In most of literature, there hasn't been a novel that's more "curiouser and curiouser" than Lewis Carroll's journey down the rabbit hole. Compared to the fiction of its time, it was groundbreaking as well as confusing. Why was a story full of talking animals and a girl who shrank and grew going to be a story that resonated for over a century? To be fair, part of the charm of "Alice in Wonderland" is that it doesn't entirely make sense and that anyone's idea of symbolism - whether it be one of puberty or hallucinogenics - somehow fits into the tapestry that mixes prose with poetic rhyming schemes. It's no wonder that this children's literature mainstay has inspired so many film adaptations. It's such a fun experience, though it's in part because nothing could match the confusing wonder that lies on the page. Carroll's work may be at best wonky, but it's heavily endearing in its own assurance.
Everyone knows the start of the story: Alice sees the White Rabbit and follows it down a rabbit hole. People's mileage of the events that follow will vary - especially if Disney is their source of reference. The films tend to blend the story of "Alice in Wonderland" with its whimsical sequel "Alice Through the Looking Glass." The original book lacks iconic characters such as Tweedle Dee and Dum, but its tone remains largely intact. It's a book where every character has their own logic, and the prose becomes more confusing with further study. "Alice in Wonderland" has an appeal in being rooted in childlike imagery, but it may be a more subversive tale than a girl talking to a cat who doesn't quite exist, or a caterpillar smoking hookah on a mushroom that makes Alice's neck longer. It is a story about understanding the absurd, and maybe further understanding what it means to be, as it has become hip to say, a tweener.
If read as a deeper text, Carroll was likely going for a fantastical study of puberty. Yes, there are still themes that allude to drug use and mental illness, but the core of the story has a lot of moments that seem grounded in Alice's literal growth. This is represented in how certain ingested objects make her bigger or smaller, representing the struggle for women to be of a certain body size but always feeling uncomfortable no matter their size. This comes through in the way that the characters judge her, forcing her to constantly identify herself. She is a little girl who doesn't seem to fit in anywhere, and whose personal confusion is elevated by characters doing their best to mislead her. Even characters who wish her well, such as The March Hare, Dormouse, and The Mad Hatter, are in some ways judgmental in their frivolous generosity.
The prose also represents the stubborn nature of adults, who become rooted in their ways. Whereas Alice won't read a "book without pictures" because it's boring, most adults have their absurd and sometimes aimless way of dealing with life's issues. A caucus is held by running in a circle. The Queen of Hearts selfishly bends rules to her favor. The logic becomes toxic to the point that people are being beheaded and held up for trial. For a place where everyone is "mad," it does seem like it extends beyond the clinical term of insane. People are mad that they don't agree on how to solve anything. They are adults who refuse to cooperate, and it ends with a chaotic attack by cards. As Alice sees the whimsy of Wonderland evolve from silliness into hostility, she discovers the horror of adulthood while appreciating her youth and openness to the world around her.
Many scholars have probably written better about the book for years. It's difficult for a first time reader to pick up the themes without citing someone's interpretation. As it stands, I feel like my take may lack entire coherency. Maybe it's in part because some of the prose is just that confusing, or even lacking that much logic. It's part of Carroll's wonderful, iconic vision. It's likely why people have returned to the book in spite of it being at times very bizarre and hard to fathom it ever existing. Still, it's the story that could either spawn profound and deep discussions, or just represent a desire for children to be as creative as they should be at a young age. After all, it is there that defines their character for life.
"Alice in Wonderland" is a book that more than warrants conversation. No matter how profound or profane that is, it is a book unlike any other. It's tough to imagine someone making this world in the first place, but better yet not making it sound like complete gobbledygook. Despite all this, there's something to be said for characters like The Cheshire Cat, The Mad Hatter, and The Queen of Hearts becoming some of literature's biggest icons (even Batman has a villain inspired from this book). They stand out on the page as well as in every adaptation, both good and bad. This is a world that asks the reader to bring their imagination. As they age, it probably should also bring deeper critical analysis. Even then, it's a curious book that refuses to not leave the reader with a firm impression of its world. You won't forget "Alice in Wonderland." It's impossible.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
No comments:
Post a Comment