When Wendy Grew Up: An Afterthought

Peter Pan #2.5

by J.M. Barrie

hardcover with dust jacket

Genres: Classics, Plays, Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

James Matthew Barrie was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several successful novels and plays.

The son of a weaver, Barrie studied at the University of Edinburgh. He took up journalism for a newspaper in Nottingham and contributed to various London journals before moving there in 1885. His early Auld Licht Idylls (1889) and A Window in Thrums (1889) contain fictional sketches of Scottish life representative of the Kailyard school. The publication of The Little Minister (1891) established his reputation as a novelist. During the next decade, Barrie continued to write novels, but gradually, his interest turned towards the theatre.

In London, he met Llewelyn Davies, who inspired him about magical adventures of a baby boy in gardens of Kensington, included in The Little White Bird, then to a "fairy play" about this ageless adventures of an ordinary girl, named Wendy, in the setting of Neverland. People credited this best-known play with popularizing Wendy, the previously very unpopular name, and quickly overshadowed his previous, and he continued successfully.

Following the deaths of their parents, Barrie unofficially adopted the boys. He gave the rights to great Ormond street hospital, which continues to benefit.

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I hadn't read this. It added nothing to the brilliance of Peter Pan, but rather detracted from it. Peter was the boy who never grew up and always wanted to have fun and adventures with his little crowd, most important of whom was Wendy (even more than Tinkerbelle). In this short play, he is a bit of a psychopathic killer who couldn't care less about anyone except himself, not even Wendy. One 'mother', one woman - girl really - is as good as another. Her daughter substitutes for her and he's just as happy.

He wants someone for a week's spring-cleaning in a house that was previously owned by a family. One wonders if this is a hint they were despatched much like Captain Hook. It wouldn't be any use asking Peter how he got the house, he said once he's killed, he forgets their names.

Wendy is a grown-up married woman. She is described in cliched terms. She has no life outside of caring for the child, the dog and presumably the husband. She wants reassurance that in her youth she was fanciable, that she meant more to Peter than a 'mother'. She doesn't get it, she asks him to tell her exactly how he felt about her. Just a mother, he reiterates.

Since Peter hasn't grown up, is still a boy, this line of questioning is somehow inappropriate. He is a boy who kills, who forgets, who doesn't keep his promises and doesn't care who his companion is when he's ready to have fun. And by this questioning him she reveals that she had been, still was, in love with him and is looking for a complementary answer. Is that all women are to JM Barrie? Mother-types always concerned about their looks and pulling power? Wendy is a middle-class bore who having no life of her own wants to recapture her youth.

The play was actually filmed for the last scene in the movie "Peter Pan", but never used. I can see why. Give it a miss. But if you must read it, it's a five-minute read, free here

[Kevin Ansbro · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I think ladies rather love cocky gentlemen."
—Wendy

This is an additional scene to the Peter Pan story, written by Barrie himself. Peter seeks out Wendy several years later but is disappointed to find that she's now a married housewife and all grown up.
Infused with symbolism and metaphor, Barrie has tried to square a circle by adding some adult gravitas, but the scene was pulled from the stage production that it was intended for.

Thanks to Petra for the internet link to this ten-minute read: Petra's review

The link: When Wendy Grew Up

[Lise · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happened when Wendy grew up and Peter Pan didn't. Pretty tragic one act play.

[Guido Colacci · Rating 5 out of 5]

very bittersweet, sad, and heart-rending, puts the reality of life into the magic of Peter and the Lost Boys.

[Oz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was creepy. As it should be, really. Tinkerbell has died off-stage, and Peter has forgotten killing Captain Hook. "I forget them after I kill them". Peter very almost kills Wendy's daughter with a dagger, but chooses not to after realising *she* can be his mother now instead of Wendy. Wendy lets this happen, and is happy to, I suppose because as an adult now she can more easily see how lonely this whole thing is. Also cycles, you know.

It's a bit overly expository, and doesn't add anything, but it's clearly not supposed to. This was written to be performed one time, as a gift to the actress who'd originally played Wendy. In that context, it's quite lovely. In as much as Peter Pan can be lovely. Freaks me out really.

[Ibha U · Rating 5 out of 5]

peter definition: decrease or fade gradually before coming to an end

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different ending to the story of Peter Pan. Assuming the original author wrote it, I guess it was worth reading.

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this! It is so much shorter than the main play, but summarises its themes (and plot) beautifully. If you need a Peter Pan refresher, these mere ten pages are a good place to start.

[Julian Munds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little play is better then Peter Pan is. Although the through line of Peter imposing a mother figure on the one female he meets still troubles me to no end, the sentimental tragedy at the core is lovely. However, I wish the ending was not so twee with Jane flying off with Peter to keep the cycle going. For its time and Barrie's aim this play makes sense.

[Shaam · Rating 4 out of 5]

those 30 pages are better than the whole book damn dude I'm crying

[Sara Dalla Palma · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 🌟

reading rush 2020: read a book outside your house

[Aryanna Tunstall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see this as a somewhat epilogue to the story. It is a nice ending that Peter does not in fact grow up but the Darling family will always be there to look after him.

[Jonathan]

English play