# Nana — Peter and Wendy character guide

> Nana in Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** O Nana

**First appearance:** 0000-i-peter-breaks-through

## Snapshot

The Darlings' Newfoundland nursemaid, a dog who minds the children better than any human and dies still certain no one else knew how.

## Who they are

Nana occupies the odd position of family dog and trusted nursemaid, tucking the Darling children in, tying their feet to bedposts after Neverland, and guarding the nursery with a seriousness that borders on maternal. Her flaw is her total conviction that only she can properly look after children, which makes her difficult in old age and comically rigid in her prime. She matters because her watchfulness frames the children's flight, and because her death in the later narrative quietly marks the passing of the whole Darling world.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Darling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/peter_and_wendy_se/characters/mr_darling)

_professional_

Mr. Darling has a contentious but dependent relationship with Nana, the family's nursemaid dog, resenting her authority yet relying on her care.

### [Mr. Darling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/peter_and_wendy_se/characters/mr_darling)

_professional_

Mr. Darling has a contentious but dependent relationship with Nana, the family's nursemaid dog, resenting her authority yet relying on her care.

### [Mr. Darling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/peter_and_wendy_se/characters/mr_darling)

_professional_

Mr. Darling has a contentious but dependent relationship with Nana, the family's nursemaid dog, resenting her authority yet relying on her care.

## In the story

### [The Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/peter_and_wendy_se/chapters/ii-the-shadow)

The dog-nurse who snaps off Peter's shadow and later is tricked into drinking Mr. Darling's medicine.

### [Come Away, Come Away!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/peter_and_wendy_se/chapters/iii-come-away-come-away)

Barks to alert the Darlings, breaks her chain to fetch Mr. and Mrs. Darling from the party.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/peter_and_wendy_se/characters/nana
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/peter_and_wendy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/peter_and_wendy_se/characters