Peter and Wendy · Chapter
The Shadow explained
The Darling parents, particularly Mr.
What happens
The Darling parents, particularly Mr. Darling, recall the fateful Friday evening when Peter Pan lost his shadow. The chapter details Mr. Darling's struggles with his tie, his foolish behavior over Michael's medicine, and his trick of pouring his medicine into Nana's bowl. Mrs. Darling reveals Peter's shadow to her husband, and Nana later snaps it off as Peter escapes through the window. The chapter ends with the family's regret and the shadow being put away in a drawer.
Themes in this chapter
Childhood vs. Adulthood
Mr. Darling's childish tantrum over his tie and medicine contrasts with his adult responsibilities, while the children's play mirrors adult roles.
Motherhood and Family
Mrs. Darling's nurturing role is emphasized through her care for the children and her protective instinct toward Peter's shadow.
Fear of Abandonment and Loss
The parents' recollection of the evening is tinged with the fear that the children may be lost, as Michael's 'last night in the nursery' suggests.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Darling
Struggles with his tie, behaves foolishly over medicine, and pours his dose into Nana's bowl, leading to shame.
- Mrs. Darling
Recalls the evening with fondness and regret; she discovers Peter's shadow and hides it in a drawer.
- Nana
The dog-nurse who snaps off Peter's shadow and later is tricked into drinking Mr. Darling's medicine.
- Peter Pan
Visits the nursery, loses his shadow when Nana closes the window, and escapes into the night.
- Michael Darling
Refuses his medicine and challenges his father; participates in the romp and the memory of his birth.
- Wendy Darling
Lends her bracelet to her mother and helps retrieve Mr. Darling's medicine; plays at being mother.
Key passages
“It is an astounding thing to have to tell, but this man, though he knew about stocks and shares, had no real mastery of his tie.”
Despite being knowledgeable about finance, Mr. Darling was surprisingly incapable of tying his own necktie.
Highlights Mr. Darling's comic incompetence in domestic matters.
“I warn you of this, mother, that unless this tie is round my neck we don’t go out to dinner tonight, and if I don’t go out to dinner tonight, I never go to the office again, and if I don’t go to the office again, you and I starve, and our children will be flung into the streets.”
Mr. Darling dramatically threatened that if his tie wasn't tied, they would miss dinner, he would lose his job, and the family would starve and be homeless.
Shows Mr. Darling's tendency to exaggerate and his anxiety about social and financial status.
“He had not exactly lost it; he had climbed in the dead of night to the top of the wardrobe and hidden it there.”
Mr. Darling hadn't actually misplaced the medicine bottle; he had secretly hidden it on top of the wardrobe during the night.
Reveals Mr. Darling's childish deception regarding his own medicine.