Peter and Wendy · Question
How does Peter and Wendy develop the theme of Motherhood and Family?
Answer
Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie develops Motherhood and Family across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Wendy's desire to be a mother to the Lost Boys and her eventual return to her own family highlight the theme of maternal care, the longing for a mother's love, and the importance of family bonds.
Mrs. Darling's romantic and nurturing nature, her dream of Neverland, and her protective instincts toward her children emphasize the theme of maternal love and the family unit.
Mrs. Darling's nurturing role is emphasized through her care for the children and her protective instinct toward Peter's shadow.
Wendy is tempted by the role of mother to the Lost Boys, tucking them in and telling stories.
Evidence in the book
- Peter Breaks Through
Mrs. Darling's romantic and nurturing nature, her dream of Neverland, and her protective instincts toward her children emphasize the theme of maternal love and the family unit.
- The Shadow
Mrs. Darling's nurturing role is emphasized through her care for the children and her protective instinct toward Peter's shadow.
- Come Away, Come Away!
Wendy is tempted by the role of mother to the Lost Boys, tucking them in and telling stories.
- The Little House
Wendy is explicitly asked to be the boys' mother, and the building of the little house symbolizes the creation of a family home in Neverland.
- The Home Under the Ground
Wendy fully embraces her role as mother to the Lost Boys, cooking, sewing, and trying to preserve memories of their real parents.
- The Mermaids' Lagoon
Wendy's maternal role is central: she insists on rest, stitches, and feels pride when Hook acknowledges the boys have found a mother. Hook's plan to kidnap Wendy to be their mother underscores the theme.
- Wendy's Story
Wendy's story centers on a mother's love and the belief that she will always leave the window open for her children. Peter's counter-story challenges this ideal, revealing his fear of being forgotten and replaced.
- The Pirate Ship
Wendy embodies the maternal role, delivering a message from the boys' real mothers and refusing Smee's offer to be his mother. Her last words emphasize the ideal of a mother's hope for her sons.
