How does Alice's Adventures in Wonderland display British colonial attitudes - Term Paper Example

How does Alice's Adventures in Wonderland display British colonial attitudes? Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland display British colonial attitudes. Writing under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, an English author, strengthens this declaration especially after analyzing the novel’s setting, depiction of characters and writing style employed. Background information on the author’s inspiration of the novel’s characters serves to reinforce the declaration that Dodgson’s novel is a depiction of the Victorian era characterized by Britain’s imperialist tendency. At the time, of the writing of the novel, Britain’s interest in expanding its territory by acquiring colonies all around the world dominated its citizens thinking. This, in turn, affected their attitudes towards social, economic and political issues. This paper, therefore, attempts to showcase how both sociological and psychological perspectives work together to influence the formation of attitudes (Shaw 66). Sociologists advance that societies all around the world preserve their heritage by passing down their history and legacy from one generation to the next. Britain is no exception; therefore, different agents of socialization ensure children familiarize themselves with the society’s cultural expectations and mode of thinking. In the Victorian society, it was the role of the governesses to teach children about societal expectations in order for them to be responsible, conforming adults. They reinforced cultural values by using texts. In relation to the book, many critics describe Alice as being a ‘colonized’ child. Meaning, the social structures around her affect her subjective interpretation of everything around her (Webb 178). Alice’s attempt at reciting moral verses illustrates this. These verses served as a reflection of her proper upbringing and helped in reaffirming her sense of worth by establishing her self-identity. From this, it is clear that Alice’s reactions to her experiences in Wonderland originated from her interpretations influenced by her internalization of British culture. As Alice falls down the rabbit’s hole, her preoccupation with death and her indifference towards other animals’ death manifests itself. She continually thinks about her cat, Dinah, especially about what it will eat despite coming into contact with animals Dinah eats (Jacobi 124). Therefore, she attempts to talk to these animals which reveal her French and Latin, languages which she picked up from what she had learnt and her brother’s education. Throughout the entire book, Alice is continually introduced to various experiences, and, in all of them, her obstinate self-entitled nature manifests itself. This symbolizes the influence of Britain’s culture on her thinking. From a psychological perspective, it is clear that people socially construct their world from their personal experiences influenced by their society’s expectations. The Stand point theory in psychology advances that people create standpoint of the world they live in from their day-to-day experiences. Therefore, Alice’s defiant behavior to suggestions made and her bold domineering nature of questioning Wonderland’s figures of authority; reflects Britain’s societal expectations in the upbringing of their children (French 198). Chapter 11 revolves around the Knave of Hearts trial, which faces theft accusations. During the procession, the dormouse accuses Alice of using up all the air from the rapid rate at which she grows. Critics rule that the fact that Alice gets defensive about her alarming growth rate serves as a representation of Britain’s attitudes towards the acquisition of extra colonies. Chapter 12 of the book revolves around a trial scene, whereby, the arraignment of Alice occurs in the presence of a jury, King and Queen of Hearts. By the end of the trial, the Queen orders Alice to leave, which she refuses, to do despite receiving the Queens’s ultimate threat, ‘Off with her head’. Her sister wakes her up as the animals begin closing in on her (Carroll 77). Dodgson’s depiction of Alice’s entitled, obstinate demeanor symbolizes Britain’s colonial attitude towards their impinging on other countries’ sovereignty. Britain’s quest for imperialism manifests itself in their expansionist policies applied in the acquisition of colonies. From the two chapters, Britain portrays itself as a country with no regard for the countries it oppresses. The conflict theory in Sociology best describes the tenaciousness of the Briton’s zeal to dominate others. Prominent sociologists like Karl Marx advance that the ruling class strives to remain dominant over its subordinates at all costs. As a result, conflict arises between the two groups as the oppressed try regain control from their rulers. However, in most cases the ruling class, remain undefeated because they have the means to ensure they retain control over their subjects. In this case, Alice’s taunting of the animals closing in and then finally waking up from her fantasy symbolizes her control over the situation (Booker 156). In conclusion, Dodgson bases the characters in his book on people around him, for example, the Dodo refers to himself whereas Alice is an allusion of Alice Liddell. As a result, the entire text reflects Dodgson and his friends’ view of Britain. This helps to give a psychological and sociological perspective of Briton’s attitudes reflected through Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. Dodgson’s portrayal of Alice is that of a young girl who overcomes the irrational world in which she finds herself in a composed rational manner. Her rational demeanor reflects her upbringing based on Britain’s societal expectations. Alice’s rationality and composed nature seem to be driven by the Queen of Heart’s inability to effect change. The way she handles prisoners within her jurisdiction serves as a clear illustration of this. Critics agree that this might be symbolic in the sense that, Britain’s society appears intact unlike those of the countries it subdues in its quest for imperialism. Therefore, Britain’s domineering attitude towards its colonies originates from their powerless state just like Alice’s overpowering demeanor originates from the animals state of powerlessness seen in all her experiences in Wonderland. In addition, the fact that British culture trickles down through the generations helps to give a perspective on Alice’s character and behavior. Passing down of societal expectations, therefore, ensures colonial attitudes remain similar across all generations in Britain (Billingsley 117). Works Cited Billingsley, Stan. Alice Vs. Wonderland: A Chilling Tale of the Abuse of Power in the Name of Lawyer's Ethics. London: iUniverse, 2012. Print Booker, M. Keith. Colonial Power, Colonial Texts: India in the Modern British Novel. Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1997. Print Carroll, Lewis. Alice in Wonderland. London: Forgotten Books, 1930. Print French, Jennifer. Nature, neo-colonialism, and the Spanish American regional writers. Michigan: Dartmouth College Press, 2005. Print Jacobi, Celina. "Transformations in British Literature." 5 May 2010. English 208B: The Impossible, Preverse and Strange. 7 May 2012 . Shaw, Albert. The American monthly review of reviews, Volume 36. Michigan: Review of Reviews, 1907. Webb, Caroline. I'll be Judge I'll be Jury. New Castle: New Castle Inc., 2010. Print Read More