Childrens Lit - Essay One

7/30/2019 Childrens Lit - Essay One

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The development and maintenance of a personal identity is a primary goal of human

existence. People strive for self-fulfillment by trying to figure out their purpose in the

universe. But one is not born with a set identity, rather, it is continuously molded and

shaped by experiential learning and interactions with other people, and there are periods

within an individuals life where the self that they identify most with is met with most

challenge. Arguably, the period of most identity loss and development occurs during the

onset of puberty. Loss of and evolution of personal identity are themes that often

underscore youth literature, and play a role in Lewis CarrollsAlices Adventures in

Wonderland. In the novel, our protagonist Alice has her personal convictions

continuously challenged through interactions with a series of mysterious characters in a

mysterious world. By examining Alices physical and mental insecurities when introduced to

The Wonderland, the challenges she faces trying to quantify and qualify her person, and

her eventual self-awareness, it can be confidently stated that Carrolls novel is allegorical to

the jarring transition from childhood to adulthood.

Alices struggle to maintain her identity is a microcosm of the hurdles faced by

children as they mature both physically and psychologically. In the novel, Alice undergoes a

number of physical transformations from ten inches high to, rather more than nine feet

high (Carrol, 17). Alice begins to become confused about exactly who she is as her size

changes:

Dear Dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday things went on

just as usual. I wonder if Ive been changed in the night? Let me think: wasI the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember

feeling a little different. But if Im not he same, the next question is, Who

in the world am I? (Carrol, 18)

Physically, the onset of puberty brings about an altered appearance, which manifests itself as

a source of confusion. The shift from a relatively static and dependable body to a rapidly


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changing one often leaves youth feeling like completely different people. This the case with

Alice early on in her adventures in Wonderland.

The depth of Alices identity crisis increases as she encounters animals on her

journey who doubt her character and dismiss her fundamental beliefs. The White Rabbit

quickly dispatches her perceptions of class when he insists that she is a servant. Soon after, a

shaken Alice meets the hookah-smoking caterpillar whose inquires she cannot answer. Alice

finds herself unable to explain exactly who she is replying, I hardly know Sir, just at

present because Im not myself you see. (Carroll, 41) Following this, Alice meets the

Pigeon, who adamant belief she is a serpent causes further self-doubt. Alice insists that she is

in fact a child, but says this rather doubtfully, as she remembered the number of changes

she had gone through, that day. (Carroll, 48) Her insecurities are further augmented in

meetings with the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and the March Hare, who question her sanity

and dismiss the comfortable logic and ordering principles she draws most of her self-

identification from as she questions their concept of Time. Alice must subscribe to a new

set of rules in the face of a skeptic and doubting society that challenges who she is. Carroll

uses Alices insecurities and confusion to mirror that which accompanies adolescent

development in humans. Growing up comes with a new set of responsibilities and informal

rules as well as societal pressures to appear and behave a certain way, akin to the world of

Wonderland. As well, adolescents are notoriously susceptible to influence from outside

sources, and just like Alices susceptibility to assimilation pressures in Wonderland it is

these outside influences that foster confusion and increase individual self-doubt.

While many people struggle with the changes experienced as

they mature, eventually a stage of self-realization is reached that creates


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a confidence analogous to Alices self-assurance at the end of the novel.

As Alice progresses through Wonderland, she grows more aware of her

identity and becomes able to stand up for herself. At the outset of her trip

to Wonderland, Alices initial reaction to her newfound confusion is one of

self-doubt, as she proceeds to internally debate whether she in fact Alice

or Ada or Mabel. Later on, when asked to introduce herself to the Queen,

Alice is able to confidently answer that [her] name is Alice (71). Not

only has Alice become confident of her own identity, but she is also able

to stand up for herself when the Queen orders her to be beheaded. Alice

realizes that [they are] only a pack of cards, after all. [She need not] be

afraid of them (72). Alices growing self-awareness and confidence allow

her to object to the nonsense in Wonderland, grow back to her normal

size, and finally wake up from her strange dream. Carroll uses Alices

newly confident identity to show the reader that the confusion and doubt

of adolescence will ultimately transform into stability.

Lewis Carroll effectively uses Alices identity transformation to

mirror the challenges of growing from a child into an adult. In order to

become a self-assured adult, one must overcome self-doubt and societal

classification to accept their true self. As Alice experiences confusing

changes to her body and mind, she is forced to face doubts about her

identity. While overcoming self-doubt is difficult, Alice must remain self-

assured, even when other characters are convinced that she is not the

little girl she believes to be. In spite of all this, Alice is eventually able

to confidently accept herself and overcome the nonsense of Wonderland.


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The transformation from childhood to adulthood is an individual process,

but Alices own experience is akin to the experience of many others.

Every experience, both positive and negative, that a person undergoes in

their lifetime shapes them into the person that they are meant to be.

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Childrens Lit - Essay One