#Day28 Peter Pan: An analysis of Oedipus Complex (Part I)

“There is no death in imaginary, since the world’s continuing existence depends upon my life just as much as my life depends upon it; it is only by entering the symbolic order that we confront the truth that we can die, since the world’s existence does not in fact depend upon us.”

  -Terry Eagleton -

Imagination, fantasy, and dream properly relate to the children. No one can deny it. It is very possible for them to be in dreaming, to have fantasy and imagination. Peter Pan, a novel by J.M. Barrie, is one of children tale, which represents it. By this novel, Barrie wants to show imaginative world of children. As if, he wanted to allow children to have an imagination, which is irrational and illogical for adult as child opposite. At first when I read this novel, I regard it as a usual children tale; story of Wendy and her two brothers, John and Michael who fly to the Neverland, a land for particular children where all adventures is begun, with a boy who never grows up, Peter Pan through wide opened nursery room window. Nevertheless, it actually is not only children tale; it is a story about a boy who refuses to grow up and his oedipal passion. 

Peter Pan, a character of this story, who is regarded as a hero for children especially for all daughters influences them to have a courage to follow him going to Neverland although their parents forbid them (they think it was only an imagination) to not to do it, for Wendy, Michael, and John too. By their curiosity to know the existence of Neverland, Captain Hook, and Peter Pan itself, they cross all lines that are forbidden for them. Peter Pan is one of fantastic child because he cannot be mature and he can defeat Captain Hook, his enemy, so that he is suitable for regarding as a hero for children. Otherwise, children are afraid of Captain Hook, which is a tyranny and wicked pirate, and Peter Pan's enemy. 

From above recognition, I identify there are binary oppositions between children and parents, child and mature, or else obedience and authority. Peter Pan, Wendy and her two brothers are in child position, on the other hand, Parents and Captain Hook are in mature position. Among these polarizations, it correctly has a contradiction as hero-enemy opposition. It can be shown by the occurrence of Captain Hook as an enemy of Peter Pan, whereas he is as a hero and the occurrence of parents as a symbol of obedience and fear (by father's position that has rules and laws)

Part 2 coming soon...