In Peter and Wendy, written by JM Barrie, the characters exhibit specific qualities that are stereotypical of their gender. The characters fit into traditional concepts of masculinity and femininity: Peter is arrogant, stubborn, charismatic and enigmatic towards the women in his life, and Wendy Darling, a young girl whose father wants to remove her from the nursery where she shares with his brothers. Both characters embody and perpetuate gender stereotypes, and reflect the stereotypes embodied by the adult characters in the story, Mr. and Mrs. Darling. Barrie introduces Mr. Darling as the hardworking family man, a proud businessman. He constantly demands respect and obedience from his wife, his children and Nana the dog. On top of that, he brags to Wendy that Mrs. Darling not only loves him, but respects him. This view is linked to the stereotypical view of the male gender as the primary earner, with a resilient disposition and need for order. When Mrs. Darling tells him about Peter Pan, he dismisses her concerns, suggesting indifference and a lack of concern for the opinions of others. In contrast, Mrs. Darling, his wife, is portrayed as a romantic and maternal character. She is a "charming lady", who had many suitors but was "won" by Mr Darling, who met her first. However, she is a multi-faceted character as her mind is described "like the little boxes, one inside the other, that come from the puzzling Orient", suggesting that she is, to some extent, an enigma to the other characters, in particular Mr. Chéri. Additionally, she embodies the characteristics of a “perfect mother”. She puts everything in order, including the minds of her children, a metaphor for the morals and ethics she instills in them. Although... middle of paper... male characters reveal that not all female characters were written to be "shy [and] dependent". She also makes a deal with Captain Hook, the antagonistic character. Tinker Bell is a depiction of the femme fatale, where a woman attempts to accomplish her hidden goal using feminine wiles such as charm and beauty. She is also manipulative and full of negative emotions, which were not considered appropriate in a woman in the late Victorian era. However, although Tinkerbell contrasts with the usual female roles, she conforms in terms of love. The women share unrequited attractions to Peter and, as a result, their feelings are trapped in a limited range between their jealousy of each other and their silent desire for Peter. Works Cited Bertens, H. Literary Theory: The Basics (The Politics of Class: Marxism), (Abingdon, Routledge, 2001) pp.. 94-99