his instinct and lets Wendy go home.

As I write this review, I find myself thinking that all this in-depth analysis isn’t necessary. When it comes down to it Peter Pan has all the elements that make an excellent children’s book: highly imaginative, a quick paced story, relatable characters, and a life lesson. I enjoyed every moment of the book and it has earned a spot on my favorites list. 

@3 months ago with 5 notes