KENSINGTON GARDENS - Peter Pan

GROWING UP AND RESPONSIBILITYThis subject is at the heart of the key conflict between Peter and Wendy in the show. His fear of reachingadulthood and all the responsibilities it entails is pitted against Wendy’s impatience to get there. It often said byadults that youth is wasted on the young and that only with the benefit of age and hindsight can we appreciatethe freedom and carefree nature of childhood. Wendy wants to leave childish behavior behind, but Peterembraces it. Hook is painfully aware of the fearlessness of youth and it infuriates him that Peter, his enemy, hasit on his side.DiscussionRead the following scene from Peter Pan with the group.Wendy: What’s wrong Peter?Peter: It is only pretend that I’m their father, isn’t it?Wendy: Yes, why?Peter: Just wanted to make sure, because I don’t know howto be a father, I’m only doing what John tells me they do.Wendy: You do it so well.Peter: I’m not old enough to be a man, and I never want to be old enough.Wendy: Never…..how can you say that?Act 4How does the class feel about growing up? What are the good and bad things about being an adult? What arethe good and bad things about being a child? List them on the board.Exercise 1: Key stage 2Ask the group to work in pairs. Can they write or improvise a short extension to the above scene between Peterand Wendy. They can continue the argument by using the reasons for or against growing up that should bewritten up on the board. Ask the group to read or perform their version to the rest of the group.Exercise 2: Key stage 3 + 4Can the group think of any situations in which a young person might not want to take on responsibility? Forexample: getting a job, looking after a baby, cleaning up the house.Ask the group to work in pairs and devise an updated version of the above scene between two fictional youngpeople, one of whom is unwilling to embrace responsibility.CHILDHOOD DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONSThese often provide a big talking point for children in both their play and later in their educational life. Wendyaspires to marry a man who works in an office and to be a mother. She and John even play a game in theNursery where they act out the play….Does that place her firmly as a woman of her time? Although many girlsaspire to be mothers and many men aspire to work in a city job, life has many more possibilities for the futuresof young people of today.Read the following scene from Peter Pan with the group.24