Peter Pan:
Exploration in the Realm of Imagination
Walt Disney’s production of
Peter Pan is one of the most beloved of Disney’s many childhood classics, for its celebration of youth as a temporary time that must not be rushed but on the contrary embraced for its innocence and exploration in the realm of imagination. The film portrays a young girl, Wendy, as she is confronted by her unimaginative father’s want to end her stay in the nursery with her younger brothers. In requesting Wendy leave the nursery, Mr. Darling (Wendy’s father) is asking her to drop her girlish dreams especially that of Peter Pan who serves as the last dream between childhood and adulthood and assume her responsibilities as a young woman. Wendy’s adventure with Peter Pan through Neverland serves as an aid to help Wendy grow within herself accepting her future, but still maintaining an imagination.
The film offers Wendy a last hurrah of sorts, when Peter and Tinkerbell (a fairy) arrive and magically fly Wendy and her younger brothers away to Neverland where kids never have to grow up. The famous scene presents the viewer with a different aspect of flight, they just think of a happy thought, any happy little thought and with little bit of pixie dust they can fly. As they sing, “think of the happiest things, it’s the same as of having wings,” the characters give the children the idea that they can leave their fears behind if they utilize their imagination. Each of the children’s thoughts that they use to fly become a reality once they get to Neverland: Pirates, Indians, and a mermaid lagoon all become keys to the plot. The flying scene in Peter Pan is not only a well known song, it is also a comforting concept for children to be able to use their imagination to create.
Once Wendy and the boys begin to interact with the other characters in Neverland especially the evil Captain Hook, Wendy longs again for the comfort and safety of normal life, a theme also found in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. Wendy’s yearning for home coincides with the lack of attention she receives from Peter once princess Tiger Lily enters the story. A theme of female jealousy is present within the film, as Wendy, the mermaids, and Tinkerbell all fight for Peter’s affection. First appearing when Tink flies down ahead of the other to convince the Lost Boys to shoot down Wendy. Peter finds out that Tink is to blame for Wendy’s near tragic fall and banishes Tinkerbell from Neverland forever. Tink utterly consumed with jealousy, after being exiled from Neverland by Peter for attempting to hurt Wendy, actually confides in Captain Hook the whereabouts of Peter’s hideout resulting in the capture of the Lost Boys and the Darling children and the near death of Peter. After successfully humiliating Captain Hook, saving his friends, and with a little help from Tinkerbell Peter flies Captain Hook’s pirate ship back to London.
Mr. and Mrs. Darling return home from their party, to find all of the children asleep. They come across Wendy asleep in front of the open nursery window, out of which they see the flying pirate ship that the father recognizes from his own childhood. This rediscovery of his childhood dreams softens his mindset, changing his decision about letting Wendy stay in the nursery. Mr. Darling’s soft spot for imagination at the end is a theme one may see present in many of Walt Disney animated classics. Peter Pan maintains the belief of the innocence in childhood and the freedom found within ones imagination; along with enforcing the idea that one can escape the provincial life and nominates adventure, whether real or imaginary, as a positive experience that leads to personal growth. Wendy leaves to Neverland in fear of losing her childhood and after her adventure with Peter she returns confident in her future, knowing that if she finds the need to she can always return to Neverland in her imagination. This is an idea reinforced by the Mr. and Mrs. Darling at the end of the film remembering their childhood and entranced with the magic they too once experienced.
The story of Peter Pan has consistently been an uplifting one throughout my childhood and remains so in my time in early adulthood. The notion of embracing one’s childhood and thinking happy thoughts in the hopes of eventually flying provides comfort in times of despair. Thinking of happy thoughts may not actually result in flight, but the action does however lighten one’s spirit ensuring an emotional high rivaled by nothing I have ever experienced. As some say a smile is contagious, and Disney movies provide the happiness to this smiling epidemic. In my youth I used Disney movies as a crutch when I was hobbled by times of hardship or sickness. Countless sick days were spent home from school, watching Peter Pan, and sipping soup; even after knowing the outcome and memorizing all of the song lyrics the happiness that the film projects served its uplifting purpose. It consistently brought a smile to my face and the familiar warm feeling associated with good memories. Though critics may question the social motives behind Disney movies, there is a consistency within the music and the happy endings that will bring a smile to the faces of the listeners each time without fail. Peter Pan, being amongst the first movies I personally owned as a child, I cherished it; I brought the VHS tape with me to the park and when I visited family. The characters in the story became friends that I could call upon in a time of need or when I desired inspiration for my next adventure or project. My friends and I reenacted scenes from the movie, never afraid that playing follow the leader may result in an actual Indian ambush.
One moral that can be taken away from Peter Pan and most other Disney animated classics is that everyone must take their own journey to iron out any flaws or errors associated with adolescence and embrace personal growth to eventually find happiness. Most importantly though is that the journey does not have to be held in some exotic landscape it can happen in your room just using your imagination. Walt Disney’s Peter Pan has lasted as long as it has because the themes and ideas it presents to children resonate in a child’s mind. From imaginary friends to adventures in a sandbox, a child’s imagination is a plant in need of cultivation to produce its best product. Disney movies, such as Peter Pan, tap into the power of imagination, sparking the flame of creation.
Have a CRABtastic day,
-DiCrabs Out
Caulfield, had some major issues. I don't think I really liked the book too much until I started discussing it with my friend and we appreciated how honest and brutal Holden is. I began writing my own book about a week ago and have found that Holden and I are not so different. If you get a chance to read Catcher, I highly recommend that you do because it is hilarious and fantastically sarcastic. Just a heads up. You shouldn't have a hard time finding a copy because its one of the best books ever. This has been J.G.
