Peter Pan

by

J.M. Barrie

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Peter Pan makes teaching easy.
The Kiss Symbol Icon
When first introducing Peter Pan, the narrator tells us before anything else that Peter is “very like Mrs. Darling’s kiss.” He then tells us, as if to clarify, that Peter is beautiful, wild, and hateful toward adults. The “kiss” at the corner of Mrs. Darling’s mouth is a dimple, a smile, a shadow, or perhaps something not visible at all, a charm and an inaccessible depth. Like Peter, the kiss is youth itself: the idea of youth detached from any of the particulars of youth, a visceral sense of childhood as distinct from any actual child. On Mrs. Darling, the kiss is a remnant of total freedom, a small part of her that is safe from the unmagical aspects of life, and inaccessible to unmagical beings (including Mr. Darling, and, sadly, Wendy). Only something of its own kind can apprehend the “kiss” – only Peter himself. But what happens then? Whether the kiss disappears forever once apprehended, like a thought that vanishes when pursued, is left mysterious.

The Kiss Quotes in Peter Pan

The Peter Pan quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Kiss. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Children and Heartlessness Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

He got all of her, except the innermost box and the kiss. He never knew about the box, and in time he gave up trying for the kiss.

Related Characters: Mrs. Darling, Mr. Darling
Related Symbols: The Kiss
Page Number: 2
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

If she was too fond of her rubbishy children she couldn't help it. Look at her in her chair, where she has fallen asleep. The corner of her mouth, where one looks first, is almost withered up. Her hand moves restlessly on her breast as if she had a pain there. Some like Peter best and some like Wendy best, but I like her best.

Related Characters: Peter Pan, Wendy, Mrs. Darling
Related Symbols: The Kiss
Page Number: 180
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 17 Quotes

He took Mrs. Darling's kiss with him. The kiss that had been for no one else Peter took quite easily. Funny. But she seemed satisfied.

Related Characters: Peter Pan, Mrs. Darling
Related Symbols: The Kiss
Page Number: 191
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Peter Pan LitChart as a printable PDF.
Peter Pan PDF

The Kiss Symbol Timeline in Peter Pan

The timeline below shows where the symbol The Kiss appears in Peter Pan. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1: Peter Breaks Through
Motherhood Theme Icon
The Fantastic and the Commonplace Theme Icon
...her. The mystery seems to reside especially in one corner of her mouth, where a “kiss” – a sort of dimple –seems to hide itself even from loved ones, including Mr.... (full context)
Motherhood Theme Icon
The Fantastic and the Commonplace Theme Icon
...wakes Mrs. Darling, who looks at Peter with surprise. He looks just like her mysterious “kiss”, and still has all his baby teeth. (full context)
Chapter 3: Come Away, Come Away!
Motherhood Theme Icon
...is very flattered and emerges from under her blanket. She offers to give him a kiss. When Peter does not understand what she means, she gives him a thimble instead, and... (full context)
Motherhood Theme Icon
The Fantastic and the Commonplace Theme Icon
...to take care of them. Wendy is so pleased that she gives him a real kiss, which she calls a thimble, and Peter gives her one in return. Tinker Bell pulls... (full context)
Chapter 16: The Return Home
Children and Heartlessness Theme Icon
Motherhood Theme Icon
The Fantastic and the Commonplace Theme Icon
Mrs. Darling misses the children very much and always seems sad. The mysterious kiss in the corner of her mouth “is almost withered up.” The narrator meant to scold... (full context)
Chapter 17: When Wendy Grew Up
Children and Heartlessness Theme Icon
Motherhood Theme Icon
The Fantastic and the Commonplace Theme Icon
...can help him with his spring cleaning. Before he flies away he takes Mrs. Darling’s kiss, “the kiss that had been for no one else.” (full context)