Alice is still a timeless Wonder

Published Nov 27, 2015

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‘The simple, brilliant conceit of a child finding a portal into another world, a world of his or her unbridled – if not entirely unhinged – imagination is so compelling, several have lovingly lifted it, including CS Lewis, whose The Chronicles of Narnia series begins when a child finds a pathway to a fairytale universe in a wardrobe…”

In this elementary description, Boston Herald critic, James Verniere, captured the essence of what has made one of literature’s classic stories so enduring. Those who, like yours truly, spent hour upon solitary hour with their nose nestled among its magical pages will immediately recognise the fairytale as that of Alice and her Wonderland gang.

Despite its distinctly Victorian era undertones, Lewis Carroll’s creation continues to enrapture people of all ages the world over (those who can still be bothered to read full-length books, that is, even if only in digital format).

And as testament to its timeless quality, the fantasy novel celebrated 150 years of unbroken print yesterday, since it was first published on November 26, 1865.

But just what is it about the young girl and her posse of frantic rabbits, disappearing cats, tart obsessed queens and tea-loving loonies decked out in crazy concoctions they call hats, that has so enchanted the collective imagination for decades?

Over the years, the typical “tut tut” clan have chosen to draw attention to what they deem its supposedly subversive themes, including promoting drug abuse (the caterpillar and his penchant for puffing away), allusions to sexual fantasies and masturbation (huh?), violence unsuitable for children (never mind that you’re likely to encounter a far greater degree of brutality on any average kids’ cartoon) and even witchcraft (ol’ Mister Kitty and his vanishing act).

To which I can but draw from dear Alice herself and say “nonsense!”.

Perhaps, at some level, Carroll’s (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) use of preposterous puns and absurdist plot were indeed a subtle satire on the politics and religious practices of his day, as others have also claimed. But then, such notions would have been lost on the children reading it, whom the book was geared toward. Certainly for this little girl, it was the astonishing vividness of Carroll’s fantastical unique characters set within the scope of his gloriously far-fetched scenes, that found me returning to it time and time again.

Today, approaching it from an adult perspective, I am struck by Alice’s self-assuredness despite her virtually embryonic seven years of age. And perhaps the most telling message of the tale (if, in fact, Carroll ever intended for there to be one), is how she, a mere sprite, displays more common sense and compassion, than the self-serving adults who surround her. Now that’s a lesson to be learnt…

Given its perennial popularity, it may be surprising to discover that this seminal fictional work received mediocre reviews when it was first revealed to the public. But when fellow, prolific, 19th century novelist, Sir Walter Besant wrote that Alice in Wonderland “is a book of that extremely rare kind which will belong to the generations to come, until language becomes obsolete”, it seems he was seeing into the future.

For his words have indeed proven prophetic. And for those who still value unfeigned adventure, the sweet innocence of childhood, or the beauty of ingenious imagination, our inner wonderlands are undoubtedly the richer for it.

LARA DE MATOS

TONIGHT EDITOR

[email protected]

@Lara_de_Matos

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