October 5, 2007

Book 54: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There
Lewis Carroll

There is a reason that this book has become revered in the canon of classic children's literature, and as one might expect this has a lot to do with Alice's timeless appeal to adults. Carroll is an absolute master of English and though the books lack a coherent plot, the thematic rules of Wonderland create a powerful commentary on the importance of proper language and the sheer fun that can come from manipulating English. On a most basic level, Wonderland is a world where things make much more sense than in our own, where the denizens assume that one says what one means, exactly, and that words should mean what they say. It is no wonder that the (ironically) unimaginative Alice cannot function in this world, and that she learns her lessons far too late.

Alice is ever pretentious and all-knowing, which strangely doesn't fly in her fantasy world. Instead of being in charge, she is thrust into a world whose oddly logical wackiness cannot be reconciled with her prim and proper manners and desire to become an adult. In trying to make sense of the world, she is losing the rich fantasy she is imagining. Of course, by the time Alice has matured enough to appreciate the fleeting fancies of her youth, she makes a fool out of herself. The narrator makes no bones about this, and his slight contempt for Alice makes for hilarity that transcends condescension.

Lest his book be all fancy, Carroll is not to be outdone in his critiques of children's literature, the school system, and the judiciary. Alice's constant necessity to recite poetry, which always comes out hilariously incorrect, is a commentary on the usefulness (or uselessness) of rote memorization in education, a practice common in Carroll's time. The Duchess's constant moralizing asks a very valid question, pondering whether or not literature can exist for its own sake, simply to enchant and simply to entertain. The ridiculous trials in Wonderland make an excellent case for Bill of Rights protections (both English and American) and even resonate into our own time, when far too many are presumed guilty rather than innocent.

Carroll's talent may lie mainly in wordplay and the joys of language, which are both more than amply supplied in the Alice books, but much of the wisdom of the books lies in their more adult themes, which are hidden in plain sight and which may not pass sharp young readers completely by. It would be truly fabulous to read this book with those in the younger set, as their views on Wonderland would be refreshing and would lend a new view to the books. Here, then, is the true power of Alice and her magical world: Wonderland can enchant readers of all ages with its underlying humor and its continuous hints of deeper meaning hidden amongst deft strokes of the pen. Those who complain about the lack of coherent plot (ahem, present company included) are simply missing the point and the joy of a world where anything can happen so long as it is the truth.

Grade: A

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