The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

Volume 14 Article 8

2013

Adult Realm v. Childhood: A Critical Examination of the Victorian Realm’s Ideal Young Adult

Jewels White St. John Fisher College, [email protected]

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Abstract Alice in Wonderland is a story that represents the cultural shift in Victorian ideas and its vision of childhood. The character of Alice represents an ideal Victorian youth, but her inabilities, confinement, and limitations in Wonderland suggest a culture clash and changing times. The story of Alice, through its puns, miscommunication, confusing mannerisms, and cultural disconnection between Alice and the inhabitants of Wonderland, preach a rejection of the Victorian adult realm. The novel itself provides an alternative for children to be children rather than obedient little adults.

This article is available in The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/ur/ vol14/iss1/8 White: Adult Realm v. Childhood

Adult Realm v. Childhood: A Critical Examination of the Victorian Realm’s Ideal Young Adult Jewels White

Alice begins her adventure down the construction of a child’s bedtime story rabbit hole with a gesture of boredom. She involved grotesque and scary images with has lost all interest in whatever her older devastating ends for the younger character. sister is reading and begins her pursuit of the The purpose of these bedtime stories was to white rabbit into her adventure in scare children into behaving appropriately. Wonderland. Alice’s adventure represents According to Charmette Kendrick, “in the foreshadowing of something new, a nineteenth century England and America, rejection of the adult Victorian realm. most scary stories were written and Instead of sitting leisurely studying a book published for the young with two with her sister, Alice has decided to take a purposes—to indoctrinate youngsters with break away from her expectations and let the morals of the day and to expose curiosity be her guide. Alice in Wonderland superstition as a false belief system is a story that represents the cultural shift in perpetuated by the foolish and the wicked” Victorian ideas and its vision of childhood. (20). Alice represents a cultural shift away The character of Alice represents an from these kinds of Victorian values and a (almost) ideal Victorian youth, but her departure from bedtime stories that had a inabilities, confinement, and limitations in purpose of mainly scaring children into Wonderland suggest a culture clash and being obedient little adults rather than foreshadow changing times. The story of fueling imagination. The Victorian era Alice, through its puns, parodies, stressed proper etiquette and social miscommunication, confusing mannerisms, discipline, while rejecting curiosity and and cultural disconnection between Alice independent action (especially from young and the inhabitants of Wonderland, girls). Some critics argue that the novel of advocates a rejection of the Victorian adult Alice in Wonderland “was a call to arms realm. The novel itself provides an urging children and adults to turn the staid alternative for children to be children rather Victorian world of strict morals and manners than merely obedient little adults. on its head” (Kendrick 22). Alice represents Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland a need for children to delight in their own is best known for its eccentric and odd imaginations and experience the thrill of characters, peculiar adventure, and female adventure without moralistic evil breathing protagonist; however, what is least known down their necks. about the novel is its revolutionary Despite this need, an evil was always beginnings. In today’s society, bedtime breathing down the necks of children during stories and fairy tales depict magical lands the nineteenth century and this led to that take children on imaginary adventures Carroll’s declaration for the respect of were anything can come true, but this was childhood. This evil being discussed is high not the case during Alice’s time. During the child mortality. During this era, “infant nineteenth century and before, the typical mortality was high [1700-1900] and the

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number of children surviving in any one Teach it in accents soft and mild; family was usually small, [with] many It may not long remain. 1 infants dying before they were even five This poem expresses a need for the gentle years old” (Whalley and Chester 15). This treatment and love for infants. One would caused parents to remain slightly detached assume it is because an infant is only that from their children and to push them into little for a short period, but in terms of this being little adults as fast as they could. time period, it actually is because the child Families needed children to support incomes will probably die. This poem does not and to do other tasks in order to help out; represent what actually went on within therefore the pressure to grow-up was families during the nineteenth century. This constant. Lindsay Smith, in her article poem represents a glorified version of how “Picturing the Child in the Nineteenth parents should treat their infants, but in Century: The Artist, the Child, and a actuality, parents generally ignored or Changing Society,” reasons that disease, neglected their infants as a form of poor nutrition, and work hazards all played emotional protection. The first time Alice an integral part in this epidemic (41). This meets the Duchess, she is walking down a was a reality for most families and thus led random path and witnesses her singing to to even the most gentle and nurturing parent her infant in a pepper-filled house. The to act differently towards their children due Duchess is singing her baby a lullaby, but to this personal vulnerability. The loss of a this lullaby is not what Alice expected: child can be devastating, but certain social Speak roughly to your little boy, practices helped as a coping mechanism for And beat him when he sneezes: many parents. He only does it to annoy, Alice in Wonderland advocates Because he knows it teases. (71) imagination, curiosity, and other child-like While the Duchess sings this to her baby, attitudes, but this is not all done through the she is constantly shaking and throwing her simplicity of allowing a young child to child around her pepper-filled house. This wander aimlessly throughout a random land. cruel treatment is rather shocking, but This vulnerability of a parent losing their Carroll is using hyperbole to criticize child caused parents during the time period parents and their detachment. Parents did “to accelerate their child to adulthood, not literally throw their infants around and beyond the deathly pitfalls of youth, even if beat them, but it did happen to children. it was only in a superficial fashion. The With the onset of the Industrial Revolution, child had no childhood [during]… that children were forcibly placed in factories period of development” (Smith 42). Carroll and other unsafe working areas in order to recognizes this issue and in order to further help the family. This would never have his avocation for childhood, he utilizes the happened to upper-middle-class Alice, but literary convention of parody in order to poor working conditions were becoming a help further display the ideals and values that are wrong within his society (in terms of people’s mindsets towards children). David 1 This poem is available in footnote number one on Bates (1848) wrote a typical lullaby for infants during this time. The lyrics are as page 49 of: Carroll, Lewis. Alice in follows: Wonderland. Ed. Donald J. Gray. New Speak gently to the little child! Its love be sure to gain; York: Norton & Company Inc., 1971. Print.

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prominent issue creeping into Victorian “Perhaps it hasn’t one,” Alice society. Smith asks her audience to ventured to remark. “consider the popular depictions of the child “Tut, tut, child!” said the as a small adult. Even as late as the first Duchess. “Everything’s got a quarter of the nineteenth century, children moral, if only you can find wore scaled-down versions of the clothes it.” And she squeezed herself worn by elders” (Rogers 41). This helped closer to Alice’s side as she parents cope because an adult’s death is less spoke. (70). devastating than an innocent child’s is. As one can recall from earlier, the Duchess Alice represents how Victorian was throwing her child around the room and society viewed children through their speaking roughly to it. It is apparent that she consistent morals, values, and social clearly is not a good moralistic example. customs that stress obedience and strict However, she thinks she is and that is manners. This mindset is apparent from exactly how she represents a mockery Alice’s interactions with the various towards the Victorian society’s literature inhabitants of Wonderland such as the conventions. Duchess, Mock Turtle, the March Hare, and The Duchess scolds Alice for not the Cheshire Cat. Theodore Dalrymple, in realizing there is a moral in everything. his article, “Down the Rabbit Hole” explains Even Alice, who comes from a very that many of Alice’s interactions with moralistic society, is confused by this natives “do not follow any moral or even woman and how she finds enjoyment in causative, logic. Carroll clearly makes mock discovering morals in random life. Another of Victorian moralism and highmindness, example of her nonsensical morals appears which must have come as a relief to children when they are discussing flamingo tempers. and their parents, like shedding a heavy load Alice warns the Duchess that the flamingo after a long walk” (48). As it has been might bite. The Duchess replies, “very pointed out, this novel was revolutionary for true…flamingos and mustard both bite. And the time period in terms of its absence of that moral of that is—‘Birds of a feather aggressive moralistic themes. Until flock together’”(71). Alice follows by telling publication of this novel, children’s books the Duchess that mustard is not a bird and were heavily moralistic. Using the character the discussion of mustard continues. This of the Duchess, Carroll mocks these moral the Duchess states has no relevance to Victorian conventions of morals (Dalrymple their discussion of flamingo biting (at least 48). This lack of moralism in Alice in as far as Alice is concerned), which Wonderland is most apparent in the represents how other general morals were following passage from Alice’s second ridiculous for children during this time meeting with the Duchess: period. When Carroll “makes a ridiculous Alice had quite forgotten about the character like the Duchess praise and Duchess by this time, and was a little practice moralizing in this manner, he startled when she heard her voice clearly indicates his attitude towards close to her ear. “You’re thinking didacticism directed against children” about something, my dear, and that (Leach 92). Typically in other child stories, makes you forget to talk. I ca’n’t tell these heavily moralistic themed fairy tales you just now what the moral of that would result in a lying child freezing to is, but I shall remember it in a bit.” death in the snow and having his eyes picked out by ravens (Kendrick 21). Carroll

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disagreed with these types of children stories Party chapter. As the chapter starts, Alice and utilized the Duchess to display the has just sat down at the table and the March absurdity of malicious morals in fairy tales. Hare states to her: Alice represents her own culture “Have some wine,” the (Victorian society), while the inhabitants of March Hare said in an Wonderland represent a clashing culture, encouraging tone. which is dramatically different from Alice’s. Alice looked all round the At times this causes a cultural disconnect, table, but there was nothing which chain reacts with anger, hostility, and on it but tea. “I don’t see any severe misunderstandings from both wine,” she remarked. participating parties. Alice retains a very “There isn’t any,” said the ethnocentric viewpoint within her March Hare. exploration of Wonderland, which displays “Then it wasn’t very civil of the Victorian’s sense of authority in proper you to offer it,” said Alice values and sense of cultural superiority. angrily. Wonderland is full of rules, regulations, “It wasn’t very civil of you to manners and morals, but none of these are sit down without being accessible to Alice, who is trapped within invited,” said the March her own mindset. Alice’s struggles Hare. throughout Wonderland and this “I didn’t know it was your demonstrates her problems with growing-up. table,” said Alice: “it’s laid In the viewpoint of the Victorians’, out for a great many more imagination, curiosity, and explorative than three.” interest are child-like traits, whereas adult “Your hair wants cutting,” traits include logic, literalness, and attention said the Hatter. He had been to rules. Everything Alice sees and does, she looking at Alice for some judges based upon her, own, adult enforced, time with great curiosity, and learned experiences, and knowledge that she this was his first speech. considers as “normal.” “You should learn not to The concept of “normal” changes make personal remarks,” depending on what cultural lens an Alice said with some individual is looking through. The cultural severity: “it’s very rude.” lens that Alice uses is based on Victorian (55) values and social customs. It is through her Both parties in this situation are impolite personal perspective that one can see that and missing appropriate manners within the there is a dramatic culture clash to be contexts of their own cultures. The March witnessed within Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Hare considers Alice bad-mannered for Wonderland. What Alice deems as normal sitting down uninvited and Alice considers social interaction is not the same as what a the March Hare impolite for offering her Wonderland inhabitant would deem as wine when there was none. Alice is the first normal. This is apparent in how Alice offender in this case, but she maintains the constantly is either insulting an inhabitant, impression that she does not need passing judgment on their habits, or being permission to sit down at the table because observed rude or stupid herself. An example she did not realize it was the March Hare’s of Alice being rude to a Wonderland table. Alice always sees herself as superior inhabitant takes place during the Mad Tea to Wonderland’s inhabitants. She also

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always sees herself as the most sensible and Mock Turtle would call his master a logical being. Alice is not a guest at the Tortoise is he was not, in fact, a tortoise. March Hare’s tea party, but she sits down The Mock Turtle angrily replies to Alice and starts to talk to the March Hare like a that “we called him Tortoise because he little brat. She also notices that there are a taught us” (Carroll 109). Here Carroll is great number of chairs and few people using linguistic conventions, once again, in sitting down, so she does not understand order to create confusion for Alice within why she would be the one considered rude. Wonderland. Alice is accustomed to her She even turns towards the March Hare and own dialect, language, and meanings. says to him “I didn’t know it was your Wonderland, however, seems to provide a table… it’s laid out for a great many more wide variety of interpretation. than three” (55). She insults the March At times, it seems like Wonderland’s Hare’s intelligence and sees his social inhabitants purposely twist meanings and mannerisms as improper and discourteous. ideas in order to further Alice’s confusion Linda Shires in her article, in her article, and questioning her own personal “Nonsense Parody, and the Status of the identification. Jan B. Gordon, in her article Real: The Example of Carroll,” she explains “The Alice Books and Metaphors of that “because the March Hare and the Mad Victorian Childhood,” states that “language Hatter contradict what Alice thinks is the and dialects belong to an adult normal ritual of a tea-party and also the communication circuit, whereas the realm of natural relationship between words and childhood has its own internal form of things, she must conclude: it was ‘the communication, less dependent upon stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my linguistic translation” (94). This shows how life!’ (p 60)” (Shires 272). Instead of Alice Alice is limited within Wonderland. Alice assessing herself and seeing her flaws, she has been taught her whole life how to think maintains a belief of cultural superiority and and act a certain way. These thoughts and dismisses them as just strange. This cultural actions were depicted by the Victorian disconnect is passed off as their fault and not society that tells her to be more literal and all Alice’s, yet undoubtedly in this state of use logic over imagination. affairs, the March Hare and the Hatter It is difficult for Alice to think less maintain control over Alice. literally and more figuratively in Another example of cultural Wonderland because logic is what she disconnect happens when Alice goes to hear would be taught to rely on as an obedient, the story of the Mock Turtle. When first little, Victorian child. Curiosity and meeting the Mock Turtle, Alice asks him imagination are child-like traits, which are about his past and after waiting for a long also seen as weak personality traits and time, he explains to her that his master was strongly denied. When the Mock Turtle is an old turtle that they used to call Tortoise. talking with young Alice, their conversation Alice, in this situation, laughs because she is is full of puns and double meanings. thinking about the conventional distinction Through Carroll’s mastery with the English between tortoises and turtles. Tortoises language, it all makes perfect sense, but it is generally are described as land-bound unlike never what Alice is expecting. The Mock turtles that can swim in the sea. This Turtle constantly remains linguistic control moment in Wonderland represents another over Alice due to her limitations generated instance of cultural disconnect for Alice by Victorian customs. Beatrice Turner because she could not understand why the discusses this topic of linguistic control in

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her article “’Which is to be the Master?’ a very important aspect of the upper-class Language as Power in Alice in Wonderland Victorian adult realm. The Mock Turtle and Through the Looking Glass.” Turner explains that it was “ten hours the first explains that “whatever rules are being day… nine the next, and so on” (Carroll 77). adhered to her, they are the ones to which This was not the answer Alice was Alice is denied access, and as such she expecting, but this concept excites and almost always comes out second best in the bewilders her at the same time. The debates in which she is engaged in” (247). Gryphon notices this and explains the This is apparent in her conversation with the reasoning to Alice. He says, “They’re called Mock Turtle. Alice is always one-step lessons… because they lessen from day to behind these inhabitants in Wonderland and day” (77). This idea interests Alice because it is through her learned knowledge of the it actually makes perfect sense, but adult realm and the Victorian concepts that Victorian society would find the concept dictate her lady-like properties that cause ridiculous. It is moments like this that make Alice’s confusion. Alice attempts to utilize Alice start to wonder who exactly she is and logic several times through the text, in how she fits into the world around her. Her situations like this one, in order to display beliefs and understanding of her own world her superiority and awareness of adult are constantly being tested and questioned concepts and rules. The problem with this is throughout her journey. her logic is based upon Victorian knowledge Alice must try to be like a child in and beliefs, which do nothing to aid her or order to get anywhere in Wonderland, but explain her encounters in Wonderland. she struggles to remove herself from the Alice’s expectations are what adult realm’s specialized thought patterns continually cause her the most difficulty in involving being literal and this inability her adventure through Wonderland. What produces a lot of complications and cultural means one thing in her culture could mean tension for Alice. Beatrice Turner explains something completely different in another, further that, “the child only exists in an but Alice cannot seem to grasp the reality of intelligible way through language, which is this. In order to function correctly in rule-bound and, above all, the province of Wonderland, Alice must relearn and the adult” (244). When looking at the reevaluate the way in which she thinks about inhabitants of Wonderland, Turner argues life in response to her surroundings. This that this linguistic control defines them as concept is apparent in the discussion of adults and the way in which they use this “lessons” between the Mock Turtle, Alice linguistic control with Alice is in a very and the Gryphon. In this particular scene, adult way (244). Throughout the novel, there Alice is once again attempting to sound are a number of instances where the more knowledgeable and authoritative than inhabitants exercise the adult’s right to tell a another Wonderland inhabitant, by asking child “what” she is or what she should do. the Mock Turtle how many hours a day he Elsie Leach, in her article, “Alice in studied his lessons. She sees this as a Wonderland in Perspective,” discusses the competition. She thinks she will beat him by lesson in which Alice tries to repeat having more hours of studying a day and she throughout the novel and how “some of the believes this will show her superiority characters Alice meets order her to ‘stand up because it her society, the more an and repeat’ [her lessons] as a test of individual studies and learns, the more memory, and in other ways they display the distinguished he is considered. Education is usual adult preachy officiousness” (91).

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Carroll sees this as a major flaw and and say ‘Who am I, then?’ problem dictated by the adult realm and it is Tell me that first, and then, if clearly displayed. This is why Carroll I like being that person, I’ll parodies the instructive verses that children come up: if not, I’ll stay were forced to recite and memorize. A child down here til I’m somebody has a unique and special mind that needs to else” (Carroll 26). be nurtured and developed. By suppressing Alice’s previous identity in her world is individuality and imagination, one is meaningless in Wonderland. Therefore suppressing personal identity—something things that mattered to her, like toys and a that Carroll struggled with a lot himself nice house, really do not matter; however, (Smith 370). This necessity to “be” Alice is using quite a condescending tone something causes Alice to constantly when discussing this Mabel. She describes question herself and become something Mabel’s house as “poky” and “little.” She concrete, when it is unnecessary. also points out that as Mabel she will “have Nothing is what it seems and next to no toys to play with.” Alice is very everything in this new world confuses Alice: much trapped with her upper-middle-class the cruelty, the manners, the use of Victorian upbringing. She connect say her language, the inhabitants’ perception of lessons properly and things are not going her time. This all makes Alice start to question way, so therefore she believes that she must her previous identity outside and within be some lower-class girl that she seems to Wonderland because she seems convinced not like very much. This is apparent that she cannot be herself. This clash of through her personal statements reflecting cultures is generating an identity crisis for upon her own identity as a little girl and the Alice. She continues to misspeak her lessons fact that permanent identity is non-existent and cannot recall geography or math. The within Wonderland. Alice obviously realizes cultural disconnect she has with the natives this when she states that she could “stay in Wonderland starts to make Alice very down here til I’m somebody else” (26). An uncomfortable. She becomes uncomfortable example of identity crisis is after Alice’s with her surroundings and therefore herself meeting with the caterpillar. as well. Even in the very beginning, Alice After Alice takes a bite from one- starts to question herself in relation to this side of the mushroom, as the caterpillar new culture she has literally fallen into. instructed her to do (because she did not After her initial inability to say her lessons want to be only three inches tall anymore), correctly, Alice states: her neck immediately grows long and tall, “I must be Mabel after all, resembling a snake’s body. A Pigeon that is and I shall have to go and flying nearby sees Alice and starts to attack live in that poky little house, her head because the bird believes Alice to and have next to no toys to be a serpent after her eggs. Alice attempts to play with, and oh, ever so convince the Pigeon that she is a little girl many lessons to learn! No, and not a serpent, but the constant changes I’ve made up my mind about Alice has gone through, both physically and it: if I’m Mabel, I’ll stay mentally, has rendered her unsure to her down here. It’ll be no use own identity. Veronica Schanoes, in her their putting their heads down article, “Fearless Children and Fabulous and saying, ‘Come up again, Monsters,” explains that in this episode, “the dear!’ I shall only look up distinction between little girl and ravenous

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monster, between eater and eaten, is blurred happen in the real world. When Alice is and dissolved. Is Alice a little girl or a trapped in the White Rabbit’s house, his serpent, innocence or temptation, or are they neighbors all start to throw rocks at her both the same thing after all?” (40). Alice because they think she is giant and scary. has been taught by society to “be” These stones then transform into little cakes something and cannot just exist, as Alice while they rain down on Alice’s giant body seems to do in Wonderland. Her personal that is stuck in the Rabbit’s house. After a and physical identity is constantly while, Alice starts to notice the stones questioned because she does not seem to changing into little cakes, and begins to know who or what she exactly is either, wonder “if I eat one of those cakes… it’s especially when her physical identity keeps sure to make some change in my size; and as shifting forms. This world is very strange it can’t possibly make me larger, it must and different to her. Alice is unable to grasp make me smaller, I suppose” (Carroll 49). the changing social concepts and values in Alice is starting to understand Wonderland’s Wonderland that mirror the changing social cause-and-effect ordination, but she still concepts and values happening in Carroll’s cannot seem to forget about her real world real world. The Victorian era’s morals, obligations directed by the adult realm. values, and social customs were becoming One of the most important real world outdated and change was on the way. Alice obligations, for Alice, is her schooling and represents her cultures’ residue convictions her lessons. Victorian society dictates and difficulties with change through her education as extremely important and identity crisis. therefore as Alice journeys through Identity is a complex concept in Wonderland, she can never get away from or Wonderland. In this world, one can be all forget her lessons. In every encounter, she kinds of things and no one ever knows what has, she thinks about them. She continuously will happen next. Depending on what she is concerned with learning more and being a eats or drink, Alice’s body grows proper young lady, as directed by Victorian dramatically bigger or smaller. Here in culture. The difficulty with this is that Alice Wonderland, a pack of cards can be a group must try to be like a child in order to get of soldiers and a child can transform into a anywhere in Wonderland. Despite this, pig due to poor treatment. As Linda Shires Alice tries to preserve the proper lady-like explains, “what Alice knows is not of much values she was raised on throughout her use in Wonderland. Her logic and her expedition; however, this struggle to let language system fail in this most fluid of imagination and curiosity fuel her adventure worlds, where she changes her size regularly represents her society’s struggle for its own and nearly drowns in her own tears” (272). change. In the real world, there are limitations. Proper values and rules for young Wonderland has no limitations, which ladies were important aspects of Victorian symbolizes childhood. Curiosity and society. Every young upper-class girl should imagination are the two things that do not follow the right kinds of etiquette and hinder Alice’s journey, which are manners. Books like the Etiquette for the characteristically connected to children. Ladies: Eighty Maxims on Dress, Manners, Wonderland is full of impossibilities. For and Accomplishments were written to appeal example, if Alice eats a cake, she grows of to the upper-class women living in the 1800s shrinks immediately, instead of over the and provide advice on the ways in which course of time of eating it, as it would they should interact with society. This

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particular artifact provides a clue to your household affairs” (30). A lady should understanding what was considered as the not be directly concerned with her servants, proper conduct for young women during the but she should make sure that they are doing Victorian era. Both of these books were their job correctly. This can relate directly to written around the same time. Lewis the text of Alice in Wonderland due to Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland was written in Alice’s obvious upper-class education and 1865 and this particular etiquette book was use of servants. on its fourth edition in 1837. Therefore, When the Mock Turtle and Alice most of these social concepts would still continue their conversation, they begin to have been taught to the young Alice through talk about lessons (as mentioned earlier). her tutoring; however, many of these The Mock Turtle talks about how “he had conducts probably were becoming old and the best of educations” and Alice cuts him outdated. off to discuss how she went to school too In Alice in Wonderland, Alice and that “he needn’t be so proud as all that” follows many of the Victorian era’s (Carroll 76). Alice’s upper-middle-class mannerisms and social morals in order to raising has made Alice assume that proper further herself in her adventure, but usually education is completely normal and nothing this only creates more complications and special to obtain. All children like Alice difficulties for her. Alice can never seem to would receive a prodigious education, grasp the way Wonderland’s inhabitants probably with tutors; however, Alice has yet think or how their society seems to work. By to realize that not all children have this looking at this artifact in juxtaposition with luxury. When the Mock Turtle attempts to Alice in Wonderland, it is apparent that gain an advantage over Alice, he adds Carroll’s story represents the beginning of a quickly, “with extras?”(76). Alice interprets shift in the vision of childhood. These this “extras” as additional classes that cost mannerisms and customs were soon going to more than the basic education package. fade away and child rendering was going to Alice interprets this based on her learned change. Carroll stressed for the respect of knowledge from her society. She explains to childhood and allowance of child-like the Turtle, rather smugly, then that she had innocence. Children did not need to be little also learned French and music. The Mock adults. Through her societal enforced Turtle, however, did not mean “extras” as in education of becoming a proper young lady, extra classes for additional costs, but Alice is confined, limited and confused instead, he meant “extras” as in extra within the world of Wonderland. Therefore, services that cost an additional amount to it can be interpreted based on this artifact perform. This is why when the Turtle says to and cultural tendencies that Wonderland Alice, “and washing,” she replies by saying foreshadows a dying era of extreme proper “Certainly not!” (Carroll 76). The primary mannerisms and social constructs. text also explains that she did this Throughout this etiquette book, there indigently. This along with the exclamation are many pieces of advice on the way in mark shows Alice’s distaste and distance to which a lady should interact with her guests household chores. As a girl brought up in an and the proper way in which she acts with upper-middle-class world, she is appalled at her servants in front of them. Etiquette the suggestion of doing servants-like tasks. pointer number XXXVI states “there is This same mentality was displayed as proper nothing so vulgar as the paltry fear of its for a “lady” of her stature according to this being known that you interest yourself in etiquette book. Therefore, it is apparent that

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Alice does represent a young woman’s Then it doesn’t matter which Victorian values and is being used by way you go,” said the Cat. Carroll, in juxtaposition with the inhabitants “—so long as I get of Wonderland, to display the absurdities somewhere,” Alice added as and problems within Victorian society. an explanation. (Carroll 51) This etiquette book shows what “Oh, you’re sure to do that,” kinds of conventions Alice is working with said the Cat, “if you only and against while wandering around in walk long enough.” Wonderland. Alice must attempt to be more Alice felt that this could not child-like. The more child-like she acts and be denied. (Carroll 51) the less literal she is, the farther she gets. Alice asks the Chester Cat “timidly,” where This is how the novel stresses an alternative she should go. This shows she remains in a for children to be children rather than submissive social position, to this older and obedient little adults. Alice is an male Cat. The Chester Cat wants Alice to independent female child, who must deviate make a decision based on her own desires, from typical expectations and morals for the but Alice feels like she needs guidance. In purpose off continuing her journey though the eyes of the Cat, it does not matter which Wonderland. Throughout the novel, her path she takes and she should make her own limitations and struggles display how she is choices. Alice actually has no objective in immune to typical horror story endings that Wonderland, which makes her wandering were archetypal of the time. Alice displays predominantly fueled by curiosity—which is independent thought and action despite the frowned upon by the Victorian adult realm. fact she frequently resists it. Even when she Alice continues to try to get directions by tries to have someone tell her where to go, inquiring about the people that live down she is forced to make her own decisions, each of the forks. The Chester Cat, here, which is proven to be quite challenging. For continues to fuel her imagination and example, after leaving the Duchess’ house, independent decision-making, He will not Alice stops at a fork in the road. She is not give her a definite answer of where to go. sure where she should go. Suddenly the The Cat even cuts her off when she says, “I Chester Cat appears and Alice decides to ask don’t much care where—.” Alice does not him for advice: care where she is going, so why should she “Cheshire-Puss,” she began, be told which way she ought to go. There is rather timidly, as she did not a clear absence of forced child obedience in at all know whether it would this novel and this absence confuses Alice. like the name: however, it Wonderland repetitively tests Alice in a only grinned a little wider. different ways compared to her world. Her “Come, it’s pleased so far,” world makes her repeat lessons and practice thought Alice, and she went proper manners for watching and criticizing on. “Would you tell me, adults; whereas, Wonderland only tests please, which way I ought to Alice’s ability for self-assessment and go from here?” independence (and maybe her patience). “That depends a good deal on Wonderland is full of its own rules, where you want to get to,” regulation, manners, and morals (much like said the Cat. any other culture), but none of these things “I don’t much care where—” are accessible to Alice who is trapped within said Alice. her Victorian mindset. She is constantly

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confused and bewildered by the ways in through the Critics’ Looking which inhabitants of Wonderland understand Glasses. Ed. Robert Phillips. time, morals, education, and much more. Toronto: The Copp Clark Publishing Everything she sees and does with Company, 1971. 88-92. Print. Wonderland is judged and understood based Rogers, S. Jacquelyn. “Picturing the Child in upon her own learned knowledge. Alice’s Nineteenth Century Literature: The difficulties, inabilities, confinement, and Artist, the Child, and a Changing limitations in Wonderland create a culture Society.” Children & Libraries 6.3 clash that displays the troubles society faces (2008): 41-46. JSTOR Web. 11 Dec. when two cultures’ values and morals, 2012 conflict and collide with each other. Alice Schanoes, Veronica. “Fearless Children and represents Victorian society, while the Fabulous Monsters: Angela Carter, inhabitants of Wonderland represent a new Lewis Carroll, and Beastly Girls.” culture that will replace the old. This novel Marvels & Tales 26.1 (2012): 30-44. foreshadows the coming of changing times Print. where children are allowed to be children. Shires, Linda M. “Nonsense Parody, and the Status of the Real: The Example of Carroll.” Victorian Poetry 26.3 References (1988): 267-283. Print. Carroll, Lewis. Alice in Wonderland. Ed. Smith, Lindsay. “‘Take back your mink’: Donald J. Gray. New York: Norton Lewis Carroll, Child Masquerade & Company Inc., 1971. Print and the Age of Consent.” Art History Charmette, Kendrick. “The Goblins Will 16.3 (1993): 369-385. Print. Get You!: Horror in Children’s Turner, Beatrice. “‘Which is to be Master?’ Literature from the Nineteenth Language as Power in Alice in Century.” Children & Libraries 7.1 Wonderland and Through the (2009): 19-23. Print. Looking-Glass.” Children’s Dalrymple, Theodore. “Down the Rabbit Literature Association Quarterly Hole.” National Review 62.5 (2010): 35.3 (Fall 2010): 243-254. Print. 47-49. Academic Search Complete. Whalley, Joyce and Tessa Chester. A Web. 11 Dec. 2012. History of Children’s Book Etiquette for the ladies: Eighty maxims on Illustration. London: Victoria and Dress, Manners, and Albert Museum, 1998. Print. Accomplishments. London: Charles tilt, 86 Fleet Street, 1837. Print Gordon, Jan. "The Alice Books and the Metaphors of Victorian Childhood." Aspects of Alice: Lewis Carroll’s Dream Child as seen through the Critics’ Looking Glasses. Ed. Robert Phillips. Toronto: The Copp Clark Publishing Company, 1971. 93-113. Print. Leach, E. “Alice in Wonderland in Perspective.” Aspects of Alice: Lewis Carroll’s Dream Child as seen

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