After 150 Years, We Still Haven't Solved the Puzzle of Alice in Wonderland

Timeless Appeal of Alice in Wonderland

• Celebrating the 150th anniversary of 'Alice in Wonderland'.
• The book is a timeless classic, appealing far beyond its original 19th-century audience.
• It was a turning point in children's literature, shifting from moral education to imaginative entertainment.

Alice Knows Best: A Narrative Shift

• Carroll's narrative centers on Alice, a young girl who lectures adults.
• Portrays adults as unreliable, illogical, and somewhat insane—a reversal from previous literature where adults taught children.
• Features irreverent humor appealing to children's anarchic nature.
• Parodies well-respected verses, e.g., "Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!"
• Mocks the Victorian education system through word-play and nonsense.

(Mis)interpreting the Mystery

• Success abroad attributed to its quintessential Britishness: features queens, tea parties, croquet.
• Considered to have a dark underside with allusions to drugs, reflecting 1960s-70s culture interpretations.
• Controversy over Carroll's interest in Alice Liddell, although suspicions are largely unfounded.

Always a Puzzle

• The text invites deeper interpretations and meaning.
• Possible metaphor for subconscious exploration or an allegory for growing up.
• Often considered an open text, allowing multiple interpretations.
• Functions as a modern fairy tale adaptable to various contexts.

Conclusion

• 'Alice in Wonderland' remains a story of ambivalence, open to numerous interpretations.
• Continues to be adapted and interpreted in varied contexts.
• Lewis Carroll, a mathematician, would appreciate the ongoing attempts to solve the book's puzzle.