I first read Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade and loved it. I giggled and dreamed and wondered about it for days afterwards. The creativity poured into its pages bled out into my tiny little 8 year old world. I saw white rabbits, and I wondered what they were running late to. I started hosting tea parties with my grandma’s old tea set, imagining the Mad Hatter came to join me. Best of all, I convinced my older brother to sleep in my room, and we watched the cartoon animation on repeat. I’m not sure when the magic ran out or that it ever really did.
In middle school the live action came out. I watched in wonder once again as the magic awoke in my 12-year-old mind. I no longer believed the mad hatter would join in on family dinners or that the white rabbits were running late to their visit with the queen. However, I did believe my Alice in Wonderland bracelet filled me with bravery at my eye doctor’s appointments and that if I could believe in six impossible things before breakfast my day would be wondrous.
Revisiting
Recently, I decided to revisit my childhood magic. I picked up the book in its beautiful, purple bound, silver edge glory and dove in. I was sad to say some of the magic disappeared through the ages, but in between the dust and the pages, I began to find little glimpses peaking through the story. Reading this book through an adult lens definitely brought new things to light, but I’m happy by the end, some of my childhood wonder still remained.
I think the hardest thing for me to grasp was how this story is summed up as a dream. While that brings some sense to the whole ordeal, summing it up as a dream takes out some of the fantastical elements within. It feels like those dreams you wish you never woke up from. I wish Alice could live in this wondrous world and that I could go on reading about her adventure for the rest of my life time. Unfortunately, this idea is taken away with the simple phrase, “Wake up!”
Characters
Nevertheless, this dream brings about a fantastical adventure with even more fantastical characters. My favorite character, I’ve noticed, changes with each read. As a child, I loved the mad hatter and the whimsy he displayed. As a middle schooler, I loved the caterpillar, partially because the live action had him voiced by Alan Rickman, but also due to the mystery. Now, I find myself enjoying the Cheshire Cat and his devious side of things. The Cheshire Cat brings about a sense of comfort in a less than comforting manner. He sums up his thoughts based on the necessity of Alice.
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where–” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
“–so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”
Chapter 6, Pig and Pepper, Lewis Carroll
I find irony in how this conversation resembles so much of a favorite quote I have of C.S Lewis. Irony in how Lewis, born the year Carroll died, would later use a quote of major similarity in his own work of children’s literature. But coincidence nonetheless, Cheshire Cat’s comfort and guidance are brought to Alice at a time when she most needs it. Much like the comfort brought to me by C.S Lewis’ quote, Carroll’s use of subtle guidance reminds me there is always a landing pad at the end of a journey.
Review and Understanding
As I continued through the novel, other things began to jump out at me. For one, the absurdity was not filled with magic as it once was when I was a child. Yet, I enjoyed it. From the baby who transforms into a pig or the queen’s guards frantically painting roses red, the varying levels of absurdity still brought a smile to my face. With this absurdity, I was in awe of Alice’s bravery. I know for myself, this adventure resembles more of a nightmare, but merely a strange dream for Alice. As a child I wished to have Alice’s bravery. As an adult I hope to someday have kids with her bravery.
Whilst some of the magic has worn off, Alice did awaken some of my childhood wonder. I wonder if I will ever be able to face life’s problems with the same vigor Alice demonstrates from page to page. I also wonder if life’s problems will ever be as comical as trying to hold a conversation with bickering flowers as I try to find my ways out of the woods. But perhaps these challenges are simply what a child imagines the adult world to be in. Perhaps we are the bickering flowers. Then again, perhaps I’m looking too far into a children’s book.
In Conclusion
Overall, I think this book is worth the read for any and all ages. I think kids should read it to awaken wonder. I think adults should read it to reveal childhood magic lost between pages. I think it is a book that should be read without second thoughts or questions. Alice is a story for people to enjoy without doubt and denial. While I may not rate it high in the Umbra Ex Libris rating scale, I would rate it high for my childhood.
Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass 6/10
As always, happy reading!