Peter and Potter

[foxmoth at qnet.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 4733

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Amanda Lewanski <editor at t...> wrote:

> 
> Yaay! I'm not abnormal! It's just wonderful to hear other people
speaking my heresy, that so many of these "children's classics" are
bummers. I think whoever wrote that JKR protests too much vis-a-vis
Peter Pan comparisons are way off. JKR's books are about the slow
ascent and realization of maturity,
> even during childhood, and Peter Pan is about halting that process
to maturity. And I, too, was disappointed in the Poppins books. I am
often fond of stern-on-the-surface characters, but I found the
literary Poppins entirely lacking in redeeming charm. Perhaps I'm not
subtle enough.
> 
> --Amanda the heretic
	I love The Adventures of Peter Pan...but yes, it does take a dark 
view of the world, and Barrie is insistent on showing the negative
side of Peter's character. That may be a shock if you've only seen the
musical version on TV.   IMO, the character Harry should be compared
to is not Peter but Wendy, who takes on an adult role even in 
childhood, and then chooses of her own accord to grow up "a day
earlier than other girls" if I have that quote right. 
	Peter is a boy who refuses to grow up: he has witnessed many 
tragedies and forgotten all of them. The HP character he reminds me
of most is Cornelius Fudge. 
	I think the words <redeeming charm> above are revealing. Disney 
has conditioned us to expect charm from our kidlit  and we're 
disappointed if we don't get it. 

	Pippin the heretic who hates Disney versions (ducking sharp 
objects now) but loved the Mary Martin Peter Pan, ropes and all.