if you spot something wrong let me know
Kaylee Thomas
Dr. Nester
ENC 1101-1
Dec. 5 2010
Following the Leader
The turn of the Twentieth Century was a period of change for the majority of the world. Advancements were made in the fields of Science and Art, and a dawning sense of rebellion arose out of the old century. People began to deny old traditions, in music, dance, art, and law. With new ideas emerging, a struggle began between people who refused to abandon the old views and people who supported new ideas. Great Britain was not excluded from these developments. On January 22, 1901, Queen Victoria, sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, died, an ominous start of the new century. She had been the Queen of Britain for 63 years, and the majority of the British population had never known another ruler. She was succeeded by her untried son, King Edward VII. It was another change from the 19th century into the 20th, and like many other changes of the time, it was not universally welcome. J.M. Barrie’s, Peter and Wendy functions as a critique of Edward VII in his role of King of Great Britain.
Peter and Wendy demonstrates Edward VII’s lack of concern for the physical welfare of his subjects. While it appears that this story focuses on a childhood fantasy come true, Barrie subtly integrates the concept of the pernicious nature of inadequate leaders, more specifically that of King Edward VII. In this tale Peter Pan, a young boy who refuses to grow up, flies Wendy and her two brothers, John, and Michael away from their London home to a place called Neverland. On the island the children have many adventures, including conflicts with the malevolent Captain Hook. However, Wendy, along with the lost boys, eventually decide to return to London, leaving Peter Pan to remain in Neverland. Breaking his novel in to three sections, it is easy to see Barrie’s opinion of Edward VII. The first part is in the home before the arrival of Peter Pan, which represents British society as it was during the reign of Queen Victoria. Barrie writes “There never was a simpler happier family until the coming of Peter Pan.” (8), which reveals his dislike of the new king of his country, and how he views the changes that Edward VII will bring. During the second part, Peter Pan removes the children from their home in London, where they were relatively safe from harm, and takes them to Neverland, a place that Barrie describes as “Then unexplored patches arose in it and spread, black shadows moved about in them, the roar of the beasts of prey was quite different now, and above all, you lost the certainty that you would win.” (41). This sets the precedent that no one will pay attention to the children’s safety. The third and final part of the book is when the children return home. It represents how Barrie perceives the English society will be after the reign of Edward VII. By emphasizing the apparent lack of concern on the part of the male characters in leadership roles, Captain Hook, Peter Pan and eventually Mr. Darling, Barrie indicates that Edward VII behaves in the same manner. Captain Hook’s introduction from Barrie immediately encourages a corrupt view of male leaders, “As dogs this terrible man treated and addressed them, and as dogs they obeyed him.”(Barrie 49). Hook commands his men viciously knocking down the men who don’t serve his purpose well. Barrie utilizes Hook’s character to present Edward as a man who cares little for the people who work for him. Peter Pan’s character is used similarly. When Barrie writes “You never exactly knew whether there would be a real meal or just a make-believe, it all depended upon Peter’s whim”(69), he makes Peter seem careless towards the lost boys, he doesn’t mind if they have food or not so long as he is enjoying himself, which reflects Edward VII’s personality. Edward VII more interested in his own pleasure more than in the health of the people he was meant to protect, it was once reported that he trampled his tenants crops during a hunting expedition. After the children returned to London, Mr. Darling who was once fretful over how he and Mrs. Darling would supply for their three children, and how to take proper care of them, happily excepts the responsibility of six more children, the lost boys. Barrie depicts Mr. Darling as not considering the responsibility that he is taking on, in contrast to his considerations at the beginning of the book. Mr. Darling does not think about the shots that the children will need or what kind of schooling they should have to earn a good future, but excepts them without thought. Barrie uses this to infer that the British people under King Edward VII will follow his flighty example of responsibility and not look after the welfare of their families, and it wasn‘t only Barrie who followed this school of thought, “She [Queen Victoria] regarded him [Edward VII] as frivolous, indiscreet, and completely unsuitable to undertake any responsibility.” (Edward VII of the United Kingdom). All of these, supposedly strong male leaders are depicted by Barrie as harming the people that they are supposed to be in charge of, emulating Barries thoughts on Edward VII as the head of state.
Another of King Edward VII’s faults that Barrie criticizes in Peter and Wendy, is his preoccupation with foreign affairs. All through his life, Edward VII traveled to many different countries, he was the first member of the royal family to travel around the United States of America, “[Edward] toured the world on behalf of the royal family. This included trips to Italy, Spain, Canada, India, Egypt, Denmark, France, Germany, Belgium and Russia” (Simkin). He was absent at least once every year and often for extended periods of time, his stay in India lasted for two years. Although this gave Edward a greater view of the world as a whole, it separated him from the people he was supposed to be protecting, as R.C. K. Ensor writes, “King Edward’s long stays abroad had, incidentally, a domestic outcome. By removing him for large parts of each year from regular and daily contact with ministers, they made it impracticable for his wishes to be consulted in such detail as Queen Victoria’s had been.” (569). Barrie exemplifies this when Peter, Wendy, and the lost boys are living in the home under the ground, noting that Peter “often went out alone, and when he came back you were never absolutely certain whether he had had an adventure or not. He might have forgotten it so completely that he said nothing about it; and then when you went out you found the body; and, on the other had, he might say a great deal about it, and yet you could not find the body. Sometimes he came home with his head bandaged,”(71) through this Barrie reveals that he does not approve of Edward VII’s habitual travels, and implies that nothing productive or positive came from the “adventures”. It also introduces the controversy over how much Edward VII had to do with his foreign policy. “you were never absolutely certain whether he had had an adventure or not” (71) could imply that Barrie thought that Peter knew very little about what he was doing while he was away, which corresponds to Barrie’s thoughts of Edward VII’s involvement in foreign diplomacy. While many people of the time thought that Edward VII was acting as a delegate over seas for the good of Great Britain, this was not the case “King Edward did not exercise over British foreign policy during his reign the influence often popularly attributed to him.” (Ensor 567). In fact, most of Edward VII’s journeys were recreational, much like Peter Pans “adventures”, keeping him from his duties to the homeland, a trait that Barrie is oppositional to.
Dr. Nester
ENC 1101-1
Dec. 5 2010
Following the Leader
The turn of the Twentieth Century was a period of change for the majority of the world. Advancements were made in the fields of Science and Art, and a dawning sense of rebellion arose out of the old century. People began to deny old traditions, in music, dance, art, and law. With new ideas emerging, a struggle began between people who refused to abandon the old views and people who supported new ideas. Great Britain was not excluded from these developments. On January 22, 1901, Queen Victoria, sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, died, an ominous start of the new century. She had been the Queen of Britain for 63 years, and the majority of the British population had never known another ruler. She was succeeded by her untried son, King Edward VII. It was another change from the 19th century into the 20th, and like many other changes of the time, it was not universally welcome. J.M. Barrie’s, Peter and Wendy functions as a critique of Edward VII in his role of King of Great Britain.
Peter and Wendy demonstrates Edward VII’s lack of concern for the physical welfare of his subjects. While it appears that this story focuses on a childhood fantasy come true, Barrie subtly integrates the concept of the pernicious nature of inadequate leaders, more specifically that of King Edward VII. In this tale Peter Pan, a young boy who refuses to grow up, flies Wendy and her two brothers, John, and Michael away from their London home to a place called Neverland. On the island the children have many adventures, including conflicts with the malevolent Captain Hook. However, Wendy, along with the lost boys, eventually decide to return to London, leaving Peter Pan to remain in Neverland. Breaking his novel in to three sections, it is easy to see Barrie’s opinion of Edward VII. The first part is in the home before the arrival of Peter Pan, which represents British society as it was during the reign of Queen Victoria. Barrie writes “There never was a simpler happier family until the coming of Peter Pan.” (8), which reveals his dislike of the new king of his country, and how he views the changes that Edward VII will bring. During the second part, Peter Pan removes the children from their home in London, where they were relatively safe from harm, and takes them to Neverland, a place that Barrie describes as “Then unexplored patches arose in it and spread, black shadows moved about in them, the roar of the beasts of prey was quite different now, and above all, you lost the certainty that you would win.” (41). This sets the precedent that no one will pay attention to the children’s safety. The third and final part of the book is when the children return home. It represents how Barrie perceives the English society will be after the reign of Edward VII. By emphasizing the apparent lack of concern on the part of the male characters in leadership roles, Captain Hook, Peter Pan and eventually Mr. Darling, Barrie indicates that Edward VII behaves in the same manner. Captain Hook’s introduction from Barrie immediately encourages a corrupt view of male leaders, “As dogs this terrible man treated and addressed them, and as dogs they obeyed him.”(Barrie 49). Hook commands his men viciously knocking down the men who don’t serve his purpose well. Barrie utilizes Hook’s character to present Edward as a man who cares little for the people who work for him. Peter Pan’s character is used similarly. When Barrie writes “You never exactly knew whether there would be a real meal or just a make-believe, it all depended upon Peter’s whim”(69), he makes Peter seem careless towards the lost boys, he doesn’t mind if they have food or not so long as he is enjoying himself, which reflects Edward VII’s personality. Edward VII more interested in his own pleasure more than in the health of the people he was meant to protect, it was once reported that he trampled his tenants crops during a hunting expedition. After the children returned to London, Mr. Darling who was once fretful over how he and Mrs. Darling would supply for their three children, and how to take proper care of them, happily excepts the responsibility of six more children, the lost boys. Barrie depicts Mr. Darling as not considering the responsibility that he is taking on, in contrast to his considerations at the beginning of the book. Mr. Darling does not think about the shots that the children will need or what kind of schooling they should have to earn a good future, but excepts them without thought. Barrie uses this to infer that the British people under King Edward VII will follow his flighty example of responsibility and not look after the welfare of their families, and it wasn‘t only Barrie who followed this school of thought, “She [Queen Victoria] regarded him [Edward VII] as frivolous, indiscreet, and completely unsuitable to undertake any responsibility.” (Edward VII of the United Kingdom). All of these, supposedly strong male leaders are depicted by Barrie as harming the people that they are supposed to be in charge of, emulating Barries thoughts on Edward VII as the head of state.
Another of King Edward VII’s faults that Barrie criticizes in Peter and Wendy, is his preoccupation with foreign affairs. All through his life, Edward VII traveled to many different countries, he was the first member of the royal family to travel around the United States of America, “[Edward] toured the world on behalf of the royal family. This included trips to Italy, Spain, Canada, India, Egypt, Denmark, France, Germany, Belgium and Russia” (Simkin). He was absent at least once every year and often for extended periods of time, his stay in India lasted for two years. Although this gave Edward a greater view of the world as a whole, it separated him from the people he was supposed to be protecting, as R.C. K. Ensor writes, “King Edward’s long stays abroad had, incidentally, a domestic outcome. By removing him for large parts of each year from regular and daily contact with ministers, they made it impracticable for his wishes to be consulted in such detail as Queen Victoria’s had been.” (569). Barrie exemplifies this when Peter, Wendy, and the lost boys are living in the home under the ground, noting that Peter “often went out alone, and when he came back you were never absolutely certain whether he had had an adventure or not. He might have forgotten it so completely that he said nothing about it; and then when you went out you found the body; and, on the other had, he might say a great deal about it, and yet you could not find the body. Sometimes he came home with his head bandaged,”(71) through this Barrie reveals that he does not approve of Edward VII’s habitual travels, and implies that nothing productive or positive came from the “adventures”. It also introduces the controversy over how much Edward VII had to do with his foreign policy. “you were never absolutely certain whether he had had an adventure or not” (71) could imply that Barrie thought that Peter knew very little about what he was doing while he was away, which corresponds to Barrie’s thoughts of Edward VII’s involvement in foreign diplomacy. While many people of the time thought that Edward VII was acting as a delegate over seas for the good of Great Britain, this was not the case “King Edward did not exercise over British foreign policy during his reign the influence often popularly attributed to him.” (Ensor 567). In fact, most of Edward VII’s journeys were recreational, much like Peter Pans “adventures”, keeping him from his duties to the homeland, a trait that Barrie is oppositional to.