I am over at Writing to be Read with another Dark Origins post. This one is about Peter Pan the original of which is nothing like the Disney film. Thanks for hosting me, Kaye Lynne Booth.
Most of us know the Disney version of Peter Pan featuring Captain Hook, Mr Smee, Wendy, John, Michael, and the Lost Boys. Oh, and Tinkerbell, of course.
I am not sure how many people have read the original play called Peter Pan or the boy who wouldn’t grow up, written by J.M. Barrie in 1904, but it is a far cry from the innocent tale presented by Walt Disney.
We know from the Disney film that Peter Pan doesn’t want to grow up, but no mention is made of the extreme lengths Peter Pan is prepared to go to fight it.
Consider this extract: “The boys on the island vary, of course, in numbers, according as they get killed and so on; and when they seem to be growing up, which is against the rules, Peter thins them out; but at this time there were six of them…
View original post 562 more words
roberta-writes.com 
I never liked Disney’s Peter Pan or Pinocchio for that matter. I have read the original Pinocchio, but I am not familiar with the original Peter Pan. Which is definitely more interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Timothy, the original Peter Pan is a dark book. I have read it but it was some time ago and I will now revisit it. I am not a big Pinocchio fan either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s like Grimms fairy tales, were, well, grim. Children long ago were not as we see them today. Not good or bad, just different.
LikeLiked by 1 person
People generally were much more in touch with death in the past, than we are now. Death happened all the time, it was the same as birth. I think there was also a lot of starvation, poverty, and other things that first world children are quite sheltered from.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said. I agree with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I prefer my fairytales, lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is nothing wrong with that, Jacquie. I like to read about the origins, but I am happy we have Disney for our children. Alice in Wonderland [animated version] is my favourite movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just visited and dropped a comment over there. Wow, what an eye-opening post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mae, it is a surprise, isn’t it? I was surprised that Barrie had such an unhappy life. No wonder he escaped to Wonderland.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Terrific stuff…some of our most famous “fairy tales” are so much darker than they seem on the surface…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, some of the original stories are really horrific. I know some ‘dark origins’ but some are new to me and I am enjoying learning more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They influenced young minds about the evils of the world at an early age…probably not a bad thing considering!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think it was a bad thing, it taught kids to be on their guard and that everything in life isn’t always nice or what you expect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
An excellent post, Robbie. The back story, which is sad, on J. M. Barrie tells us a great deal about the story that unfolded.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Rebecca, it is a very sad story. I knew about the mermaids and some of the other dark aspects of the original story, but I didn’t know JM Barrie’s personal history. They have created a Peter Pan house in Dumfries in a house where JM Barrie spent time during his lifetime. It wasn’t open as yet when we were there but I hope to visit it next time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s go together. We were planning on a trip last year, which has been delayed. Hopefully 2022!! I loved your photos on your recent adventures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rebecca. We couldn’t go to Wonderwerk caves because they are closed to the public. This was our alternative and I enjoyed it very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I felt I was there with you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that sure puts a different take on ‘lost boys’ and never growing up. Thanks roberta.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure. The devil is in the details.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh. That was a dark passage! Not the innocent Disney story of our childhoods. Heading over to read the rest, Robbie. I enjoy these..
LikeLike
Disney certainly wove a lot of magic where there was nothing but darkness in the original tale…Thank you Robbie for your oversight the links were a fascinating read so far removed from the Disney version …It doesn’t stop me having a fascination and a love of Grimms fairy tales which I still read to Lily :)x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had the audio versions of all of the Grimm’s fairy tales and the HC Anderson tales for my sons. I enjoyed listening to them as much as my sons did. Peter Pan (the original) I read last year but I didn’t appreciate the origin of the darkness as I didn’t know Barrie’s personal story and I honestly, didn’t pick up that line about the Lost Boys. That went right over my head.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve read Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. And maybe other books by Barre – I’ve just read the Wiki entry (I was looking for the titles that I did read) about why Barre created and who Pan was ‘modeled’ after. That is a dark origin indeed.
I’ll read your full ‘link’ in a moment. This sort of reminds me of Frank L. Baum and OZ there is so much more to Baum’s original series than the movie. As well as the history behind “Alice in Wonderland’. Or even some of the newspaper comics. Like ‘Peanuts’ or ‘Mutt’s’ – which have religious undertones. Though most folks don’t realize that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jules, this is why I love this particular series. There is so much more to many books than meets the eye. Thanks for adding your comments and thoughts here. I shall investigate them further.
LikeLiked by 1 person