In Lewis Carroll’s classics, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, kings and queens appear embodied in animated playing cards and chessmen. But are they really only “a pack of cards” (Carroll 72) and ordinary chess figures in the eyes of Alice, the heroine of the two books, or does she take them seriously? And if she takes the kings and queens seriously, why doesn’t she always treat them as adult-authorities as one might have expected from a Victorian girl? The idea suggests itself that it was Carroll’s intention to draw a satirical picture of the Victorian monarchy because Queen Victoria’s popularity was no longer at it’s height when he wrote the Alice books. But according to the author himself, his chief motive was to “please a child (he) loved” (Carroll, AotS). Here Lewis Carroll is referring to a girl named Alice Liddell to whom he told Alice’s adventures before he later wrote them for publication. Indeed, Lewis Carroll had an exceptional knowledge of the child’s mind and could thus create a unique fairytale, as the author himself calls his narrative, which is still considered a children’s classic today. How do the kings and queens in the two Alice books then contribute to the success of Carroll’s works of Alice and Wonderland and Through The Looking-Glass?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Analysis
3. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the depiction and role of the monarchy in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass," exploring whether these figures represent satirical caricatures of Victorian authority or serve a different purpose in the development of the protagonist. By analyzing Alice's interactions with these monarchs, the research investigates how a child heroine navigates and ultimately challenges adult-imposed rules and irrational power structures.
- The intersection of childhood innocence and adult authority.
- Satire and the representation of Victorian monarchy.
- The child's perception of power and justice.
- Alice's psychological growth and rebellion against illogical rules.
- The contrasting roles of the Queen of Hearts, the Red Queen, and the White Queen.
Excerpt from the Book
The Role of The Monarchy in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking-Glass And What Alice Found There
“THE KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS” (Carroll 70) arrive in a spectacular parade accompanied by their entire court. The author stresses the great power of the monarchs by printing their names in capitals although they are all but part of a set of playing cards: “oblong and flat, with their hands and feet at the corners” (Carroll 70). With this technique Carroll can make clear that the Royalty possess a certain authority. At the same time he enables Alice to question the absolute power of the monarchs. The three gardeners throw “themselves flat on their faces” (Carroll 70), for fear of this “blind and aimless Fury”, as Lewis Carroll described the Queen in Alice on the Stage.
Alice, however, is not very intimidated by the Royal family’s pompous arrival. Unlike the silly servants, Alice always “tries to maintain her mental activity” (Lucas 159), meaning that she questions things that seem to be absurd or illogical. Considering the possible rule of having to lie down on your face during a procession useless, she simply “(stands) where she (is) and (waits)” (Carroll 71).
When Alice is asked to introduce herself to the Queen, she responds in a very polite manner. Being a girl of the Victorian Age, she has certainly been taught to be corteous when addressed by a stranger, especially when addressed by someone her superior. Her reaction can furthermore be explained by assuming that she is a little afraid of the cruel Queen. But the wise Alice knows how to overcome her fear. In order to encourage herself Alice thus says to herself: “Why, they’re only a pack of cards, after all” (Carroll 72).
Alice, having realised that the Queen treats people rudely and unfairly, at last succeeds in contradicting the “savage” (Carroll 83) woman. At the Queens remark “Off with her head”, Alice simply shouts out “Nonsense” (Carroll 72) and thus shuts the Queen up. As Judith Bloomingdale expresses in an article, Alice “speaks for all children who are threatened by adults with unjust punishments” (Phillips 384).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the primary research question concerning the role of the monarchy in Lewis Carroll's works and posits that the author intended to create a unique fairytale that speaks to the child's perspective.
2. Analysis: This section examines Alice's encounters with the royalty in both books, analyzing how she moves from initial fear to active criticism and rebellion against the illogical and unfair authority of the monarchs.
3. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes how Carroll provides children with a strong heroine, offering them a narrative space to identify with and a symbolic way to resist the irrational rules of adults.
Keywords
Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass, Monarchy, Victorian Age, Childhood, Authority, Queen of Hearts, Red Queen, White Queen, Satire, Literary Analysis, Rebellion, Alice Liddell, Power Structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper explores the role and function of monarchical figures within Lewis Carroll’s two Alice books, specifically how they are perceived by and interact with the child protagonist.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The work centers on themes of childhood, the critique of Victorian adult authority, the nature of power, and the psychological development of the heroine.
What is the main goal or research question?
The primary goal is to determine how the kings and queens in the stories contribute to the success of the books and to understand how Alice navigates her relationship with these powerful, often illogical figures.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The research is based on a literary analysis of the original texts, supported by quotes from the author and academic secondary literature.
What topics are discussed in the main analysis?
The analysis covers the introduction of the monarchs, Alice's initial reactions to their authority, her growing critical attitude, and specific comparisons between the different queens, such as the Queen of Hearts, the Red Queen, and the White Queen.
What are the characterizing keywords of this work?
Key terms include Lewis Carroll, Victorian Age, childhood, authority, monarchy, rebellion, and literary criticism.
How does Alice's relationship with the Red Queen differ from her relationship with the Queen of Hearts?
While Alice treats the Queen of Hearts with a mix of fear and eventual defiance, she views the Red Queen as a "governess" figure, showing her a form of respect and obedience that she does not accord to the other monarchs.
In what way does the paper suggest children react to the monarchs in the story?
The paper argues that the dream-world created by Carroll provides children with a safe opportunity to witness a heroine successfully resisting "adult silliness," thereby offering them a sense of empowerment against their own parents or authority figures.
- Quote paper
- Marlissa Gerken (Author), 2003, The Role of The Monarchy in Lewis Carroll’s "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through The Looking-Glass And What Alice Found There", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/91806
