Nancy Lodge
asked
C.C. Cortland:
Neverland “ f you shut your eyes and are a lucky one, you may see at times a shapeless pool of lovely pale colours suspended in the darkness; then if you squeeze your eyes tighter, the pool begins to take shape, and the colours become so vivid that with another squeeze they must go on fire.” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan? Answer to question
C.C. Cortland
Not entirely sure what is being asked here. A mistake? Is this a Peter Pan quote? I've never actually read the book, so cannot say. Has it some deeper meaning, or simply some random reference to the film, Neverland? I do not know. Myself, rubbing my eyes, I see bright spots, flashes swirl and dance. Longing for them to last a bit longer and resolve.
I know from watching Wonderland, a series about childrens authors. Barrie's elder brother died around the age of 13. He was his mother's idol, whom Barrie tried to impersonate in order to acquire the self-same affection. He had a troubled life growing up and Pan was in fact a play before it was a book, which is an odd order. Especially since it is still a popular play around Christmas time. And one of those rare occurrences, where Peter is usually played by a woman.
Late Victorians seemed to have an obsession with death. Childhood mortality was particularly high back then. Conan Doyle is famous for consulting mediums and believing in fairies, whilst his friend Houdini was well-known for debunking them.
Peter therefore is assumed to counter death by never growing up. Living life out in a Wonderland for all eternity. Though there is a dark aspect to this in that essentially he kidnaps children taking them to his Neverland. So whether Peter is a monster, a flight of fancy or hero is largely at the reader's discretion. I did like the Disney film, though not Mr Spielberg’s Hook. :)
I know from watching Wonderland, a series about childrens authors. Barrie's elder brother died around the age of 13. He was his mother's idol, whom Barrie tried to impersonate in order to acquire the self-same affection. He had a troubled life growing up and Pan was in fact a play before it was a book, which is an odd order. Especially since it is still a popular play around Christmas time. And one of those rare occurrences, where Peter is usually played by a woman.
Late Victorians seemed to have an obsession with death. Childhood mortality was particularly high back then. Conan Doyle is famous for consulting mediums and believing in fairies, whilst his friend Houdini was well-known for debunking them.
Peter therefore is assumed to counter death by never growing up. Living life out in a Wonderland for all eternity. Though there is a dark aspect to this in that essentially he kidnaps children taking them to his Neverland. So whether Peter is a monster, a flight of fancy or hero is largely at the reader's discretion. I did like the Disney film, though not Mr Spielberg’s Hook. :)
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