The Little White Bird · Chapter
Lockout Time explained
This chapter explores the secret world of fairies in Kensington Gardens, revealing their tricks and habits, and then focuses on Peter Pan's internal struggle between returning to his mother and remaining in the Gardens.
What happens
This chapter explores the secret world of fairies in Kensington Gardens, revealing their tricks and habits, and then focuses on Peter Pan's internal struggle between returning to his mother and remaining in the Gardens. He ultimately decides to go back, but when he reaches the window, he finds it barred and his mother with another child, leading to his permanent exile.
Themes in this chapter
Childhood and Imagination
The chapter delves into the secret, imaginative world of fairies that exists alongside children, emphasizing the magic and wonder of childhood perception.
Loss and Longing
Peter's longing for his mother and the final, heartbreaking loss when he finds the window barred highlight the theme of irreversible separation.
Fantasy vs. Reality
Peter's conflict between the fantasy of the Gardens and the reality of his mother's love, culminating in the harsh reality of Lockout Time, underscores this theme.
Characters to notice
- David
Mentioned as a companion in the plan to stare down fairies.
- Peter Pan
Central figure; torn between returning to his mother and staying in the Gardens; plays a lullaby on his pipe; ultimately flies back but finds the window barred.
- Solomon Caw
Old Solomon is displeased with Peter's procrastination and offers cautionary mottoes.
Key passages
“It is frightfully difficult to know much about the fairies, and almost the only thing known for certain is that there are fairies wherever there are children.”
Fairies are mysterious, but one sure fact is that they always appear where children are present.
Establishes the connection between children and fairies in the Gardens.
“He sat there in two minds. Sometimes he looked longingly at his mother, and sometimes he looked longingly at the window.”
Peter was torn between his desire to stay with his mother and his wish to return to the Gardens.
Highlights Peter's internal conflict.
“But the window was closed, and there were iron bars on it, and peering inside he saw his mother sleeping peacefully with her arm round another little boy.”
When Peter finally returned, the window was shut and barred, and his mother was cuddling another child.
The tragic climax where Peter loses his chance to reunite with his mother.