Which way? Which way? The Fantastical Inversions of Alice in Wonderland

The main points of the written material are below. Any comments of mine are in ( ):

Alice was used to one reality but when she fell down into Wonderland she encountered a different reality and had trouble adjusting to that.

She has self-control while in Wonderland while it seems almost all the characters lack self-control. (I think the Cheshire Cat did have self control, though.)

At the beginning of the story it is not stated specifically that Alice had fallen asleep, although by the end of the story we know that had happened.

Alice is not really started about the White Rabbits ability to speak but she is startled that it is wearing regular clothes and carries a watch.

The written material compares spends time pointing out how Tenniel's drawings reflect what is happening in the text.

At the beginning Alice shows behavior that is normal, putting the jar of marmalade back on a shelf so it doesn't fall and hurt anyone.

Exactly what constitutes reality is hard to determine in Wonderland.

(Alice does not seem to have learned much about rudeness, though, as she insults the mouse and virtually all the other animals in the Pool of Tears section.)

The oddities of Wonderland are not limited to the characters themselves but include the language used and how it is used.

Tenniel's drawing of the frog-footman has its head pointing up, indicating disdain.

The creatures in Wonderland are at home there and don't realize that things are not at all normal (except for the Cheshire Cat and possibly the Caterpillar.)

Time and place are variable in Wonderland.

During the trial Alice begins to readjust to her 'aboveground' thinking, realizing just how ridiculous the trial really is.

Tenniel's drawing of the cards attacking Alice show some animals without their clothes, thus transforming back into their normal forms.

I think the author raises a number of good points and he's the only one of the article/thesis writers I have read who really pays attention to the illustrations and what they are saying.

The original article can be read here.


Main Index

Main Alice in Wonderland index page