Alice In Wonderland

6 Pages 1490 Words

2nd Hour

The major themes of Alice in Wonderland are Identity, coming of age, and fantasy vs. reality. Throughout the book Alice goes through experiences and trials to find out who she is. Alice also questions what is true and why it is true. Lewis Carroll uses Alice in his story to explore the many things children have to learn as they grow up.
Many times throughout the story Alice is asked, “Who are you?” just about ever character asks her that. “At last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice. Who are you?” (p.40) This question confuses Alice at first and them she answers: “I-I hardly know, sir, just at present- at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then” (p.39) Alice for the first time has questioned who she is and why is she there. The caterpillar in the story is very rude to her and doesn’t want to hear her excuses. This is also the first time Alice encounters someone who does not treat her as a little girl. She has to answer things by herself, and for the first time she is confused and doesn’t know how to answer. “ I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, sir’ said Alice ‘because I’m not myself, you see” (p.39) Alice decides that one possible explanation for why everything is going so strangely for her is that she has been changed into a different person overnight and that she is now experiencing someone else's reality. She wonders over whom she could possibly be if she has changed. She tries to figure out whom she is by determining what she knows and how well she remembers things she has learned.
In the story Alice eats and drinks tings to change size. Many of the things she eats or drink changes her appearance. They also give her a different perception on things she encounters. After she falls into the hole she has to get through a door by drinking a mix...