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1、The Contradictions in the Process of Growing Up in Peter PanAbstract: Peter Pan, written by the British writer J. M. Barrie, has a profound influence as a world famous classic childrens fantasy. It not only enriches works of child literature but broadens the area of psychology. For example, nowadays
2、, Peter Pan Syndrome has become a popular psychoanalytical term. In this thesis, which consists of five parts, the author intends to study the causes of that psychosis from perspectives of kidology and literature. In the first part this thesis introduces the work Peter Pan, the Peter Pan Complex and
3、 the kidology about the growth of children. Then from the second to the forth part, it comes to sharp contrasts between the child world and the adult world innocence versus secularization, fantasy versus fear, freedom versus duty respectably. And in the last part, it is a summary of the main idea ab
4、out this thesis and the importance of the topic in reality. Key words: Peter Pan; Peter Pan Complex or Syndrome; child world; adult world彼得潘中关于成长主题的矛盾分析摘要：作为一部世界著名儿童幻想小说,英国作家JM巴里的作品彼得潘产生了深远的影响。它不仅丰富了儿童文学作品，并且推动了心理学领域的发展。比如，当今，“彼得潘综合症”已经成为一个流行的心理学名词。本文试图从儿童心理学以及文学角度去探究上述精神疾病产生的内在原因。文章共分为五个部分。第一部分先后介绍
5、了彼得潘，“彼得潘情结”，和关于“成长”的儿童心理学。文章第二,第三，第四部分重点描述儿童世界与成人世界的鲜明对比：纯洁与堕落，幻想与恐惧，自由与责任。最后一部分总结了论文的主要观点并从中进一步揭示出“彼得潘情结”在现实生活中的表现，并简要分析其在现实生活出现的原因及应对措施。 关键词：彼得潘；“彼得潘情结”；儿童世界；成人世界ContentsAbstract.I1. Introduction11.1Peter Pan11.2Peter Pan Complex21.3 Kidology about the Growth of Children22. Innocence vs. Seculari
6、zation32.1 Innocent Child World42.2 Secular Adult World53. Fantasy vs. Fear63.1 Fantasy in Childrens Hearts63.2 Conflicts between Fantasy and Reality73.3 Fear in Adults Imagination84. Freedom vs. Duty94.1 Children as Freedom Pursuers and Duty Escapist94.1.1 Freedom Pursuers94.1.2 Duty Escapist104.2
7、Adults as Subjects under Duty and without Freedom115. Conclusion115. 1 A Brief Review of the Main Idea of the Text115.2 The Importance of the Research in Reality12References15IVThe Contradictions in the Process of Growing Up in Peter Pan1. Introduction 1.1 Peter Pan Peter Pan is a famous fantasy, po
8、pular among children and adults all over the world. It describes a story about Windy, John and Michael, led by a unique boy named Peter Pan. He teaches them to fly and brings them to the Neverland where they experience a series of ventures and then return home in reality.The main plots include: the
9、friendship between fairies and boys, the communication between mermaids and humans, the conflicts and associations between the white and the red-skinned, the wars between pirates and good men and the ability to fly and so on. Attractive as these plots are, we readers cannot ignore the fact that not
10、only those plots but also the authors logical imaginations and lively characters attract readers of several generations. Since Peter Pans protagonists are children, and so are the readers, its author deeply understood and accurately reproduced childrens imaginations, feelings, their languages, and t
11、heir behaviors. As a result, lots of plots seem to be “childish”, “odd” and even “absurd” though they are not in fantastic world and well welcomed by kids. For example, in the story, a shadow can drop from the body of its host and can also be sewed to it again. Apart from that, mushrooms are also us
12、ed as chimneys by the boys. Those details indicate the features of childrens imaginationsimplicity, sentimentalism, and purity. Therefore those descriptions are easily accepted by children.And, as is known to all of us, playing games is childrens second natural instinct. Barrie knew this well. In Ne
13、verland Peter lives a happy life, playing games with other kids. They all take a serious attitude towards games. When Windy is acting a Mother, she tries her best to be a good one. Every night she tells boys funny stories and sings enchantments over them. Those descriptions are close to childrens li
14、ves, their feelings and their inner world. It is hard to distinguish them from realistic ones. So children will regard it as a funny and true story. Also adult readers, after reading this book, will definitely be reminded of their wonderful childhood.1.2 Peter Pan Complex Complex is a psychoanalytic
15、al term, which comes from Carl G. Tungs theory of Personality. It is firstly used in the term of Oedipus Complex and then Carl G. Tung broadened it. It is an affectively toned group of associated ideas and described as an image of a certain psychic situation which is strongly accentuated emotionally
16、 and is incompatible with the habitual attitude of consciousness. Peter Pan is the protagonist in the book of Peter Pan, which is subtitled “The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up”. This boy has no home or parents, living in Neverland with some other homeless children and fairies. Being adventurous, illusive
17、 and rebellious, he loves freedom and in all his life, it seems that he is flying here and there and playing various games. He is forgetful, never having the conception of time. And his most distinguishing personality is that he is not willing to and doesnt need to grow up. With the aim of escaping
18、from being a grown-up, who represents the responsibilities of families and society, Peter lives with lost boys in Neverland, far from the adults world. Originated from the experiences of Peter Pan, the Peter Pan Complex refers to “a desire to escape or flee from confining situations or situations, t
19、o which they are unable to cope, childishness, the unwillingness of growing up” (Mc Gavock, 2007: 48). In our current society, Peter Pan Complex refers to the wishes of many children, even of grown-ups, who fear and refuse to grow up. They want to escape from responsibilities and stress from society
20、 and pursue to live a natural and happy life.1.3 Kidology about the Growth of ChildrenHuman beings and other lower creatures have a magnificent difference in the degree of openness of gene system, which has already been confirmed by scientific philosopher Perpul, biological philosopher Myer and phil
21、osophical anthropologist Landrail. These three, they all agreed that there are two kinds of genes the closed genes with characteristics and the open ones without characteristics and that the open genes unlike the closed ones which can be inherited directly, must go through mutual interaction with po
22、stnatal environment to become mature. In fact, most of human genes are open ones. Without information from postnatal, they will fail in their development. Even for the close genes, influence of postnatal environment is very beneficial. Therefore, human beings have a great dependence on the environme
23、nt after birth. Once deprived of that environment of learning and developing, children would always stay in the state of immaturity and can not become “real human beings”. Nowadays, there are theories explaining the stimulus for childrens growth of mind. Then what is the stimulus, namely the inner c
24、ontradiction for children development of psychology or the growth of mind? Briefly it is the contradiction between the present state of childrens present expression of growth of mind and the potential which is going to be expressed. So, given some proper external condition, childrens mind and psycho
25、logy would keep growing with the help of its inner contradiction.Then what is the external condition for childrens growth? The contradiction between children and culturethe essential element for their growth of mind. The transformation of inner contradiction depends on certain external conditions wi
26、thout which this transformation would not be developed i.e., children may not grow up. In postnatal activities, games and education are two essential activities for children in the growing process of body and mentality. This is universally admitted that all children like playing. According to kidolo
27、gists, playing games actually is a spontaneous activity to dig out potential by children themselves. And education has always been the most important way to deliver and convey culture.However, according to studies, childrens brains develop in sequence. That development is gradual and consistent rath
28、er than simultaneous. The growth and maturity of brain have close relationship with that of body. Actually, there are two golden periods for the growth of brain: one starts with the first drop of milk teeth and the other comes with the time when an individual begins to have the ability of reproducti
29、on and enter the teenage hood. Thus the growth and maturity of brain goes not only in the same pace with that of mentality but with that of body. (刘晓东,2003: 18-19)2. Innocence vs. Secularization 2.1 Innocent Child World In Peter Pan, child characters are generally lovely and sensitive innocents. In
30、adults view, the child world is always pure, fine and natural. A hero in childrens book is always a hero in their hearts. Although Peter Pan is not described as a perfect hero by Barrie, children all over the world still admire him and dream about his style of life, because Peter Pan is a typical bo
31、y and the strongest rebel towards growing up. Above all, it is the simplicity and innocence of Peter Pan that attracts child readers. Peter Pan and his fellows show the innocence of childrens hearts. The most obvious proof is their devotion and seriousness in games. The difference between him and th
32、e adults at such a time was that the latter knew it was make-believe while to the former make-believe and true were exactly the same thing. “To him make-believe and true were exactly the same things.”(James Barrie, 2007: 144) “When Wendy comes out from the cozy dwelling, all went on their knees, and
33、 holding out their arms cried O Wendy lady, be our mother.” Then Wendy tries to be a good mother, “Kept her nose to the pot, and even if there was nothing in it, even if there was no pot, she had to keep watching that it came a boil just the same” “If it was part of a game, but he could not stodge,
34、just to feel stodgy”（James Barrie, 2007: 162）Sewing and darning was her favorite thing, whats more, she also holds examinations and feeds boys medicine. All of those show childrens devotion and seriousness in games. Psychologist Freud said, “You are definitely wrong if you redeem that the child does
35、 not take his world of games seriously. He treats his games with earnestness and attaches them profound emotion. Actually, he creates a world of fantasy which contains much devotion and sincerity but has a clear and rigid boundary with reality.” On analyzing the features of childrens psychology, chi
36、ldren psychologist Liu Xiaodong observes that playing games is actually a spontaneous activity to dig out potential by children themselves(刘晓东,2003:7). For children, they regard every venture as a game. From every venture, we can also find out their innocence. For example, they pursue extreme and ab
37、solute fairness. In Peter Pans heart, fairness is the utmost important thing in a game. “When he (Peter) saw that he was higher up the rock than his foe, captain Hook. He thought that it would not have been a fair fighting. Then he gave the cruel pirate a hand to help him up.” When Peter Pan encount
38、ers unfairness, his reaction is like this “Not the pain of this but its unfairness was what dazed Peter. It made him quite helpless. He could only stare, horrified.”(James Barrie, 2007:199) He thinks that the basis for their games should be fairness, without which games would be unbearable. Besides,
39、 Peter Pan is ignorant about love, the most precious thing for the human kind. As an orphan, he has no chance to get mothers love or care like other kids. Also he does not understand Wendy, Tink, and Lilys love to him, but is busy with being a careless boy all the time. When Wendy wants to give Pete
40、r Pan a kiss, he does not know what a kiss is, nor does he know why Tink become angry when he kisses Wendy. In the ending chapter, Barrie emphasized on description of innocence in childrens mind and child world. 2.2 Secular Adult WorldDifferent from Peter Pan, Captain Hook is an adult figure that st
41、ands on every side of Peters opposite and represents evil things. He gives readers the cruel and hideous first impression by killing his subordinates without showing any sympathy for them. Actually, that indicates indifference and cruelty in the adult world. Especially, when Peter Pan saw he was hig
42、her up to the rock and gave him a hand to help him up, Hook bit him. Children think the basis for their game should be fairness. However, life is fundamentally unfair. The world of the adults is too complicated to understand for them. It is hard but necessary for any child who encounters a lesson li
43、ke that to understand, accept and be cautious afterwards. Peter Pan, in particular needs to learn that lesson though he persists and bravely rebels against the secularly adult society.From Captain Hooks character, we can also see the craftiness of adults. When John worried Hook may wake up, Peter sp
44、oke indignantly: “You do not think I would kill him while he was sleeping! I would wake him up first and then kill him. That is the way I always do.”(James Barrie, 2007: 94)However, when Peter was sleeping, Hook entered his room. Instead of waking him up, Hook added his most virulent poison to Peter
45、s cup wanting to kill Peter once and for all. The description about him was written as “His hand shook, but it was in exultation rather than in shame. Then one long gloating look he cast upon his victim and turning, worried his way with difficulty up the tree.” (James Barrie, 2007: 276) From their d
46、ifferent behaviors, we see the sharp contrast between the innocent child and secular adult world. Not only the adult in Neverland, but also adults in our world are described secular. When Mr. Darling and Michael matched to take medicines, “Wendy gave the words, one, two, three, and Michael took his
47、medicine, but Mr. Darling slipped his behind his back.” (James Barrie, 2007: 36) Both of them are afraid of taking medicine, but the twos performance are different. Mr. Darling disappointed us for his secularization. What is more, he says: “I have just thought of a splendid joke. I shall pour my med
48、icine into Nanas bowl and she will drink it, thinking it is milk.” And he also thinks: “What fun.” However, Nana showed her great red tear after lapping the medicine. All of the children show their sympathy for the miserable dog except Mr. Darling. He shouts to the children, “Coddle her! Nobody coddles me. Oh dear no! I am only the breadwinner, why should I be coddledwhy, why, why!”From that description, we see the grumbling adults lack of sympathy for the animal while asking lots of respect for everyone all the time. Barrie reproduced a secular adult in front of our read