The concept of Lock-out Time from Peter Pan in Kensignton Gardens functions in a metaphoric manner in reference to the main

character Peter Pan and in reference to the gardens as a whole. When dusk falls on Kensignton Gardens Lockout Time begins and the gardens operate based on magical rules. However, time as a numerical measurement is completely ignored. Barrie states, "No child has ever been to the whole of the Gardens, because it is so soon the time to turn back" (3). This implies the gardens consumes an infinite space and operates on an indefinite time scale. Thus the term Lock-out Time symbolically represents this magical place. His concept of time is a reflection not only of the gardens but also traverses onto the main character Peter Pan. One night Peter attempts to return home to his mother but, finds himself locked out by iron bars. Defeated and abandoned he retreats back to the gardens. As Lock-out Time begins the gardens close to children and open to the magical characters created by Barrie. However, just as the garden doors close to humans so too do the doors close to childhood for Peter. The novel introduces the reader to Peter as someone whom you, your mother, and your grandmother have known. Barrie states His age is one week, and though he was born so long ago he has never had a birthday, nor is there the slightest chance of his ever having one (12). While Peter has lived years he is deprived of what many of us regard as the simplest representation of growth; a quantitative age. Thus despite passing, time as an object is literally frozen for Peter leaving him trapped in childhood. Peter emerges as a tragic boy who is unable to grow up, experience sexual feeing, or love. His meeting with Maimie Mannering during Lock-out Time introduces Peter both feelings of desire and feelings of anguish. There are several reasons why he is so readily drawn into Mannering; perhaps it is partially because she is human or perhaps it is because she has chosen to leave home with the intentions of staying in the gardens as Peter once did. They share a feeling of abandonment yet a sense of independence. Peter quickly asks her to stay and marry him but, revokes the

invitation after realizing she too will be soon be barred out from her mother. His brief, idealized relationship with her captures his nave child-like mind yet his unconscious desire to feel human again. The difference between Peter and Maimie lie in the fact that her time alone in the gardens is temporary while Peters is permanent. Their tearful goodbye illustrates Peters pain not only due to his desires for Maimie but, also the pain and fear he possess about being alone. Peters interactions with Maimie exemplify his struggle between the fantasy world of the gardens and the real world of which he has left behind and dearly misses. Peter Pan struggles to deal with the fantasy of the gardens and the brutal reality of his Betwixt-and-Between nature. During Lock-out Time the gardens operate on magical rules: Fairies come out from hiding, cherries transform into lanterns, trees walk, and houses shrink. It is a time when Peter can be himself immersed in the magic of gardens and praised by his supernatural peers. When Peter first enters the gardens he is afraid, however, he quickly finds himself at home becoming the most valued musician of the gardens. Despite his acceptance of the gardens, at a young age Peter is constantly reminded of his Betwixt-and-Between status. He [Peter] knew he could never be a real human again, and scarcely wanted to be one, but oh! how he longed to play as other children play. (Barrie, 19). Although Peter states he does not want to be a human there is a clear obsession with being human. This is exemplified by his comparison of himself to real boys and his desire to play as they do. Despite his efforts his interactions with Maimie show he can scarcely relate to her world. The story concludes with Peter burying graves and erecting tombs for the spirits of children who have passed. While Peter strives to act as humanly as possible he is constantly reminded of this unfeasible task and is forced to accept the gardens as his home. Lock-out time is similar to a game of tug-of-war in which Peter struggles with the depressing reality of his Betwixt-and-Between identity while still enjoying the magical world in which he resides. Lock-out Time captures the magical world Barrie has created. The metaphor

embodies the rules of the gardens and symbolizes the nature of Peters character. Emerging from Lock-out Time are dualities in which Peter emotionally struggles in dealing with abandonment verse independence, fantasy verse reality, and desire verse anguish. Peter Hollindale describes Peter Pan as the tragic boy because his freedom lies in the freedom to be nothing (Hollindale, x). Peter struggles with accepting this freedom and prefers a lifestyle similar to those of the children outside the gardens. Against his will Peter is forced to accept the gardens as his home and lives seemingly in alienation as the sole Betwixt-and-Between.