Alice’s Adventure In Wonderland

Lewis Carroll, the pen name for Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is

widely considered as the pole star of children’s fiction due to his
imaginative, whimsical, and enduringly popular works. Born in
1832 in England, Lewis Carroll’s best-known works, Alice’s
Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-
Glass, have been beloved by children and adults alike for over a
century. His writing style is notable for its clever wordplay,
humorous nonsense, and fantastic imagery. He has created a
vivid world that captures the imagination of his readers, where
the laws of physics and logic could be suspended at any
moment. And by this, he establishes the genre of children’s
fantasy fiction, paving the way for later authors like J.K.
Rowling and Neil Gaiman.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, otherwise
popular as Alice in Wonderland, is an intriguing novel written
by Lewis Carroll and published in 1865. It is a classic work of
children’s literature that tells the story of a young girl named
Alice who falls down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a bizarre
world. The book is full of the surreal, and Alice goes through
many exciting experiences that make her journey an adventurous
one. Let’s critically discuss the novel as Alice’s adventure from
fantasy to reality, which helps her discovering her true identity.
The first scene
that highlights the adventurous nature of Alice in Wonderland is
when Alice falls down the rabbit hole. This scene marks the
beginning of Alice’s journey into the unknown, and it sets the
stage for the fantastical adventures that await her. The
description of Alice’s fall is both surreal and thrilling, as she
tumbles down the rabbit hole and watches the world above her
shrink away. Carroll writes, “Either the well was very deep, or
she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down
to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen
next” (Chapter 1).
Once Alice lands in Wonderland, she is immediately
confronted with strange and unexpected sights and sounds. At
first she finds DRINK ME and EAT ME which dramatically
reduce and increase her size respectively. Upon frightened she
cries and her tears makes a oceans which swept away everyone
around it. Then she meets with the Caterpillar, who asks her the
famous question, “Who are you?” Alice responds, “I hardly
know, sir, just at present—at least I know who I was when I got
up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several
times since then” (Carroll, 1865, p. 35). This conversation
highlights Alice’s confusion and uncertainty about her own
identity, a common experience for young readers who are still in
the process of discovering who they are.
She then encounters talking
animals, a disappearing cat, and a queen who plays croquet with
live flamingos. Alice is both fascinated and frightened by the
world she has entered, and she is forced to navigate it on her
own. This sense of independence and self-reliance is a hallmark
of the adventurous novel, and Alice embodies these qualities
throughout the story.
 One of the most memorable scenes in the novel is
Alice’s encounter with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. This
scene is a prime example of the surreal and nonsensical nature
of Wonderland, as the two characters engage in a never-ending
tea party that defies all logic and reason. The Mad Hatter’s
riddles and puns challenge Alice’s intellect, and the scene is
both humorous and thought-provoking. Carroll writes, “The
Hatter was the first to break the silence. ‘What day of the month
is it?’ he said, turning to Alice: he had taken his watch out of his
pocket, and was looking at it uneasily, shaking it every now and
then, and holding it to his ear” (Chapter7).
As Alice continues her journey through
Wonderland, she is forced to confront a series of challenges that
test her courage and resourcefulness. She grows increasingly
confident and self-assured, and she learns to think on her feet
and make quick decisions. This highlight the theme of self
discovery and sef reliance. One example of this is when cheshire
cat is confronted by the Queen of Hearts. Carroll writes, “The
Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her for a
moment like a wild beast, screamed ‘Off with her head! Off—‘”
(Chapter 8). However, Alice stands up to the Queen and speaks
out against the unjust punishment of the Cheshire Cat and
proposes for a proper trial. Her willingness to challenge
authority and defend the rights of others shows her growth and
maturity throughout her adventures in Wonderland.