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.
Today kickstarts the challenge with the letter A, and I bet you’ll never guess what I’m writing about. Yes, let’s start by discussing the classic heroine, Alice.
Alice is a young girl who is filled with curiosity and cannot resist following the mysterious white rabbit. She stumbles down the rabbit hole and ends up in the topsy-turvy world of Wonderland, where everything she thought she knew about life, language and logic is called into question.
Alice is a cultural icon and a popular character because her naivety is quite charming and her imagination is wild and playful. I think she reminds us all of the dreamy and fantastical world of our childhood when it really did seem that nothing was impossible.
Symbolism
Alice embodies the innocence of childhood. Carroll described her as “loving and gentle”, “courteous to all“, “trustful”, and “wildly curious, and with the eager enjoyment of Life that comes only in the happy hours of childhood, when all is new and fair, and when Sin and Sorrow are but names — empty words signifying nothing!” (Alice on the Stage, 1887).
Some critics say that Alice’s introduction to Wonderland represents her curiosity, unease, and confusion about the adult world, which doesn’t yet make sense to her. Her ability to control her emotions is still developing, and she has a few outbursts of anger and tears when she doesn’t get her own way or is frustrated by the injustice of a situation. She’s overwhelmed by all the new things she encounters and she’s still learning about who she is as a person. I think we can all relate to that!
Quote
“I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night. Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is ‘Who in the world am I?’ Ah, that’s the great puzzle!”
Fun Facts
- There is speculation as to the extent that Alice is based on a young girl named Alice Liddell. Carroll insisted she was entirely fictional, but there’s a lot of evidence to suspect Liddell and her sisters inspired the character.
- The ‘Alice band’ headband was named after her since it featured in Tenniel’s illustrations.
- Alice was a brunette in early illustrations. The iconic image of a blonde in a blue dress wasn’t solidified until the Disney animation was released in 1951.
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Kathryn Beaumont, who voiced Alice in the Disney film, was also used as a live action reference model for Alice. She also played Wendy Darling in Peter Pan.
My Polyvore Collage
Before you go…
Do you like Alice as a character or do you find her childishness irritating?
Perfect start to the A to Z – fancy having a character with an “A” name – very shrewd! Loved your little outfits at the end and it’s interesting how Disney changes the way characters were first envisioned (the Little Mermaid is another example of this – she was always blonde before Disney made her a redhead).
Leanne | https://www.crestingthehill.com.au
A for Avoid Negativity
Happy A to Z! I’m following your blog, so I look forward to seeing more of your posts.
Thanks, Martha!
This was one of the best loved books of my childhood. Thanks for choosing this topic. Nostalgic….
Mine too. Thanks for visiting!
Great start!
I’ve always love Alice, since I was a kid, and I’m not even sure why. I think the medness of her adventures appealed me a great lot (I then became an hard-core fantasy reader). But today I think what fascinates me the most about her is her opennes. Alice meets all kinds of weird people in her journey, but she treats everyone the same way. She never assumes someone must be evil only because they’re odd.
Yes! That is a great point. I could always relate to her being so curious about everything, even when it got her into trouble.
Hi, visiting from Oil4Tinman (https://oil4tinman.com/learn-about-oils-here/) for the A-Z Challenge. I confess, my only knowledge of Alice in Wonderland is from the Disney animation. I have the book in my TBR pile. I look forward to visiting often during April to learn more.
I love the Disney animation, but the book is definitely worth a read as it is more philosophical and involves a lot of interesting conversation and wordplay.
I’ve always liked Alice in Wonderland. I think I see a little of myself in her.
Me too. Thanks for visiting, Heather.
Huh! I had no idea on the hair color change. I really don’t know much about Alice as it wasn’t my top one growing up so fun to learn a little more now 🙂
I’ve learnt loads from researching for this too. There is so much hidden symbolism and the inspiration behind the different characters is fascinating.
While I never read the book I might have to give it a read. At present I’ve been rereading nh childhood fav – Nancy Drew! Snd writing on her… https://everyonehasafamilystorytotell.wordpress.com/category/2018-a-to-z-all-about-nancy-drew/
It’s definitely worth a read if you are interested in philosophy, psychology and language.
I love all the adaptions of Alice. And I love the original too 🙂 A few retellings miss the point, but I’m hoping to read one that captures the true essence of Alice. Great post.
I haven’t read any retellings yet, but I’ve seen very mixed reviews about them. Nothing could compare to the classic, but I’d like to read a good sequel or prequel.
Finding your blog for the first time from the participants #Challenge list. Delighted with your theme and looking forward to catching up A-D. Well done, presented, good writing, an uncluttered presentation that lets the writing take charge. Congratulations on a lot of work and success. You must be a reader and perhaps will have time to join me with this year’s theme….BOOKSTORES, their architecture, location, great folks that sell books. Maybe I will see you along the way. I hope so. Stephenyhoughtlin.com
Thank you for your kind words, Stepheny. I’m glad you like my theme. I’ll be sure to check out your blog too, as your theme sounds right up my street!
Well, it’s after the fact, but I just found your blog. I’m going to come back through the coming week to read the B-Z posts. Nicely done already. I’m looking forward to this.
I’ve read Alice (a long time ago), seen the Disney, played the video game, watched Jabberwocky by the Python gang, and I haven’t realized, until this post, how many ways Alice’s stories have passed by my eyes. Interesting.
My J post was “Jabber Wonky.” Guess where that came from?
Stu
Tale Spinning
https://stuartnager.wordpress.com/
Yes, it’s amazing how many books, movies, songs and games have been inspired by Alice in Wonderland, and yet it never seems to get old. Thanks for visiting, Stuart. I’ll definitely check out your Jabber Wonky post.