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Paradox
Definition of Personification
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the... read full definition
Chapter 2: The Shadow
Explanation and Analysis—Stars:
Personification enhances the whimsical aspect of Peter Pan. In Chapter 2, the narrator describes how the stars "watch" Mr. and Mrs. Darling walk across the street to another house:
[...] all the stars were watching them. Stars are beautiful, but they may not take an active part in anything, they must just look on forever. It is a punishment put on them for something they did so long ago that no star now knows what it was. So the older ones have become glassy-eyed and seldom speak (winking is the star language), but the little ones still wonder.
Here, the Darling parents take a stroll across the street, and personification transforms this simple scene into a quasi-philosophical passage. It appears in a few different ways. Firstly, all of the stars are "watching" and must "look on forever" instead of actively participating in human life. Some of the older stars become "glassy-eyed and seldom speak." Of course, stars do not really have these human qualities, but they seem to take on certain ages or personalities depending on how they appear in the sky. This passage could also be an allegorical representation of adults (older stars) looking down upon their children (the "little ones") and being unable to join them in their fantastical games or even speak the language of childhood. Thus there remains an unbridgeable separation between older and younger stars just as there is a huge gulf between children and adults; this idea manifests here and in many other places in the novel. This particular example of personification reinforces the text's frequent juxtaposition of whimsy and nostalgia by reminding the reader of the fleeting nature of youth.
Related Themes:
Chapter 14: The Pirate Ship
Explanation and Analysis—The Pirate Ship:
Personification enhances the description of Captain Hook's pirate ship in Chapter 14:
One green light squinting over Kidd's Creek, which is near the mouth of the pirate river, marked where the brig, the Jolly Roger, lay, low in the water; a rakish-looking craft foul to the hull, every beam in her detestable like ground strewn with mangled feathers. She was the cannibal of the seas, and scarce needed that watchful eye, for she floated immune in the horror of her name [...] She was wrapped in the blanket of night, through which no sound from her could have reached the shore. There was little sound, and none agreeable save the whir of the ship's sewing machine[...]
Examples of personification in this passage include "squinting" green light, the she/her pronouns of the ship, and the phrase "cannibal of the seas." Careful readers will note that in the early 20th century, women were not supposed to be strong or scary, but interestingly enough, Hook's ship has both of these qualities despite being referred to with traditional feminine pronouns. The ship is also "wrapped in a blanket of night" that prevents any sound from reaching the shore; this image creates a sense of mystery and suggests that the pirates have access to a world beyond the mainland where they can make their own rules. This allows the pirates to terrorize the inhabitants of Neverland whenever they approach the shore. By personifying Hook's ship, Barrie evokes a sense of mystery and horror that suggests the evil deeds of which the pirates are capable.
Related Themes:
