The Masculinization of the Female Hero in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

These are some of the main points in the paper:

In the movie Alice is 19, being taken to a garden party where she is supposed to do the 'proper' thing and become engaged to a guy named Hamish (who holds very traditional attitudes towards the 'place' of women in a marriage.)

She had strange dreams as a child and it turns out she's the actual Alice who went into Wonderland and came back but with her conscious memories of the place apparently blocked out.

It notes the Alice of Lewis Carroll was curious and full of imagination, two traits women weren't supposed to have.

The paper then refers to two versions; the Disney version and the Tim Burton version of the movie. It says that both films 'stands as a definitive culprit of forwarding a domestic role for women...'

Burton's film put Alice into a traditional male role, becoming a knight and a business person.

Lewis Carroll never took the traditional approach, refusing to punish Alice for exhibiting curiosity and her ability to adapt to very unusual conditions. Alice's self-confidence is increased (she develops a lot from the scene in the hall of doors.) She even overcomes the King and Queen of the land, denouncing 'the importance of social etiquette.'

Alice's sister, on the other hand, is part of the 'system' where women are definitely restricted and second place.

Alice has no interest in motherhood (she is only seven, though), something which women were expected to be involved with at that time in England.

Alice is both passive at times and active at times, again showing her adaptability.

Disney's film portrays Alice as 'helplessly aloof' and not able to effectively deal with the situations she finds herself in. She stays uncertain of her abilities and ends up running home.

Burton's film imposes masculinity over feminism. (I think what the writer may be considering is that Alice in Burton's film ends up putting on armor, slaying the Jabberwock and thus becoming a sort of actual knight, thus putting her in a more traditional male role. In a lot of super-hero films, though, women are indeed in outfits of some kind, even some with a type of armor, they get involved in battles but still, it seems, are not being forced to adopt the traditional role of the men in fighting. They have chosen their course and they are comfortable with it.)

(In Burton's film Alice does get involved in a capitalistic adventure but it's her desire totally.)

In Burton's film Alice demands respect and independence.

Her getting a sword to fight with uses the 'necessity of a phallic symbol within film to strengthen a character.'

(I disagree with this. First, she's going to have to fight a monster. She needs something to fight it with and a sword appears to be the only technology available to her. If someone gave her a bazooka to take out the Jabberwock would that also be considered a phallic symbol?)

The Red Queen is masculine in many ways including the desire for power and control. The White Queen is opposite to her in nature. (So, then, this should make Alice a balance between the two, wouldn't it. Alice can be powerful and in control, but she can also be very feminine, help her friends when she can and only fights when she is given no other choice.)

The paper says she's heavily reliant on males for advice and validation. Still, the film is working within the confines of the original story. There weren't many female characters in Alice in Wonderland and the ones that were there you wouldn't want to turn to them for any kind of advice. Most of the male characters were either very weak (the King), very mad (The Hatter and the March Hare) or playing both sides of the field (the White Rabbit.) The Tweedles are interesting but still no exactly the type you would look to for help in a desperate situation.)

Even though I disagree with parts of this paper I think overall it was one of the best I've read.

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