The story of Peter Pan fascinated me as early as five years old, way before I knew what it was like to feel like an adult. I still keep an image in my mind of a particular moment in the play, when Peter Pan flew into the children’s window while they were sleeping and brought them off to Never land. I think that scene delighted me because I, like other kids, had fears associated with sleeping - probably some combination of darkness, robbers, and dying. The act of sleeping itself is such a mystery to me even now that I can understand why my young mind would see it as fertile ground for something mystical and unknown to happen.
The very idea that one could be saved from the creepiness of sleep, from the powerless grasp of unconsciousness, was not only plausible, it was too wonderful not to believe. In that protected, naive state that characterizes children, I hazily imagined the eternal playground where Peter Pan lived, with its lush flora, children swinging on vines, parties, dancing, laughter, and complete removal from that other dimension known as everyday life.
That picture in my mind is still there. It has been weathered by the army of adults who have politely tried to tear it up with their rules and reminders about “the real world,” but the stubborn five year-old inside of me has resisted. In truth, I don’t believe that we are damned to honest Christian work ethics and middle class toil. I believe that I could be walking through the streets of New York City, turn a corner, and enter a jungle with raging rivers, sparkling waterfalls, and fairies swooping through the sky.
I am in love with childhood and with Never land. I only wish I could find a way to bring back the vividness of that magical place that I knew best when I was five. If I could re-build Never land exactly as I remember it, I would - anything to reclaim the hope of living forever as a child.
This is Peter Pan Syndrome. Those who don’t have it are missing something vital. After all, as Peter Pan said, “Fairies only exist if you believe in them.”
INTRODUCTION:
Peter Pan Syndrome is not a recognized condition by the World Health Organization. However, the symptoms and the way it affects the person who has it are very real. According to Dictionary.com, Peter Pan Syndrome or PPS is "a condition characterized by immature or childish behavior; refusal to grow up." There are several contributing factors that can be attributed to a PPS victim. Anxiety, loneliness, sex-role conflicts, narcissism and chauvinism are the basic factors that could lead to PPS. All of these put together create a troubled person who will most likely have social problems for a majority of his lives.
WHY I CHOOSE THIS ARTICLE:
I choose this article because,when I saw the title I said what is this???? But I know exactly what you mean by not wanting to grow up. at least not yet.! The first time I even remember Peter must have been when I was either 6 or 7 at least thats what I remember. I’m the youngest of 3 and a lot of times when I was younger and still sometimes now, I am refereed to as the ‘baby’ of the family and my adult part says Not Anymore!! but my child part just giggles and nods her head yeah! In my eyes Never land is THE FINAL FRONTIER and its literally the ONLY place that I would what to go to when I die, just to feel the carelessness of being 6 again. Not having to worry about anything, not even if you said something wrong or goofy, and to just play for the rest of eternity.
SYNOPSIS:
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie (1860–1937). A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Never land as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with mermaids, Indians, fairies, pirates, and (from time to time) meeting ordinary children from the world outside. In addition to two distinct works by Barrie, the character has been featured in a variety of media and merchandise, both adapting and expanding on Barrie's works.
OPINION:
I think everyone can identify with wanting to return to childhood, but I'm not sure if that's because it was such a magical place.
In my opinion, I believe memory kind of sugar-coats the actual events. If i think about events that happened only one year ago, i can see them acted out by a carefree and happy person, but i know that that not true. it is recent enough memories that i can remember my mental states at the time, and i know that i worried, despaired and was irritated a lot more of the time than what my memory allows me to think i did.
I believe why we would want to return to childhood is mainly because we were far more free of responsibility, things were given to us for free and we did not have to toil for our free time.
i do believe that everyone needs to keep some part of ones child with them no matter how old you get, but what is this thing? is it your creativity, your curiosity, your imagination? or maybe its the way in which you use these things?
CONCLUSION:
Peter Pan Syndrome is a confounding phenomenon where one symptom such as anxiety leads to another and the problems associated with it escalade until adulthood. It is only with therapy that brings the monster of PPS into light for the victim, he must acknowledge his past and how he got to where he is if he is ever to set himself straight. For the victim he cannot simply just shut off his symptoms and be normal atlas, there is long road of self realization to become the man he truly wants to be.
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