Lewis Carroll: Subversive Pragmatist

The main points of this paper are:

Alice in Wonderland is one of the most subversive books ever written.

At the time of Alice the Church fathers had established the age of 7 as the 'age of reason.'

She's at a borderline age and the world she comes from runs by different rules than Wonderland which can result in confusion.

Neither Wonderland or the other side of the Looking Glass are rational places.

Context is crucial in understanding language.

Things, people, places, etc., can be considered good or bad, right or wrong. A consensus of what is what is useful but can contribute to stereotyping and judgmental behavior.

Those in power have the ability to control language and hence can control other people's reality to a degree.

(This is particularly evident in the use of mass media in today's world where virtually anyone can claim anything and by its being on mass media some people will believe it even if is totally false.


Main Index

Main Alice in Wonderland index page