this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2026
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I'm currently reading the 1911 novelization of Peter Pan, and was completely unprepared for this passage in a children's book (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 weeks ago by fireweed@lemmy.world to c/books@lemmy.world
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[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 50 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Bro...

Why did you think an adult pirate was obsessed with hunting a group of unaging little boys?

That story always had a lot of weird subtext, because it's halfway back to the Grimm style fairy tales.

They might not say "stay away from pedos" but all the villains were made to give off those vibes so kids recognized those vibes as dangerous.

For the majority of human history, every story you told kids was about teaching them to be safe. It's not a coincidence a generation or two after Disneyfication we're left with kids who ignore what older generations still consider obvious warning signs. The point went from education to entertainment, so kids expect everything to work out in the end because that's how stories always end.

[–] d00ery@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

The use of the word molested has changed. Though I can totally understand the interpretation (maybe it is a warning to children, but it could just be down to the change in how we use language).

somewhat old-fashioned : to annoy, disturb, or persecute (a person or animal) especially with hostile intent or injurious effect

Who doth molest my contemplation?— Shakespeare

Bees flew past him, bees flew into him, bees settled upon his coat, bees paused questioningly in front of him … but not a single bee molested him.— P. G. Wodehouse

At a hearing last week, activists persuaded the commission that the porcupines were being chased, molested and "worried" for human amusement.— Kelli Anderson

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molest

Peter Pan cuts off Hook's hand and feeds it to a crocodile, this is the reason for the vendetta.

"I want Peter," he flung back at him earnestly; "most of all I want their captain, Peter Pan. 'Twas he cut off my arm." He brandished the hook, which did duty for his hand, in the air.
"I've waited long to shake his hand with this," he said, "and oh, I'll tear him!".
"And yet," said Smee, "I have oft noted your unhappiness when the crocodile was about.".
"He liked my arm so much," Hook said, "that he has followed me ever since, from sea to sea and from land to land, licking his lips for the rest of me.".
"In a way," said Smee, "it's sort of a compliment.".
"Well, I want no such compliments," Hook barked. "I want Peter Pan, who gave the beast its first taste of me."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pan_%28play_and_novel%29#Major_themes

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah...

Lots of words change over a century.

That doesn't change the subtext in the earlier versions like OPs screenshot being removed and tamed over the years.

Again, this isn't great literature it's children stories. Kids didn't need to understand why a pedo or wolf were actually dangerous, they just needed to know to trust their instincts around a creep.

So villains were over the top creepy, paragons of every red flag. Because that's what it takes to get kids to listen.

Peter Pan cuts off Hook’s hand and feeds it to a crocodile,

When subtlety is used, they don't just never mention a reason. They allude to an easy surface answer. Sometimes "real" to the story, sometimes shoehorned in as a reason.

But that's kind of a requirement for subtext...

A surface level narrative.

So you pointing out a surface level narrative, just doesn't really mean anything

[–] d00ery@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The reason I've quoted another passage is to highlight language which could, to a modern reader, be interpreted very differently.

None of this detracts from your point that like Aesop's fables or Sesame Street, these stories can have life lessons.

I also included a link to the Wikipedia article and some of the major themes in the book. Again, this is down to interpretation.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 26 points 2 weeks ago

Actually it was the book that was unprepared for you and your imagination.

[–] notsosure@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 weeks ago

By today’s standard pretty weird. Obscene even. Even back then it must have been loaded with subconscious symbolism.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

I remember reading this in like 2nd or 3rd grade as a library book I checked out. That and the entire wizard of oz series. Honestly, some of the best works are from this time period.

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Can see where the inspiration for Hooked came from