Sex Roles

Sex roles, especially motherhood, are explored inPeter Pan. Peter convinces Wendy to come to Never Land so she can see a mermaid, but he really wants her to act as a mother to himself and the Lost Boys. She is to tell them stories, like her own mother tells to her. Though Wendy admits she has no experience playing a mother role, she imitates her own mother's behavior and manages to win the boys over.

Peter is unwilling to play father to Wendy's mother, however. He will accept the role if it is just "pretend," but he is unwilling to accept actual responsibility. Though the exact role of "father" is not clearly defined in the play—Mr. Darling is more of a temperamental child than a nurturing, paternal figure—Peter is only willing to serve as the primary defender of the Lost Boys' home, little more...