COVE

J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan was first published as a playwrite for a 1904 production at The Duke of York's Theatre in London, England. The novel was then written following the play's success, and the popularity of Peter's character. Peter was said to be based off of author JM Barries' older brother, David, who passed away young in an ice skating accident only a few days prior to turning 14 years old. The story of Peter Pan begins in the nursery in the home of the Darling Family, where the oldest child, Wendy, tells her two younger brothers, John and Michael, bedtime stories.  When Mr. and Mrs. Darling leave for a dinner party, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell fly in through the window, and Peter confesses how much he enjoys Wendy's stories, and that he listens so that he may repeat them to the Lost Boys. Peter asks Wendy to fly back to Neverland with him, a whimsical place where children never grow up. If she were to follow Tink and Peter, Wendy would embark on many fun adventures and mother the Lost Boys and her brothers.  Wendy is hesitant, but ultimately agrees, and Peter flies the Darling children out of London and into Neverland. When they arrive in Neverland, Wendy, John, and Michael have a lot of fun going on adventures and leading their new lives, but they are frightened of the pirates who also live on the island. Peter and Wendy begin to quarrel, which sparks Peter Pan's overarching theme about the fears of growing up and losing a child-like lust and innocence. Peter chose to fly away to Neverland to maintain his youth forever, and now Wendy is faced with the same opportunity. She debates whether to stay in Neverland, and lead an adevnturous life of fun with Peter and the Lost Boys in their eternal adolesence, or return to London with her family, and growing up like any average girl.