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Chapter 11
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Peter Pan, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Children and Heartlessness
Motherhood
The Fantastic and the Commonplace
Fairness and Good Form
Summary
Analysis
The pirates attack first, thereby breaking the rules of pirate-indian warfare, which state that the indians always attack first. Many indians are killed during battle, but a small number, including Princess Tiger Lily, manage to escape. Hook is not really interested in the indians, though; he has come for Peter Pan. He hates Peter not because of the loss of his arm, but because the boy is so arrogant. This aspect of Peter’s personality constantly aggravates Hook and generally disturbs his peace.
We have learned something new and surprising about Hook. We’ve thought all along that Hook wants to kill Peter to avenge himself for the loss of his arm, or in the spirit of customary hostility between pirates and lost boys. But vengeance is only a cover for Hook’s real feeling, a hatred so intense and specific it verges on obsession.
Themes
Literary Devices
Quiz
Test Yourself
The boys are listening to the sounds of battle, and the pirates are listening to the boys. One boy says that the indians indicate victory by beating the tom-tom, so Smee himself picks up the drum and starts playing. The boys yell happily, say goodbye to Peter, and begin climbing out.
Peter and the other boys expect life on the island to proceed according to a series of simple rules (like the tribe in the section above). Their faith in fairness makes them easy targets for deceit.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
