Most of us know the story of Peter Pan. We are familiar with Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook, and the other characters in Barrie’s play.
Often, we fail to look closely at the name of the hero, and the play. Peter comes from the Greek word for “rock”. Peter is the name Christ gave to “the rock upon which I build My Church”.
Pan is an old Greek figure, a young satyr. He symbolizes the inner nature of the boy, getting into, and making, trouble.
Captain Hook’s name shows how evil works. Wendy’s name illustrates every woman’s desire to “wend” her way through the world of male ego while bringing her family, and her own Peter Pan, into being. The dog, unable to accompany them on their adventure, symbolizes all that we must leave behind.
We may wish to think of Barrie’s play, and its hero, as “Peter and Pan”, because that sums up every boy. And, every man.
