Final answer:
In 'Peter Pan', Peter seeks eternal childhood and adventure, while Wendy is drawn towards responsibility and adulthood, creating a conflict that reflects the tension between innocence and the necessity of growing up.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 'Peter Pan', Peter is characterized as an embodiment of eternal childhood, seeking adventures and the thrill of never growing up. On the other hand, Wendy represents the bridge between childhood and adulthood, with responsibilities and maternal instincts. The contrasting desires of these characters create a narrative tension within the story. Peter's reluctance to accept responsibility and Wendy's inclination towards it highlight the inherent conflict between the carefree whimsy of childhood and the inevitable march towards adulthood. This ideological clash not only drives the story forward but also serves as a reflection on the bittersweet nature of growing up.
The story's conflict arises when Wendy begins to feel the pull of her pending adult responsibilities and Peter's insistence on rejecting them. Their differing objectives illustrate the classic theme of the loss of innocence and the resistance to the coming-of-age process.