Themes, Motifs and Symbols

The main points of this paper include:

The discomfort Alice has with changing size acts as a symbol for body changes during puberty. (Keep in mind, though, that Alice was only 7 in the first adventure and 7 1/2 in the second, so it's a good distance from puberty at that point.)

Puzzles that seem to have no solutions relate to the way life frustrates expectations.

The problems she encounters don't have the expected kind of solutions she has been led to believe exist in her 'real' life.

A definition of motifs is given.

The dream motif explains the variety of things that happen that don't make sense.

Wonderland does not lend itself to logical explanation.

Most objects in Wonderland relate to symbols but it's not always clear what exactly they relate to.

The garden might represent the Garden of Eden.

The Caterpillar could be viewed as a sexual threat due to its phallic shape.

The plunge into the rabbit hole represents a plunge into deep sleep.

She learns Wonderland will not fulfill any of her desires.

The rabbit represents frustrated desires.

The helplessness of small size represents 'the feelings of insignificance in childhood.'

Alice's frustration with her identity represent the confusion of the transition from childhood into adulthood.

The caucus race represents the absurdity of English politics at the time.

Carroll shows a disdain for dogs but giving the puppy no ability to talk or any other special abilities or importance.

The beings of Wonderland consider their behavior to be normal.

Alice begins to accept the rejection of social order when the baby turns into a pig.

What a person means and what a person means what they say may not be the same.

Once Alice realizes the Queen, the King and most others are cards she demonstrates courage and stands up to them.

Carroll uses the Duchess to condemn the constant moralizes in Victorian society.

The Mock Turtle and the Gryphon don't behave like most of the others in Wonderland in that they don't try to argue with and contradict Alice. (This could be a lesson to Alice not to expect any kind of constant normality in Wonderland.)

Alice's growth during the trial represents her growing realization that what is happening is an illusion.

The Queen of Hearts is Alice's primary antagonist.

'Off With Her Head' threatens both Alice's head and her sexuality (her virginity.)

The Queen of Hearts tries to force Alice's sexual awakening.

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