“Man for the Sword and for the Needle She”: Illustrations of Wendy's Role in J.M. Barrie's Peter and Wendy

Author: Routh C.

Source: Children's Literature in Education, Volume 32, Number 1, March 2001 , pp. 57-75(19)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

A review of the illustrated editions of any text is likely to reveal differences as well as similarities, not only in terms of style and methods of production, but also in terms of the choices made by each illustrator. This article considers how the illustrators of J.M. Barrie's novel Peter and Wendy (1911) have responded to Wendy's role as mother, with particular emphasis on her skills as storyteller and needle-woman. Significantly, J.M. Barrie himself drew attention to these abilities with a design for a drop-curtain sampler for an early production of the play. A detailed comparison of three versions of the pivotal scene in which Wendy meets Peter for the first time and sews his shadow back on for him, reveals how Michael Foreman, Jan Ormerod and Paula Rego have produced quite different visual interpretations while remaining true to the text. The article also explores the possible significance of Barrie's own experiences of and views about parenting.

Keywords: J.M. Barrie; Peter Pan; children's literature; book illustration; Michael Foreman; Jan Ormerod; Paula Rego

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Reading and Language Information Centre, University of Reading

Publication date: 2001-03-01