Alright so today I dusted off my old copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Been ages since I read it, you know? The idea popped into my head this morning: everyone talks about the crazy symbolism in this book. Figured I should actually sit down and dig for some myself, see what the fuss is about, and jot down what I find. Just kinda curious.
Starting Out - Feeling Confused, Like Alice
Flipped open the book, started reading Chapter 1 right there at my kitchen table. Coffee getting cold, whatever. That White Rabbit shows up immediately. He's freaking out, muttering about being late. First thought: okay, this dude is clearly a symbol for something. Feels obvious. Like… modern life panic? Everyone rushing, obsessed with time, late for appointments, stressed outta their minds. Sounds familiar, cuz I do that too, running around. Made a note: "Rabbit = modern time anxiety". Simple enough.
Then Alice plummets down the rabbit hole. Took forever! Falls slow, grabs jars off shelves… labeled "ORANGE MARMALADE". Empty jars. Weird, right? Seemed pointless, just silly nonsense. But then it hit me. Maybe it's about the useless stuff we accumulate? Or maybe the boring, everyday junk we surround ourselves with? Like, why's she even looking at marmalade labels while falling into madness? Not sure, but it felt symbolic. Scribbled down "Empty jars = meaningless everyday stuff?"
Things Get Curiouser and Curiouser
Kept reading, started seeing patterns. That whole Drink Me/Eat Me deal. Alice changes size constantly. One sip, shrinks. One bite, grows huge. Frustrating! Felt trapped reading it. Obvious symbol: awkward growing pains. Puberty, but exaggerated to absurd levels. One minute you're too small, next you're busting out of the house. Felt real, man. Wrote it down big: "SIZE CHANGES = SURVIVING ADOLESCENCE".
Then BAM, the Cheshire Cat grins at me from the page. Creepy smile hanging in the air after the cat vanishes. Super unsettling. What's that about? Maybe logic or sense just disappearing when you need it most? Or reality being unreliable? Things vanishing but leaving traces… stuck with me. Added: "Cheshire Cat = fleeting logic/reality being flimsy".
Don't even get me started on the Queen of Hearts screaming "Off with their heads!" every other page. Most over-the-top character. Clearly, this is authority gone mad. Tyranny, rules for no reason, pointless cruelty… like dealing with a psycho boss or unreasonable parents. Pure, unchecked power abuse. Easy symbol: "Queen of Hearts = toxic, tyrannical authority".
Finishing Up - What It All Might Mean
Got to the end, Alice wakes up. Whole crazy adventure was a dream. Standard kid's book ending, but felt deeper. Maybe the whole trip down the rabbit hole is surviving chaos – growing up, dealing with weird rules, dodging tyrants, figuring out identity. Childhood feels like that sometimes! Absolutely bewildering.
Here’s what I ended up listing:
- White Rabbit: Pure panic about schedules, fear of being late. Life pressure.
- Empty Jars falling: Pointless everyday things distracting us from big issues.
- Drink Me/Eat Me: Physical/mental chaos of growing up, feeling out of control.
- Cheshire Cat: How things (logic, truth, reality) can just vanish, leaving only impressions.
- Queen of Hearts: Nonsensical authority figures ruling by fear and anger.
- The Whole Journey: Basically navigating the confusing nightmare of childhood/adolescence and emerging (hopefully) sane.
Not gonna lie, kinda disappointing in a way. Expected more "deep" secrets, but the big symbols are kinda… out in the open? Lewis Carroll wasn't hiding them much. Still, actually doing the hunt myself made 'em click more than just reading some fancy article. Makes you see the book different. Wonderland isn't just random nonsense; it’s packed with reflections of the messy, confusing bits of real life, especially growing up. Worth the time digging, though I’m glad I didn’t have to deal with a real Queen of Hearts afterwards.
