Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and time for another review. Today I am reviewing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was originally published in November 1865 by Macmillan, and is 196 pages long.

Plot
The story follows the journey of a young girl named Alice, who falls down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a whimsical world filled with talking animals and peculiar characters.

Characters
Alice
Alice is a young girl who, while sitting by a river bank, spots a white rabbit with a pocket watch running by, talking about how late he is. Alice is surprised by this and, following him down a rabbit hole finds herself in a strange and unfamiliar world filled with curious creatures and unknown landscapes.

Throughout her journey, Alice is faced with numerous challenges and obstacles. She grows and shrinks in size, battles against a deck of playing cards, and even attends a chaotic tea party.

She is depicted as curious, brave, and kind-hearted while also, at times, naive and somewhat impulsive.

Alice’s curiosity and determination drive the story forward, and her encounters with various beings in Wonderland create a sense of surrealism and absurdity.

The White Rabbit
The White Rabbit happens by a resting Alice, dressed in a waistcoat and gloves and checking his pocket watch. Alice spots him and follows him down a rabbit hole and into Wonderland. He is a fascinating character, portrayed as anxious and highly-strung, obsessed with punctuality and terrified of being late.

It could be argued that the White Rabbit is one of the most significant characters in the book since he is the first Wonderland character we’re introduced to. Plus, it is he who is the catalyst for Alice’s adventure. Without his hasty entrance into the story, Alice would not have been prompted to follow him down the rabbit hole and discover the world of Wonderland.

The March Hare
The March Hare hosts a tea party at which the Hatter and the Dormouse are guests. Alice, having invited herself, wishes she hadn’t when the March Hare and The Hatter try to convince her that she’s stupid. They also try to drown the Dormouse in a teapot.

The Hatter
The Hatter (also known as The Mad Hatter) is perhaps the most iconic character in the book. His eccentricity and zany behaviour have become synonymous with the whimsical world of Wonderland. He is characterized by his quirky mannerisms and bizarrely structured sentences.

The Hatter and the March Hare like to behave as if it is always tea time because the Hatter was accused of ‘murdering time’ while singing for the Queen of Hearts, who sentenced him to death for the crime, though he escaped decapitation. Time, in retaliation, halts himself around the Hatter, keeping him stuck at six o’clock forever.

The Hatter is a bizarre character who epitomizes the eccentricity of Wonderland’s inhabitants. He is a whimsical figure, defined by the madness reflected in his speech and behaviour.

When Alice joins the tea party, the Hatter keeps switching places, asking her riddles which have no answers and reciting nonsensical poetry, inevitably causing Alice to leave them.

The Queen of Hearts
The Queen of Hearts is an imposing figure who constantly calls for the head of one character or another to be lopped off, though it turns out nobody really ever gets executed; the King of Hearts quietly pardons them when she’s not looking. She is hot-headed and quite temperamental, always demanding obedience and respect from her subjects.

The Cheshire Cat
The Cheshire Cat is a large and enigmatic cat with a massive grin who can appear and disappear at will. He offers cryptic advice to Alice as she navigates through Wonderland. With his evasive answers to Alice’s questions, the Cheshire Cat ignites curiosity and adds a layer of intrigue to the story.

Writing Style
Carroll’s writing style is wonderfully engaging, with vivid descriptions that make you feel like you’re being pulled through Wonderland alongside Alice.

Another notable aspect of the book is Carroll’s masterful use of language and wordplay. The author’s clever use of puns, clever rhymes, and witty allusions create a sense of whimsy and playfulness that is unmatched in children’s literature.

Alice’s journey through Wonderland is filled with curious events and conversations that challenge the reader’s imagination and intellect. The author’s imaginative descriptions of the characters and settings are immensely creative and entertaining, providing a perfect escape into a magical world.

Speaking of the characters… they’re all incredibly memorable and provide insight into the author’s perspective on Victorian society. From the Hatter to the Queen of Hearts, each character represents a different aspect of the human condition and provides an interesting commentary on the absurdities of the world around us.

The book presents a range of eccentric characters, each with distinct characteristics and attributes. Each, it seems, might represent a different aspect of Alice’s psyche or the societal conventions and regulations she transcends. Their unique traits and characteristics add depth and richness to the story, making it a timeless classic.

Final Thoughts
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is such an enchanting story. I have read it many times over the years, and yet I still remember the first time.

I don’t remember the year (my sister wasn’t born yet, so I must have been four or five) though I do know it was December 1st because that’s the day we used to put up our Christmas tree, and my dad had been promising us a story the whole time we festive-fied the house. When we were done, my brother jumped in his bed, I jumped in mine, and my dad, sitting beside me, led us into Wonderland for the first of many visits.

Whenever I read it now as an adult, I’m taken right back to that night, and it’s a memory I hold dear now since both my parents are no longer with us. I was lucky to have parents who enjoyed reading to us and encouraged us to read ourselves. They introduced me to some of my literary favourites (such as this one). For that, I will always be grateful.

I am giving Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland a 10/10 for the story, the strangeness and the nostalgia.

Have you read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or watched any of the adaptations based upon it? Let me know your thoughts!

As always, thanks so much for spending some time with me today!

Until next time,

George

© 2023 GLT

Categories: Book Reviews, Reading

Tags: Adventures, Alice, book, book review, Lewis Carroll, review, Wonderland