By Corliss Jacobs
You've seen the movie, you've read the book, or you've seen it referenced so many times that there's no way you couldn’t have known about it. Whatever the case, you'd be hard-pressed to find a person who hasn't heard of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. It's one of my favorite books — and movies! — of all time. It's not hard to see why it's so beloved: a classic tale of a little girl wandering a dreamlike world of endless wonders. However, every literary analyst seems to disagree on the meaning of the book. So what did Lewis Carroll intend when he wrote Wonderland? Is there a meaning at all?
In her article “What Does Alice Represent in Alice in Wonderland?” Rose Lesso collected possible theories. She seems to think that it might represent the adult world as seen through the mind of a child. Alice repeatedly encounters characters who use a strange, mixed up logic that makes no sense, and then they insult her for being stupid. It frustrates her to no end, and she repeatedly complains about being ordered about, corrected, and scolded. That is how every child feels when they speak to adults; adult logic seems strange and alien, and no one likes to be ordered around! Lesso also raised a second possibility — that it symbolizes Alice breaking away from the rigid Victorian culture of the upper class by using her imagination and exploring the world on her own. The way Alice talks about her home and family, it’s easy to deduce that she is from a very rich household, and that kind of world did not leave much room for imagination and fun for children. She even suggested that it is simply a promotion of being like Alice — curious, clever, and open to strange things, even if she does not like them. All of these are highly interesting interpretations, but they do beg the question: What message did Lewis Carroll himself intend for his most famous work?
The answer is nothing. Nothing at all.
Lewis Carroll insisted all of his life that Alice in Wonderland was nothing more than a story he created for a friend’s child, Alice Liddell. He made it up as he went along, likely intending to forget it as soon as it was told, but the little girl begged him to write it down so she could read it again and again. So he did, expanding on the story, characters, and the child-like nonsense of the dreamy setting. In spite of that, everyone choses to analyze the book to the moon and back, which I'm sure annoys him quite a bit as he watches us from the spirit plane. I, for one, would agree with him. Not everything needs to have a deep hidden meaning to be special. Alice enjoys a strange, enchanting romp through a world of wonders, and that alone is amazing enough to be remembered through the centuries. There’s no hidden message or meaning, it’s simply wacky and fun.
But that doesn't mean Wonderland can't hold any meaning.
When I first read the book, I fell completely in love with every character, from the kooky Mad Hatter to the mysterious Cheshire Cat to the wicked Queen of Hearts. But most of all, I fell in love with Alice. She was curious, kind, and had quite the attitude for a seven year old! Enthralled with every page, I couldn't help but be sad when I reached the ending, which is a perfect one. The story comes to a close when Alice’s older sister hears all of her mad adventures told from the little girl herself, finding herself struck by how transported she felt during the story. The sister also reflects that she knows Alice, though she will eventually grow old, will never lose that youthful spark in her heart, entertaining and enchanting other future children with stories of Wonderland. I know that Carroll never intended any deep meaning for Alice’s journey. But I do know that what the story means to me is a glance back into the world of my childhood, and a reminder that I can always stay young at heart even as I grow old.
So, Lewis Carroll gave the story no meaning, but many others chose to see one anyway. While it isn't particularly complex, the story still means a lot to the millions who've read and cherished it over the years. I invite you to read it, and ask yourself what it means to you. And if it means nothing but nonsense… well, everyone is mad in Wonderland!
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