What is down the rabbit hole?
The book narrates the tale of a young girl named Alice on a sweltering summer day. Alice is overcome with boredom until a white talking rabbit scurries past her, hurriedly checking a pocket watch. Fueled by curiosity, Alice chases after the rabbit and tumbles down the rabbit hole, and that's when the excitement commences.
Alice then embarks on an exploration of the magnificent world of Wonderland, having her own unique adventures. However, the things in Wonderland are extremely absurd and unusual, much like in dreams. There is no coherent plot structure in the story; it consists of a series of unconnected and random events with strange characters.
Nevertheless, I liked how the reader gets to encounter numerous “who are you?” moments through Alice. “Who ARE You?” This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, “I--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.” “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!” “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” It's as if it's stating that your experiences can transform you, mold the person you become, and shape your values and beliefs.
I truly regret not having the opportunity to read this as a child. I would have loved to witness how my understanding and perception of the story have evolved. But as they say, better late than never.
It has been an extremely wonderful reread. Almost three years have passed since I first read this story, and I have no regrets about picking it up again. <3
This time around, as I delved back into the pages, I was once again captivated by the charm and magic that the story holds. The characters seemed to come alive even more vividly in my mind, and I found myself completely immersed in their world.
I can't wait to share my thoughts and insights about this book in an upcoming video on my channel. I'm sure it will be a great opportunity to discuss and explore the various aspects of this amazing story with my viewers. Stay tuned!
After delving into Christina Henry's extremely dark reinterpretation of this childhood classic, I was left with an overwhelming urge to revisit the original. It was as if I needed to safeguard the essence of my childhood that was threatened by this new perspective. The story of Alice is a well-known one. If you're unfamiliar with it, perhaps you're not truly part of this world! Alice chases a white rabbit and tumbles down a rabbit hole, embarking on a series of strange adventures and encountering a plethora of odd characters. In the end, it's all revealed to be a dream, of course!
Some of the fascinating people Alice meets include the Queen of Hearts, with her penchant for shouting "Off with their heads!" Then there's the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse, hosting their infamous Mad Tea Party. The Grinning Cheshire Cat adds an element of mystery with its disappearing act. And let's not forget the Rabbit who started it all! These characters have become iconic and have captured the imaginations of generations.
I truly believe that I need to read this story again. It's a timeless tale that continues to intrigue and captivate. Each time I pick it up, I discover something new and am reminded of the magic and wonder that it holds. Whether it's the beautiful illustrations or the engaging narrative, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is a book that will always have a special place in my heart.
Countless efforts have been made to interpret the allegorical work of Carroll and its hidden symbolisms. We will never truly know what exactly was in his mind when he wrote it. So it would be good to first interpret it in your own way and then deal with the possible interpretations of historians and critics.
I will focus more on how Alice influenced the music industry! It inspired many bands and singers, with the main exponents being: Jefferson Airplane – White Rabbit, Sisters of Mercy – Alice, Merilyn Manson – Eat me, drink me, Radiohead – Paranoid Android, Bob Dylan – Tweedledee Tweedldoom, Franz Ferdinand, Tom Waits ….
The White Rabbit talks about suppressing uprisings and the use of hallucinogenic substances. Alice also talks about narcotics. Manson is enthusiastic about this dark book as he says and writes a script for a movie with Alice being influenced and by the mathematical games that Carroll sets. The Radiohead repeat the motif "off with his head" - take his head - an attack that the queen of our fairytale often used whenever someone disturbed her "peace", with an indirect reference to the autocracy of the monarchy, especially the English one. For other historians, the fairytale satirizes the War of the Roses (a civil war between the Houses of Lancaster and York for the throne of England in the 15th century). The song of Dylan, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (food for thought this particular move of the Swedish Academy, motivated by Americans), is interesting, with a clear reference to the two heroes of the fairytale Tweedledee and Tweedledoom, a phrase that was used during the American elections to state that there is no difference between the candidates… same sheet different day that is… what does this remind us of?
Was Carroll a true genius or a paranoid under the influence of hallucinogens? I will counter the second characteristic with the argument that no polluted mind could write such a complex and well-structured story.
Is it a chaotic, disjointed and confused story or a mirror of logic and mathematics or just another story about the oppression of childhood?
Certainly a wonderful story that will take you on a journey to fairytale worlds and will entertain you!!!
Long before I had the opportunity to watch any movies adapted from it, this book had already sent shivers down my spine. I am well aware that there are individuals who hold a passionate love for the Alice books. However, I'm afraid that I don't belong to that group. When I delved into these books as a child, I was overcome by a pervasive sense that 'something is extremely wrong and dark within this story.' This feeling has remained with me ever since. It's as if the strange and eerie atmosphere of the story has seeped into my subconscious and refuses to let go. The vivid and often disturbing imagery, the unpredictable plot twists, and the overall sense of unease all contributed to this enduring impression. Even now, as an adult, I can still recall the queasy feeling I had while reading those pages. It's a testament to the power of the Alice books to evoke such strong emotions, even in those who don't necessarily share the same enthusiasm as others.