Shades of a Shadow - Symbolism in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan

One of the most well known and best loved literary fantasies of this century, J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan romanticizes the world of childhood. While pirates, mermaids, and fairies give the story intrigue and adventure, Barrie's underlying themes are seen most clearly in the play's subtleties. In John Caird and Trevor Nunn's enhanced version of the play, descriptive stage directions and narration contribute to the audience's awareness of these otherwise veiled aspects. Of particular interest is Peter's shadow which somehow "falls off" in the first act. The notion of a free shadow, detached from its source object, is rather peculiar. In order to explain its purpose in the text, Barrie's themes of courage and fear, fantasy and reality, happiness and sadness, strength and weakness, and past and future must be kept in mind. A possible symbol of each of these elements, Peter Pan's extraordinary shadow sheds light on childhood and the process of growing up.