So today I decided to unpack what Alice really stands for in those trippy Wonderland stories. Honestly? People toss around “symbolism” like confetti, but nobody explains how you actually figure it out. So I rolled up my sleeves and dove in headfirst.
Where I Started
First, I grabbed my worn-out copy of the book. Not some fancy annotated edition, just the one with coffee stains on the cover. Reread the first few chapters. Felt kinda lost, same as Alice falling down that hole. What the heck is she supposed to mean anyway? Just a kid? Rebellion? Growing up? My head was spinning. I scribbled “Curiosity?” and “Confusion?” on a sticky note. Weak start.
The Messy Middle Part
Next stop? The internet rabbit hole (ironic, huh?). Googled like mad. Found endless essays arguing about Victorian society, drug references, feminist takes… overwhelming! Printed out a few that sounded halfway sane. Took over my kitchen table. Highlighted bits that felt like they might click:
- Her constant changing size: Everyone says “growing up” but… it felt off. Too neat. Her size changes are chaotic! She cries a freaking river! That’s not smooth growth, that’s messy chaos.
- Asking “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”: Yeah, yeah, “nonsense”. But reading it again, it felt like her pushing back. Just being difficult. Demanding answers in a place where rules are garbage. Interesting.
- Her arguing with the adults: Especially that Queen of Hearts. “Off with her head!” madness. Alice standing her ground? Kinda badass for a kid in a pinafore.
Had papers everywhere. Crossed out half my sticky notes. My brain felt like mush. Was she just a blank slate, or something more?
The “Hang On a Minute” Moment
Frustration peaked. Took a break. Washed dishes, staring out the window. Had a thought: What if Alice isn’t ONE thing, but represents the ACT of dealing with the insane? All those times she shrinks and grows? That’s not growing up, that’s frantically adapting! Changing yourself just to survive the next ridiculous challenge life throws – shrinking to fit through a tiny door, growing tall enough to see the map. The whole journey feels less like a story about becoming an adult, and more about sheer resilience. Pure, stubborn “figuring it out as you go” vibes.
Pulling It Together (My Way)
Okay, lightbulb moment clicked. I dumped my messy notes. Started fresh, ignoring the fancy essays for a sec. Wrote down what felt real:
- Curiosity isn’t just cute; it’s armor. Her asking questions, even stupid ones, is her weapon against nonsense.
- Size changes = Adaptability. Not graceful maturity, but desperate hacking-your-way-through-life adjustments. We’ve all been there, right?
- Her stubbornness is key. Telling that pigbaby off, calling the Queen a pack of cards? That’s not rudeness; that’s refusing to accept the world’s broken rules at face value.
Finally, the big picture snapped into focus (for me, anyway): Alice is the symbol of trying to keep your head when everything around you is screaming madness. She’s the struggle to understand, adapt, and push back against the sheer absurdity. Not an angel, not a rebel icon – just someone stubbornly putting one foot in front of the other in a world that makes zero sense. Feels way more relatable than some deep philosophical thesis, lemme tell ya. The rabbit hole is just… daily life.
