《彼得·潘》中關(guān)于成長主題的矛盾分析學(xué)士學(xué)位論文

1、淮北師范大學(xué) 2012屆學(xué)士學(xué)位論文 The Contradictions in the Process of Growing Up in Peter Pan 學(xué)院、專業(yè) 外國語、英語 研 究 方 向 英 國 文 學(xué) 學(xué) 生 姓 名 劉奧林 學(xué) 號 20080501063 指導(dǎo)教師姓名 張安強(qiáng) 指導(dǎo)教師職稱 講 師 2012年3 月10 日The Contradictions in the Process of Growing Up in Peter PanAbstract: Peter Pan, written by the British writer J. M. Barrie, has

2、a profound influence as a world famous classic childrens fantasy. It not only enriches works of child literature but broadens the area of psychology. For example, nowadays, Peter Pan Syndrome has become a popular psychoanalytical term. In this thesis, which consists of five parts, the author intends

3、 to study the causes of that psychosis from perspectives of kidology and literature. In the first part this thesis introduces the work Peter Pan, the Peter Pan Complex and the kidology about the growth of children. Then from the second to the forth part, it comes to sharp contrasts between the child

4、 world and the adult world innocence versus secularization, fantasy versus fear, freedom versus duty respectably. And in the last part, it is a summary of the main idea about this thesis and the importance of the topic in reality. Key words: Peter Pan; Peter Pan Complex or Syndrome; child world; adu

5、lt world彼得潘中關(guān)于成長主題的矛盾分析摘要：作為一部世界著名兒童幻想小說,英國作家JM巴里的作品彼得潘產(chǎn)生了深遠(yuǎn)的影響。它不僅豐富了兒童文學(xué)作品，并且推動了心理學(xué)領(lǐng)域的發(fā)展。比如，當(dāng)今，“彼得潘綜合癥”已經(jīng)成為一個流行的心理學(xué)名詞。本文試圖從兒童心理學(xué)以及文學(xué)角度去探究上述精神疾病產(chǎn)生的內(nèi)在原因。文章共分為五個部分。第一部分先后介紹了彼得潘，“彼得潘情結(jié)”，和關(guān)于“成長”的兒童心理學(xué)。文章第二,第三，第四部分重點(diǎn)描述兒童世界與成人世界的鮮明對比：純潔與墮落，幻想與恐懼，自由與責(zé)任。最后一部分總結(jié)了論文的主要觀點(diǎn)并從中進(jìn)一步揭示出“彼得潘情結(jié)”在現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中的表現(xiàn)，并簡要分析其在現(xiàn)實(shí)生活出

6、現(xiàn)的原因及應(yīng)對措施。 關(guān)鍵詞：彼得潘；“彼得潘情結(jié)”；兒童世界；成人世界 ContentsAbstract.I1. Introduction11.1Peter Pan11.2Peter Pan Complex21.3 Kidology about the Growth of Children22. Innocence vs. Secularization32.1 Innocent Child World42.2 Secular Adult World53. Fantasy vs. Fear63.1 Fantasy in Childrens Hearts63.2 Conflicts betwee

7、n Fantasy and Reality73.3 Fear in Adults Imagination84. Freedom vs. Duty94.1 Children as Freedom Pursuers and Duty Escapist94.1.1 Freedom Pursuers94.1.2 Duty Escapist104.2 Adults as Subjects under Duty and without Freedom115. Conclusion115. 1 A Brief Review of the Main Idea of the Text115.2 The Impo

8、rtance of the Research in Reality12References15IIIThe Contradictions in the Process of Growing Up in Peter Pan1. Introduction 1.1 Peter Pan Peter Pan is a famous fantasy, popular among children and adults all over the world. It describes a story about Windy, John and Michael, led by a unique boy nam

9、ed Peter Pan. He teaches them to fly and brings them to the Neverland where they experience a series of ventures and then return home in reality.The main plots include: the friendship between fairies and boys, the communication between mermaids and humans, the conflicts and associations between the

10、white and the red-skinned, the wars between pirates and good men and the ability to fly and so on. Attractive as these plots are, we readers cannot ignore the fact that not only those plots but also the authors logical imaginations and lively characters attract readers of several generations. Since

11、Peter Pans protagonists are children, and so are the readers, its author deeply understood and accurately reproduced childrens imaginations, feelings, their languages, and their behaviors. As a result, lots of plots seem to be “childish”, “odd” and even “absurd” though they are not in fantastic worl

12、d and well welcomed by kids. For example, in the story, a shadow can drop from the body of its host and can also be sewed to it again. Apart from that, mushrooms are also used as chimneys by the boys. Those details indicate the features of childrens imaginationsimplicity, sentimentalism, and purity.

13、 Therefore those descriptions are easily accepted by children.And, as is known to all of us, playing games is childrens second natural instinct. Barrie knew this well. In Neverland Peter lives a happy life, playing games with other kids. They all take a serious attitude towards games. When Windy is

14、acting a Mother, she tries her best to be a good one. Every night she tells boys funny stories and sings enchantments over them. Those descriptions are close to childrens lives, their feelings and their inner world. It is hard to distinguish them from realistic ones. So children will regard it as a

15、funny and true story. Also adult readers, after reading this book, will definitely be reminded of their wonderful childhood.1.2 Peter Pan Complex Complex is a psychoanalytical term, which comes from Carl G. Tungs theory of Personality. It is firstly used in the term of Oedipus Complex and then Carl

16、G. Tung broadened it. It is an affectively toned group of associated ideas and described as an image of a certain psychic situation which is strongly accentuated emotionally and is incompatible with the habitual attitude of consciousness. Peter Pan is the protagonist in the book of Peter Pan, which

17、is subtitled “The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up”. This boy has no home or parents, living in Neverland with some other homeless children and fairies. Being adventurous, illusive and rebellious, he loves freedom and in all his life, it seems that he is flying here and there and playing various games. He

18、is forgetful, never having the conception of time. And his most distinguishing personality is that he is not willing to and doesnt need to grow up. With the aim of escaping from being a grown-up, who represents the responsibilities of families and society, Peter lives with lost boys in Neverland, fa

19、r from the adults world. Originated from the experiences of Peter Pan, the Peter Pan Complex refers to “a desire to escape or flee from confining situations or situations, to which they are unable to cope, childishness, the unwillingness of growing up” (Mc Gavock, 2007: 48). In our current society,

20、Peter Pan Complex refers to the wishes of many children, even of grown-ups, who fear and refuse to grow up. They want to escape from responsibilities and stress from society and pursue to live a natural and happy life.1.3 Kidology about the Growth of ChildrenHuman beings and other lower creatures ha

21、ve a magnificent difference in the degree of openness of gene system, which has already been confirmed by scientific philosopher Perpul, biological philosopher Myer and philosophical anthropologist Landrail. These three, they all agreed that there are two kinds of genes the closed genes with charact

22、eristics and the open ones without characteristics and that the open genes unlike the closed ones which can be inherited directly, must go through mutual interaction with postnatal environment to become mature. In fact, most of human genes are open ones. Without information from postnatal, they will

23、 fail in their development. Even for the close genes, influence of postnatal environment is very beneficial. Therefore, human beings have a great dependence on the environment after birth. Once deprived of that environment of learning and developing, children would always stay in the state of immatu

24、rity and can not become “real human beings”. Nowadays, there are theories explaining the stimulus for childrens growth of mind. Then what is the stimulus, namely the inner contradiction for children development of psychology or the growth of mind? Briefly it is the contradiction between the present

25、state of childrens present expression of growth of mind and the potential which is going to be expressed. So, given some proper external condition, childrens mind and psychology would keep growing with the help of its inner contradiction.Then what is the external condition for childrens growth? The

26、contradiction between children and culturethe essential element for their growth of mind. The transformation of inner contradiction depends on certain external conditions without which this transformation would not be developed i.e., children may not grow up. In postnatal activities, games and educa

27、tion are two essential activities for children in the growing process of body and mentality. This is universally admitted that all children like playing. According to kidologists, playing games actually is a spontaneous activity to dig out potential by children themselves. And education has always b

28、een the most important way to deliver and convey culture.However, according to studies, childrens brains develop in sequence. That development is gradual and consistent rather than simultaneous. The growth and maturity of brain have close relationship with that of body. Actually, there are two golde

29、n periods for the growth of brain: one starts with the first drop of milk teeth and the other comes with the time when an individual begins to have the ability of reproduction and enter the teenage hood. Thus the growth and maturity of brain goes not only in the same pace with that of mentality but

30、with that of body. (劉曉東,2003: 18-19)2. Innocence vs. Secularization 2.1 Innocent Child World In Peter Pan, child characters are generally lovely and sensitive innocents. In adults view, the child world is always pure, fine and natural. A hero in childrens book is always a hero in their hearts. Altho

31、ugh Peter Pan is not described as a perfect hero by Barrie, children all over the world still admire him and dream about his style of life, because Peter Pan is a typical boy and the strongest rebel towards growing up. Above all, it is the simplicity and innocence of Peter Pan that attracts child re

32、aders. Peter Pan and his fellows show the innocence of childrens hearts. The most obvious proof is their devotion and seriousness in games. The difference between him and the adults at such a time was that the latter knew it was make-believe while to the former make-believe and true were exactly the

33、 same thing. “To him make-believe and true were exactly the same things.”(James Barrie, 2007: 144) “When Wendy comes out from the cozy dwelling, all went on their knees, and holding out their arms cried O Wendy lady, be our mother.” Then Wendy tries to be a good mother, “Kept her nose to the pot, an

34、d even if there was nothing in it, even if there was no pot, she had to keep watching that it came a boil just the same” “If it was part of a game, but he could not stodge, just to feel stodgy”（James Barrie, 2007: 162）Sewing and darning was her favorite thing, whats more, she also holds examinations

35、 and feeds boys medicine. All of those show childrens devotion and seriousness in games. Psychologist Freud said, “You are definitely wrong if you redeem that the child does not take his world of games seriously. He treats his games with earnestness and attaches them profound emotion. Actually, he c

36、reates a world of fantasy which contains much devotion and sincerity but has a clear and rigid boundary with reality.” On analyzing the features of childrens psychology, children psychologist Liu Xiaodong observes that playing games is actually a spontaneous activity to dig out potential by children

37、 themselves(劉曉東,2003:7). For children, they regard every venture as a game. From every venture, we can also find out their innocence. For example, they pursue extreme and absolute fairness. In Peter Pans heart, fairness is the utmost important thing in a game. “When he (Peter) saw that he was higher

38、 up the rock than his foe, captain Hook. He thought that it would not have been a fair fighting. Then he gave the cruel pirate a hand to help him up.” When Peter Pan encounters unfairness, his reaction is like this “Not the pain of this but its unfairness was what dazed Peter. It made him quite help

39、less. He could only stare, horrified.”(James Barrie, 2007:199) He thinks that the basis for their games should be fairness, without which games would be unbearable. Besides, Peter Pan is ignorant about love, the most precious thing for the human kind. As an orphan, he has no chance to get mothers lo

40、ve or care like other kids. Also he does not understand Wendy, Tink, and Lilys love to him, but is busy with being a careless boy all the time. When Wendy wants to give Peter Pan a kiss, he does not know what a kiss is, nor does he know why Tink become angry when he kisses Wendy. In the ending chapt

41、er, Barrie emphasized on description of innocence in childrens mind and child world. 2.2 Secular Adult WorldDifferent from Peter Pan, Captain Hook is an adult figure that stands on every side of Peters opposite and represents evil things. He gives readers the cruel and hideous first impression by ki

42、lling his subordinates without showing any sympathy for them. Actually, that indicates indifference and cruelty in the adult world. Especially, when Peter Pan saw he was higher up to the rock and gave him a hand to help him up, Hook bit him. Children think the basis for their game should be fairness

43、. However, life is fundamentally unfair. The world of the adults is too complicated to understand for them. It is hard but necessary for any child who encounters a lesson like that to understand, accept and be cautious afterwards. Peter Pan, in particular needs to learn that lesson though he persist

44、s and bravely rebels against the secularly adult society.From Captain Hooks character, we can also see the craftiness of adults. When John worried Hook may wake up, Peter spoke indignantly: “You do not think I would kill him while he was sleeping! I would wake him up first and then kill him. That is

45、 the way I always do.”(James Barrie, 2007: 94)However, when Peter was sleeping, Hook entered his room. Instead of waking him up, Hook added his most virulent poison to Peters cup wanting to kill Peter once and for all. The description about him was written as “His hand shook, but it was in exultatio

46、n rather than in shame. Then one long gloating look he cast upon his victim and turning, worried his way with difficulty up the tree.” (James Barrie, 2007: 276) From their different behaviors, we see the sharp contrast between the innocent child and secular adult world. Not only the adult in Neverla

47、nd, but also adults in our world are described secular. When Mr. Darling and Michael matched to take medicines, “Wendy gave the words, one, two, three, and Michael took his medicine, but Mr. Darling slipped his behind his back.” (James Barrie, 2007: 36) Both of them are afraid of taking medicine, bu

48、t the twos performance are different. Mr. Darling disappointed us for his secularization. What is more, he says: “I have just thought of a splendid joke. I shall pour my medicine into Nanas bowl and she will drink it, thinking it is milk.” And he also thinks: “What fun.” However, Nana showed her gre

49、at red tear after lapping the medicine. All of the children show their sympathy for the miserable dog except Mr. Darling. He shouts to the children, “Coddle her! Nobody coddles me. Oh dear no! I am only the breadwinner, why should I be coddledwhy, why, why!”From that description, we see the grumblin

50、g adults lack of sympathy for the animal while asking lots of respect for everyone all the time. Barrie reproduced a secular adult in front of our readers.3. Fantasy vs. Fear3.1 Fantacy in Childrens Hearts One of the most striking features of Peter Pan is Barries preference and skills of writing the

51、 theme of fantasy. He has ability to describe with the almost uncanny psychological insight the workings of fantasy in the minds of children. Fantasy in childrens mind can be described as, “but catch them trying to draw a map of a childs mind, which is not only confusing, but keep going round all th

52、e time. There are zigzag lines on it, just like your temperature on a card, and these are probably-roads in the island, with astonishing splashes of color here and there.”(James Barrie, 2007: 12) “Of all, delectable islands the Neverland is the snuggest and most compact, not large and sprawl, you kn

53、ow, with tedious distances between on adventure and another but nicely crammed.”(James Barrie, 2007: 14)But why do children indulge themselves in fantasy? Kidologist Feng Qi explained, “Children feel and meditate images in their fantasies which they create and consider as lively reality. Creating fa

54、ntastic images provides the best soil for the development of childrens ideological buds with high speed.” Besides, “In the world of fantasies, man will be almighty”，Ronac Buisec said, “Those fantasies enable kids to enter a world more terrific and more splendid as well. Apart from that, fantasies ar

55、e beneficial for the sound growth of childrens characters. And every prototype in childrens fantasies or dreams acts as the key to the door of this world or the invitation to enter this world. Every opening of the door release soaring fantasies.” In their fondness of games, explorations, casual draw

56、ings, songs, dances and the fairytales and myths as well, children enter another “real world” beside the realistic one. (劉曉東, 2003: 9, 13-14) Childhood is a period full of fantasies and dreams. Children have not got into the brutality of adult world, so they can indulge themselves into marvelous fan

57、tasies. All the homeless children in Neverland of the play of Peter Pan enjoy fantasizing. They play different roles in their own free territory. They have no parents to take care of them, so Wendy acts their mother; they treat the everyday routine as games. Besides, all children, wherever they are

58、from, Neverland or realistic society, like to listen to stories, which indicates all of children are full of fantasy. In order to listen to stories, Peter Pan comes a long way to the nursery windows to get stories and then in turn, he tells what he has heard to those boys in Neverland. From that, we can see the childrens craziness and fondnes