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Alice in Wonderland was one of my favourite narratives growing up, my parents gave me the nickname 'Alice' as I was often marvelling in my own imaginative 'Wonderlands'.

The nature of this story and its themes however have changed over the duration of knowing the text. Through conversations with friends, family and even studying the novel, this book carries so much more meaning than I could have imagined.

Context. In a way this word represents something quite mysterious and scary, wouldn’t you agree? There is a hunger for deeper knowledge on something we love and are fascinated by, however for certain things, I wish I appreciated them only at face value. This is not the case for Alice's history, as I have enjoyed delving into this world immensely.

In this padlet, I wish to discuss some quotes taken from the novel. Are they just witty strings of words? Or does their satire carry a deeper meaning?

Lewis Carrol wrote Alice in Wonderland against the social/political backdrop of Imperial England during Queen Victoria’s reign. I have selected three quotes that may imply the colonial context of Alice’s world before entering Wonderland, quotes from certain characters that allow us to imagine how being raised in an Imperial time would shape our evolving morals and values, how these beliefs move between worlds.

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‘I’ll be judge, I’ll be jury . . . I’ll try the whole cause and condemn you to death’

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‘I’ll be judge, I’ll be jury . . . I’ll try the whole cause and condemn you to death’

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The concluding chapters in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is set at a court trialling, for who ate those delicious tarts? Although I have an affinity for pastry, I wouldn't want to loose my head over them.

Now upon reflection, I think a whole court trial over stealing a tartlet is a bit extravagant, however such outrageous stories are why we love Alice's adventures in Wonderland!

Megan Norcia (2017), an imperial historian, provides historical reasoning for why the court system in Victorian England was so important. The imperial legal system aimed to further the "promulgation of British law", their deemed "superior system of justice” was seen as major justification of condemning those who had been colonised or those who were seen as a threat to the "androcentric white heteronormative" normalcy at the time.

Norcia writes that:

"Carroll, for instance, uses nonsense to satirise Victorian education, social etiquette, the legal system, and government."

Lewis Carroll's writing and illustrations of this make-believe court in the final chapters of the story was a way to critique Victorian legal practices, in the most wonderful and flamboyant of ways.

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‘Who cares for you?’ said Alice (she had grown to her full size by this time.) ‘You’re nothing but a pack of cards!’

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‘Who cares for you?’ said Alice (she had grown to her full size by this time.) ‘You’re nothing but a pack of cards!’

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Why Alice!

However, accepting the world of Wonderland is, with all of its diverse and eccentric characters. Alice here is highlighting how even the Wonderland characters live in a system based on status.

It is interesting to note that those who are the most 'human-like', The King and Queen, and even Alice have the most agency throughout the book.  Alice within the story is both physically and socially higher on this system of importance, deeming that those who are beneath her are worthy of no "care", no protection.

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“If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.” 

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“If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.” 

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When we view this period of colonialism in British history, even now we could argue certain people still struggle to understand the imperial motivations of racial, economic and religious rule, and how these were devastating and violent times.

Wonderland itself represents un-English world, in which Alice does not understand. For the novels readers, Lewis Carroll provided these “mad” characters within this colourful and unconventional world as subjects to enjoy instead of fear.

Children for years have shown adoration for this story, and have hopefully learned one of the many “curious” lessons that Alice was trying to understand. We may not understand certain people and their customs, but this doesn’t mean we have an authority to control their land and people, indeed, “if people minded their own business” we would be left in a much more peaceful and happier world.

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Carrol, L "Alices Adventures in Wonderland'' (Puffin Books, 2015)

Norcia, M.A., "E" Is for Empire? Challenging the Imperial Legacy of An ABC for Baby Patriots (1899) (Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, 2017).