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Ray Chen 09121231
Child Lit: Traditions, BEN 52602
Comparison Paper
January 4, 2022
Growth of Two Boys
Peter Pan and Mowgli share some similarities like that they are both wild,
impulsive and naughty little boys who have no parents living with them in their
respective stories; however, they are situated in different environments which make
them turn out to be two completely different people. There are several differences and
factors that cause the fact that one actually grows up as the story progresses while the
other does not and is even reluctant to in the end of the story.
First, the existence of rules. In Neverland, there are no rules for Peter Pan and the
lost boys to abide by; thus, Peter Pan does whatever he wants to without being
scolded or punished while Mowgli has to learn about the Law of Jungle and follows it
with upmost respect. When Mowgli breaks the rule of interacting with the monkeys,
he is punished by Bagheera but he learns his lessons afterwards and eventually grows
from his mistakes. Following rules and laws is necessary and mandatory in real world.
Without any enforcement, children might end up being like Peter Pan, a ruthless and
disrespectful person who never wants to grow up and is not willing to live in the real
world and take any responsibility. On the other hand, how Mowgli is raised is what
children are supposed to be raised like, with limits and regulations which children
should get punishments when broken. Mowgli is just like Peter Pan at first, since he
feels like he is being limited too much and wants to do whatever he wants to. But by
learning to follow the Law of Jungle that teaches to respect for authority and show
obedience, Mowgli successfully grows up to be a respectable young man, a leader.
Though Peter Pan also is the leader of the lost boys, he does not really represent
someone who leads or guides his fellows. He does not really care about anyone or
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anything but himself. To be fair, most children or adolescents are like Peter Pan, as
they want to play as much as possible and certainly do not like to be told and forced to
do things they do not like; moreover, they do not like being regulated too much and
always feel like they have too little freedom. But if everyone in this world were acting
like Peter Pan, the whole society would crush, for there would not be any responsible
person in existence. Thus, Peter Pan should only be fantasy and do not present real
life to children. In contrast, the portrayal of Mowgli as a child character is pretty
realistic since his process of growing up corresponds with that of most children in real
life. First, be told to learn or do something; then feel limited; make mistakes; learn
from mistakes; finally, grow up. These are scenarios that children encounter inevitably
in their daily lives.
Another important factor to cause the difference between the two boys is that
Mowgli actually is surrounded by animals that play roles of his parents or guardians
to help him grow up whereas Peter Pan does not have someone to discipline him. He
just lives with other lost boys who follow and listen to him. Although Wendy
somewhat serves as the role of mother in the story for the lost boys, Peter Pan does
not really listen to her or treat her as a parent; he just does whatever he feels like to.
As we can see in the story, Mowgli shows his wild or rebellious side when he is
attracted to the monkeys and eventually abducted by them even though he is warned
about the monkeys before. If Mowgli did not have the pack of wolves, Baloo and
Bagheera by his side to lead him to growing, he would probably stay as a wild boy
like Peter Pan. The fact that Baloo and Bagheera who are Mowgli's mentors and see
him as their own come to his rescue when he is in danger and they teach Mowgli the
consequences of making mistakes by punishing him shows how much having a
relationship with the elders or just someone who guide and teach children throughout
the process of growing up matters, for they not only educate and guide the children,
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but also protect them. In reality, children who do not have parents or guardians tend to
live a rougher life than those who do since children without those figures are not able
to ask questions or get help when in need during their process of growing up and no
one is there to educate them whenever they make wrong decisions.
The other cause is the places they live in and how these places shape these
children characters. Neverland and the Jungle are two opposite environments to live
in; they are totally different worlds. Neverland is like an ultimate playground for
children where they can play all day carelessly and do not need to worry anything like
school or work while the Jungle actually portrays how real-world works, for there are
rules made democratically and most animals follow and respect those rules and
animals like the tiger that do not blend in with or even act against the society of the
Jungle are despised by other animals. Thus, Peter Pan never needs to grow up if he
stays in Neverland; he never has to take any responsibility. As for Mowgli, he grows
up naturally in the Jungle because he has to in order to survive just like normal people
do in real life.
In conclusion, the two children characters are alike in terms of characteristics at
the beginning of their stories; however, they experience different lives and they
become totally separate people in the end. Peter Pan chooses to stay in Neverland
when Wendy takes the other lost boys back to her home, meaning that he does and
will not ever grow up. Mowgli grows up to be a leader and takes down the tiger in the
end and earns respect. All the distinct elements and factors in two stories help or
prevent the process of the characters' growth.