Mens Genderroles in Victorian England and their influences on Peter Pan

Essay , 2018 , 4 Pages , Grade: 2,3

Didactics for the subject English - Pedagogy, Literature Studies

This text analyses the gender roles of people in Victorian England and in Peter Pans Neverland. The Play Peter Pan was first published in 1904, the period where the Victorian Rules of society began to change slightly, and the Edwardian way of life became the canon. Men and Women roles in Victorian and Edwardian England, or in any era, were not the same throughout the different social classes. Men in royalty had different roles to fulfill than middle or lower-class Men.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Gender roles of Men in the Victorian Era
• Men also need to be strong and tough, they can't show any weakness.
• In the first Act the Darling Children are playing to be their Parents.
• A little further in the first Act you can see, that Mr. Darling sees his authority in the House weakened by Nana, the Dog.
• Gender roles in Neverland
• The Gender roles in Neverland are like the ones Great Britain of the Novel, but not the same.
• Upon their arrival in Neverland the Lost Boys say, that they have built a House for Wendy.
• Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This paper examines the portrayal of men's gender roles in Victorian England and their influence on the character of Peter Pan in J.M. Barrie's play. The author compares the "real world" setting of the Darling family home with the fantastical world of Neverland to explore how societal expectations shape masculinity in both environments.

• Victorian and Edwardian gender roles
• The influence of societal expectations on masculinity
• The portrayal of men's roles in the "real world" and Neverland
• The relationship between masculinity and power
• The role of childhood and imagination in shaping gender identity

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction: This section sets the historical context for the analysis, introducing the Victorian and Edwardian eras in England and outlining the changing social norms of the time. It also establishes the importance of examining gender roles within different social classes.
• Gender roles of Men in the Victorian Era: This section explores how the play reflects Victorian expectations of masculinity. The author analyzes the character of Mr. Darling, focusing on his portrayal as the strong, stoic head of the household. The section also examines how the play presents the societal value placed on boys and the importance of having male heirs.
• Gender roles in Neverland: This section examines how the play's portrayal of gender roles in Neverland differs from those in the "real world." The author explores the dynamics between Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, analyzing how they exhibit both traditional and unconventional gender roles. The section also examines how Wendy's presence disrupts the established order of Neverland.

Keywords

The key terms and concepts explored in this work include Victorian and Edwardian gender roles, masculinity, childhood, imagination, power, societal expectations, and the comparison between the "real world" and Neverland. The analysis focuses on how these themes are reflected in the characters and plot of J.M. Barrie's play "Peter Pan."

• College: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• Grade: 2,3
• Author: Maria Lajin (Author)
• Publication Year: 2018
• Pages: 4
• Catalog Number: V538398
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346146557
• Language: English
• Tags: Genderroles, Geschlechterollen, victorian england, england, victorian, viktorianisches zeitalter, Peter Pan, Neverland, Nimmerland