Peter Pan and Captain Hook

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In the story of Peter Pan, the villainous Captain Hook is tormented by the crocodile who ate his hand. The crocodile also swallowed a clock, so his approach is announced by an ominous ticking sound. To me, this is the perfect recipe for a bad guy's personality—a mixture of obsession and vengeance. His attempts to thwart Peter Pan are often distracted by the crocodile, which is comical. We see this evil pirate constantly defeated by his own insecurities and resentments.

Peter Pan is free of any such baggage. He is eternally an innocent child, so light he can literally fly. In contrast to Captain Hook, he is at total peace. Yet on his own, Peter Pan is also incomplete. He refuses to grow up. And it could be that Captain Hook symbolizes the very person he is afraid to become. Without personal growth, none of these issues can be resolved.

It is only by having faith in life that we can hear the messages we need to hear and move in the right direction. Maybe that means embracing the unknown in a new phase of life, or perhaps it is a cue to accept loss and find peace so that the ticking clock does not drive you mad.


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