Alice in Wonderland is one of the all time classic children's novels. It's creator, Lewis Carrol was truly onto something when he conjured up the little girl Alice who follows a white rabbit into a fantasy world she could have only dreamed of. Curiosity winds her through all the twists and turns that are so fictitious they are almost unbelievable. Unbelievable? Maybe. Do we still want to believe, reading on intrigued? Absolutely.
So what was Carrol's purpose? Was it merely a coincidence? A convenient encounter of opium, pen and paper? Or did it have a deep message that we may merely have overlooked since the day the book was published? I don't think so. Carrol's book should be taken for what it is "ÃÂ a simple yet charismatic wonderland that entertains no less now than when it was first written. It's characters bring no message, moral or deep pretext. They only bring innocent words and thoughts designed to entertain.
Nora Carrol and Lois Duncan Steinmetz: Sarasota, F...
MK III - Carrol Shelby Licensing, Inc.
Mrs. Arthur Carrol and "Pom Pom" (LOC)The only ulterior motive Carrol had other than to entertain perhaps was to relax and allow people to expand their imaginations indefinably. His realistic portrayal of the impossible allows the reader to be swept up in the moment. Drugs or no drugs, Carrol seemed to have a relationship with his characters. They are all so genuine that it is hard not to love them as much as what he did. The purpose of entertainment that he either may or may not have set out to achieve was absolutely successful as the great majority of readers, including myself are left with a small smile of satisfaction upon finishing the book. And though it was read to us as children and studied throughout school time and time again it becomes no less magical, only more detailed, thus bringing a greater satisfaction each time.