Throughout April I’m taking part in the Blogging from A-Z Challenge. I’ll be posting every day (except Sundays) on my chosen theme of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.
For the letter E, I’m talking about the food and drink in Wonderland that was labelled with the message “eat me” or “drink me” and what this represents.
Quotes
“Drink Me” coloured illustration by John Tenniel
“However, this bottle was NOT marked `poison,’ so Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast,) she very soon finished it off.”
***
“Soon her eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under the table: she opened it, and found in it a very small cake, on which the words `EAT ME’ were beautifully marked in currants. `Well, I’ll eat it,’ said Alice, `and if it makes me grow larger, I can reach the key; and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep under the door; so either way I’ll get into the garden, and I don’t care which happens!’”
Symbolism
The readiness with which Alice follows the instructions on the bottles and cakes she encounters shows her reckless nature and naivety about the dangers of the world. Although she wonders whether the first bottle might contain poison, she drinks it anyway, because it doesn’t say ‘poison’ on the label! Even after being told the story of the curious oysters and their horrible fate, Alice still eats the “eat me” cookie without hesitation, showing she hasn’t learned the lesson yet. She is still too young and easily tempted by her desires to realise that people might have hidden motives and that her curiosity could lead her into trouble.
Just like The Caterpillar’s mushroom, the ‘drink me’ liquids and ‘eat me’ cakes cause Alice to either shrink or grow in size, often confusing and frustrating her. This could symbolise the way Alice is trying to adapt to the dizzying changes and her rapid growth in real life (both physically and mentally) and the way in which sometimes she feels tiny compared to adults and the ‘big wide world’ around her. It’s also been suggested by some critics that these mysterious items of food and drink also represent the temptation of psychedelic drugs.
On Pinterest, there are many examples of beautifully decorated ‘eat me’ cakes that you can make for Alice in Wonderland themed parties. Below is one of my favourite examples, by Susan from Diamonds for Dessert. You can find the recipe and tutorial for decorating them here.
Before you go…
Would you eat a cake or cookie labelled “eat me” or would you think twice?
There seems to be a big debate amongst literary critics as to whether Carroll intended that or not. Some believe a lot of the imagery from his books came from him using opium recreationally. I guess we’ll never know for sure!
I would have to think twice – I am paranoid at the best of times 🙂 And especially if the first time had been so traumatic!
Tasha https://tashasthinkings.blogspot.com/ – Movie Monsters
I think it is very interesting that Alice doesn’t hesitate in eating or drinking what’s offered to her and that this alwasy results in her growing or shrinking. There must be a meaning there, and I’m not sure it’s soemthign you have mentioned here.
This is the second time that you mention a possible reference to drungs. How likely do you think it is? (just curious)
Personally, I don’t find it very likely. I think the meaning behind it must be different and more organic to the story.
I’m with you, I personally don’t think that Carroll intended to show a metaphor for drugs, but I know that is a popular theory as they say he might have been on opium while writing the books. I’m going to be discussing the ‘growing and shrinking’ in greater detail later in the month. There are definitely multiple interpretations.
Throughout April I’m taking part in the Blogging from A-Z Challenge. I’ll be posting every day (except Sundays) on my chosen theme of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.
Oh, I’d never thought of psychedelic drugs represented as ‘Eat Me’ and ‘Drink Me,’ but I suppose it’s possible, isn’t it?
There seems to be a big debate amongst literary critics as to whether Carroll intended that or not. Some believe a lot of the imagery from his books came from him using opium recreationally. I guess we’ll never know for sure!
I love the Pinterest images of the Drink Me bottle – there are some really pretty ones on there.
Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au
E for Enjoy Life Today
Me too, it makes me want to have an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party.
I would have to think twice – I am paranoid at the best of times 🙂 And especially if the first time had been so traumatic!
Tasha
https://tashasthinkings.blogspot.com/ – Movie Monsters
Me too, I’m definitely much more cautious than Alice-she doesn’t seem to learn!
Labels on bottles or any products don’t always tell everything, even if printed in big bold letters. Great way to show that here.
That’s true! I would definitely be suspicious of anything that said ‘eat me’ or ‘drink me’.
Have returned to read another post…again so well done. Thanks for this interesting discussion of Alice.
Thanks for visiting again, Stepheny!
I think it is very interesting that Alice doesn’t hesitate in eating or drinking what’s offered to her and that this alwasy results in her growing or shrinking. There must be a meaning there, and I’m not sure it’s soemthign you have mentioned here.
This is the second time that you mention a possible reference to drungs. How likely do you think it is? (just curious)
Personally, I don’t find it very likely. I think the meaning behind it must be different and more organic to the story.
I’m with you, I personally don’t think that Carroll intended to show a metaphor for drugs, but I know that is a popular theory as they say he might have been on opium while writing the books. I’m going to be discussing the ‘growing and shrinking’ in greater detail later in the month. There are definitely multiple interpretations.
I don’t like being told what to do, so I won’t be eating anything that asks me to do so 🙂
Same!