Why am I so obsessed with this???
Feb. 12th, 2004 09:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrI'm trying to figure out why all the miscellany comments I've come across on this story have referred to it as a "charming tale," and the like. It's rather brutal and miserable, imho.
I mean first there's John, Michael and the Lost Boys. They all want a mother (or their mother back), leave Never Land to find said mother (and I assume happiness?), and for all their efforts realize shortly after they start their new lives that they made a huge mistake - and for the rest of their lives are basically miserable.
Then there's Wendy. She likes being their mother, she loves Peter, and yet she's dragged down by him b/c he never really returns it. And not only does he neglect her, the 'curse' of Peter Pan passes down from Mother to daughter. I can see the symbolism in all of this but really the blasted book is as miserable as that one by Thomas Hardy I loathe and despise - Tess of the D'urbervilles. *hiss* I hate that book.
Then Peter Pan himself, who's just an ungrateful, selfish, mean brat. I can't even feel sorry for him - I don't think you're supposed to anyway. That's what bugs me the most, you're supposed to be happy for Peter and feel pity for the rest of them because they were dumb enough to grow up. He's just like those kids in Lord of the Flies. Left alone kids are wild and cruel - yet we're supposed to be happy for/about Pan because he encouraged and thrived on this behavior? I guess so, seeing as Wendy told her daughter that you're only able to fly if you're "gay and innocent and heartless." Which makes sense - children are cruel they say. What confounds me is why we're supposed to be happy about that.
And there was definitely something between Hook and Pan - at least on Hook's side. Personally I think the author got lazy with him. The part where Hook's "heart broke" made no sense to me. Personally I think the story of Hook would be about 1000 times more fascinating than the one I just read. I mean you are given the impression he came from rather a fine background (is going to Eton a big thing?), and he's definitely the western equivalent of Angsty Bishounen Villian. The forget-me-not blue eyes that turn red when he's angry? That still makes me laugh. Other things too...a lot was left unsaid about him and Pan. I'm still not sure of all that, besides the obvious young vs. old thing.
I need to get a new hobby. I have no honest idea why this story is suddenly so interesting to me. Actually I do know - it's why I hated Tess. The whole point of the book isn't to prove a point about life, or even to say why the author might dislike it. It's meant to instruct the reader just how miserable and tragic and despressing life is. By the time you're done it's like "well fuck it. may as well die." My reaction wasn't that extreme, but it leaves you in a foul mood. Which isn't the point of stories, at least that's my opinion. And using the example of Tragedies is no good, b/c I've yet to read one that leaves me in a foul mood. Maybe I'm just weird, but I generally feel a contented sort of pleased, like "this how it had to/should be. they're happy, that's fine." (at least when tragedy is done correctly, and not done just for the sake of avoiding a "cliche happy ending") Am I strange? Peter Pan wasn't like that, the end of this one I was more like "what the fuck is the point if everyone hates their damned existence?" No one in that story learned anything except that life sucks once you grow up." And this is a children's story how?
Okay, I'm done lecturing. Things like this just really bug me.
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Date: 2004-02-13 02:30 am (UTC)How happy a tale it is reminds me of how I keep a special hollow point around just in case people feel the need for a surprise viewing of Windaria. I always felt Romeo and Juliet could be improved by making it a murder-suicide instead of a double suicide.
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Date: 2004-02-13 02:53 am (UTC)Ah, Windaria. I'd almost forgotten about that horrid movie. A hollow point sounds like a good idea.
Hmm...I think you might be right the murder-suicide. Never thought about that before.
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Date: 2004-02-13 03:02 am (UTC)oh and did you know that traditionally the same actor who plays wendys dad plays hook?
hehe! post everything you find avbout peterpan here! i love this subject too!
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Date: 2004-02-13 03:07 am (UTC)heh, well that clears some stuff up. I was contemplating research when I had the time. I need to catch up on my stories first. Still, that does explain some stuff. But it also parallels him even more to Thomas Hardy. This grows more interesting.
Knew that, my impression is that there were always supposed to be parallels b/t them? I didn't see it so much in the book, but then again I was too busy being annoyed by Peter.
Heh, glad I'm not boring everyone. I was wondering how you'd react to this post.
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Date: 2004-02-13 03:46 am (UTC)the blasted book is as miserable as that one by Thomas Hardy I loathe and despise - Tess of the D'urbervilles. *hiss* I hate that book.
Hate hate hated that book. For all the 'strong female character' she was supposed to be, I thought she was whiny and ill-equipped to deal with life. The whole Alex situation, for example. >_<
He's just like those kids in Lord of the Flies. Left alone kids are wild and cruel - yet we're supposed to be happy for/about Pan because he encouraged and thrived on this behavior?
That's what I liked about Lord of the Flies. The whole evil-inside metaphor. What you're describing in this book sounds a little backwards, though. That concept is meant to disturb and make people check their morals... *is confuzzled*
In any case... friending you back. ^_^
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Date: 2004-02-13 05:12 am (UTC)Hee - yes, I was vastly amused by that post. And you came highly rec'd, lol. You seemed cool, so I hope you didn't mind.
That was something else that bugged me about Tess - she was weak as hell. Blargh, she bothered me.
Heh, I didn't do that very well. I liked Flies, everything worked in that book. Dude, when...erm, was his name Pig died? Jeez, that was traumatic. But it doesn't work in Peter Pan, that's why it bothers me.
Heh, cool.
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Date: 2004-02-13 05:28 am (UTC)I came highly rec'd? *must remember to glomp people more often*
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Date: 2004-02-13 12:45 pm (UTC)Yet as I look out the window, upon the vast expanse of blue, suffused with the golden light of the sun's radiant beams, I can know this is true.
I also know this: come the Madness of March, the gods shall surely show their favor as a divine collective to that team whose colors they display proudly in this day's clear sky.
Go Tarheels.
I want to come home... ::yes I'm crying, damnit.::
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Date: 2004-02-13 02:17 pm (UTC)GOD DAMN IT Samantha. You will cheer up NOW. No moping, and in case you forgot I amd the Tarheels fan, you are a Duke puke.
Besides, they're all sucking anyway. You're better off over there.
I sent you the better pics of us in Europe, so take good care of them until you come home. I also threw in some books and one of my short stories, so at least your package has a few good things in it. I forget what mom and dad put in there, beyond this really cool beanie baby that I wanted.
And stop crying - I'm the crybaby in this household, not you Mistress of All Evil Whom the Gods Despise.
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Date: 2004-02-13 03:46 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-13 04:31 pm (UTC)Heh, my sister is going to email me later and ask who was the random stranger telling her to cheer up. Oddly enough, she'll probably listen to you more than me. Me she'll just tell to stop yelling, lol.
no subject
Date: 2004-02-13 08:06 pm (UTC)PS: To attend Eton generally required someone of Noble birth with the cash to foot the bill. Kind of an either/or deal some of the time.. depending on the time period.
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Date: 2004-02-13 08:15 pm (UTC)Yeah - and I notice that Piggy sticks out in the minds of everyone that's read Flies. *shudders*
Heh - thanks. That's what I was thinking but I wasn't sure.