Top 4 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland quotes
“‘It was much pleasanter at home,’ thought poor Alice, ‘when one wasn’t always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about by mice and rabbits. I almost wish I hadn’t gone down that rabbit-hole—and yet—and yet—it’s rather curious, you know, this sort of life!’”
Alice, Chapter 4
Alice faces strange and unfamiliar circumstances in wonderland, that ought to have caused fear and anxiety in a child of her age. Yet, Alice continues to explore the world of Wonderland despite the strangeness that she encounters. Alice’s curiosity drives the plot forwards as she chooses to face danger and uncertainty rather than being secure and bored.
“‘I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, sir,’ said Alice, ‘because I’m not myself, you see.’”
Alice, Chapter 5
The book explores a crisis of identity through the protagonist Alice, and this theme is most prominent during Alice’s conversation with Caterpillar. He asks Alice who she is, and in reply, Alice tells him that she isn’t quite aware given the changes that have taken place since she entered Wonderland. She wonders if she can continue to remain Alice now that she has shrunk and grown so often, given the fact that she cannot remember the things that Alice ought to remember. Caterpillar aids Alice in gaining control of her size and indicates that her identity isn’t necessarily only derived through physical appearance and knowledge.
“‘You don’t know much,’ said the Duchess; ‘and that’s a fact.’”
Duchess, Chapter 6
Lewis Carroll depicts all the adults in Wonderland with comically terrible flaws. Most of these adults attempt to assert power over Alice because of her ignorance about the workings of Wonderland. However, Alice sees that their actions are not particularly rational, and they seem to use their adulthood as an excuse to behave in whatever manner they please.
“‘We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.’ ‘How do you know I’m mad?’ said Alice. ‘You must be,’ said the Cat, ‘or you wouldn’t have come here.’”
Cheshire Cat, Chapter 6
The Cheshire Cat is the only character who talks of madness, and yet behaves in the sanest manner when compared to the other creatures of Wonderland. This quote represents Lewis Carroll’s expertise in wordplay and inversion, and these are the aspects that won renown for his books amongst adult readers. A Freudian interpretation of the book would focus on the fact that the Cat refers to Alice as being mad because she is in the world of Wonderland, where everyone is mad.
