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   akannan Teacher
   Middle School

   eNotes Editor

   One of the central conflicts in the 2003 film of Barrie's work Peter Pan is the challenges Peter undergoes in terms of accepting the responsibility of growing old.  Peter finds himself clinging and demanding to live in his world of make believe, refusing to "grow up."  In such a position, the conflict in inevitable for when feelings develop between he and Wendy, Peter demands such emotions to be seen as "pretend."

   The conflict present here is one between individual vs. individual, as Wendy refuses to have her feelings deemed as "make believe."  Throughout the work, Wendy has assumed the responsibility thrust upon her in Neverland as a maternal figure, who takes cares of others and tells stories.  Yet, while Wendy ascends to the demands of maturation, Peter seems to not be willing to accept these conditions.  It is evident that Peter has emotions towards Wendy that indicate his maturation, or "growing up."  Love and emotional commitment are signs of one "growing up" and Peter feels this, yet refuses to accept them as he does not want to have any particular inkling of emotion which indicates that he is growing old.  Hence, another conflict is present, only this time it resides within the individual.

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   Posted by akannan on Tuesday August 11, 2009 at 4:50 AM