Take me to the land where children don't grow up!

As a little kid I was always fascinated by the fantasy world of neverland. Peter Pan was always one of my favourites and still is today that I recently worked at a summer camp where I was the drama director and we did Peter Pan the play! The production was a success and I had children from the ages of 5 and older perform. In University when I was studying Education and literature back in Australia we read Peter Pan by J.M Barrie and I was so intrigued with the story. Although I had grown up watching Peter Pan I never had actually read the book. As we were studying Peter Pan I felt like I was being taken away to Neverland. I enjoyed understanding how this book became a childrens classic.

I think what makes Peter Pan a classic fantasy is because of the various compartments such as the pirates, mermaids, lost boys and the natives. Peter Pan has racist slurs and ignorance about the natives that we now understand as adults. To children they are in awe of the "natives" because of the exotic lifetsyle that they lived. Children are taken away by the music they played, their attire and how generous they are to Peter and the lost boys when they save Tiger Lily from the pirates. Tiger Lily and the other natives can be seen at the Indian camp.

Peter Pan is a great fantasy story for all ages, boys and girls. The girls are so fascinated by mermaids because they can live in the water and swim all day. Mermaids like the ones in Peter Pan are perceived as beautiful which is what young girls aspire to be. In various film adapations of Peter Pan the mermaids are also shown to be dark and mysterious hence the myth behind them - are they really good or evil? In the 1953 Disney animation version the mermaids seems sweet except that they try to drown Wendy over jealousy. The mermaids hang out at mermaid lagoon.

Pirates are also aspects of the of the mythical land. The pirates even though are evil interest young boys. Perhaps its the way they dress or the swords that they carry or how they live on ships for days at a time. Pirates have been shown in books mentioned in history for many many years way before Peter Pan was written. Captain Hook is a evil man who has his arm cut off by Tik Tok the crocodile. However children love him, perhaps its because of his courage that he continues to look for Peter although he almost died. Or perhaps its because he is humorous the fact that he doesnt like clocks and nobody ever knows what time it is on Neverland.The pirates can be found at Skull Rock and Pirates Island.

The lost boys are another aspect that children find fascianting and even I did too when I was studying the book. I found it interesting how children can go to place where they never grow up and be okay with it. Like how did their parents just abandon them? It just always seemed so myserious. The lost boys always reminded me of children in a daycare that just wanted to have fun, be wild and not have many worries at all. I think thats why children are fascinated by them because they are so carefree and can just do whatever they want as they please. The lost boys can be found at Hangmans Tree.

Fairies. How can I not talk about them. Fairies are also what children like. Tinkerbell is a misunderstood character. Shes seen as a jelous, moody type especially towards Wendy however she takes the posion from Peter and almost dies. In many stage adapations of Peter Pan the audience claps so that Tikerbell can live. Tinkerbell although small gives children hope. Fairies are also mythical creatures that interest children because they are so small but yet so beautiful. The fairies including Tinkerbell live at Pixie Hollow.

Tik Tok the Crocodile is another interesting character. Although this character has a small part its important. Crocodiles arent mythical but in Peter Pan they do appear that way. I think children find it hilarious how a crocodile likes to follow Captain Hook around and that he took off Hook's hand. Children love that Tik Tok is on the Lost boys side and would do anything to protect Peter Pan. Tik Tok when not following Captain Hook around lives in crocodile creek.

Peter Pan was written by J.M Barrie in 1904 and in 1911 as a novel. J.M.Barrie befriended Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in the late 1890s. J.M.Barrie had a difficult relationship with his wife Mary Ansell and was later divorced.It was believed that J.M.Barrie took interest in his long walks in London's Kensington gardens to escape his difficult homelife. Peter Pan was created in the stories he told to her sons. The famous character first appeared in the book "The little white bird." Peter Pan has had many adaptations and in 1954 it was a movie musical that starred Mary Martin. Nanna who also has a strong interest from children because its a dog that can talk. John and Michael are other beloved characters that get children excited. Peter Pan has been perfomed as a pantomine, a musical a play, and many movie adpations. Its a classic fantasy that will entertain children for many years.