Alices Adventures in Wonderland - A Natural Human-Animal Bond - Book Report/Review Example

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: A Natural Human-Animal Bond Introduction In the wake of increasing number of endangered and extinct animals, the relevance of a discussion on the rights of animals is irrevocable. However, despite the adversities caused to the animal world by the human activities, it cannot be ruled that man dislikes animals totally. There have been many books and creative literary works to prove that the human affinity for animals is a part of his natural instinct. This fact is affirmed by the book ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ written by Lewis Carroll. This story features many common animals in their personalized form with a view to attribute interactive characterization to them with the protagonist, Alice. Because of its splendid narration of human-animal interaction, I choose this book for the chapter wise summary analysis. Chapter 1 Alice feels bored of sitting idle by her sister who has been buried in a book. It is then a white rabbit runs past her with quick paces, catching Alice’s curiosity. Alice runs after the animal and enters a tunnel-like long burrow. The burrow suddenly opens into a well mouth and she falls into it. The well is so deep that the fall lasts for long, and along the descending, she sees that wall of the well has many shelves. She meets with new and wonderful experiences in the underworld. There she finds something in a bottle and after drinking it, she suddenly shrinks into a small size. The animal ‘rabbit’ in this chapter carries some special features. Its appearance and behavior attracts Alice. From her running in pursuit of the rabbit, we can say that this chapter deals with the natural attraction animals can render to human beings. Chapter 2 Alice is exposed to more wonders in the well. She eats a cake encrypted ‘EAT ME’ and grows as tall as nine feet. The rabbit come there, but leaves before Alice could speak anything to it. Alice then starts believing that she is not herself but her friend Mabel. She weeps bitterly as she shrinks again and falls into a sea of her own tears. She finds a mouse and he promises to tell her why he hates cats and dogs after reaching the shore. A Duck. a Dodo, a Lory and Eaglet accompany them as they had all fallen in to the sea of Alice tears. In this chapter we can see that human being is not the master of the earth, and without the company of animals, human beings cannot survive. Therefore, animals must be given due respect for their respective space on the planet. Chapter 3 Alice and her friends reach the shore. For drying up their clothes, they began searching plans. Mouse tells that the story of William the Conqueror could be an option because of its dryness. The Dodo comes with an idea of Caucus race after the story fails. They all run the race and stand winners. In the course of prize distribution, Mouse and Alice begin a conflict and the mouse runs away. She says her cat Dinah can bring Mouse back there. But the other animals also leave her for fear of her cat Dinah. Thus she becomes alone and annoyed. This chapter gives a wonderful feeling of animal-human empathy. With the example of Alice’s interaction with the animals and the annoyance she feels on their departure, the story tells us that happiness is where there is the natural bond between human and animals. Chapter 4 White Rabbit comes again- this time to order Alice to fetch his gloves and fan from his house and she feels it strange to take orders from animals. During the search for the things, Alice drinks from a bottle labelled “DRINK ME” and grows very huge (Lewis, 40). The frightened Rabbit calls other animals and they jointly attack her. The stones they throw turn cakes for her. All the animals chase her away when she shrinks to a small size. She hides in a nearby bush, only to find strange creatures there too. This chapter tells about the miserable situations human has to face if nature and animals turn angry. It calls for a reciprocal relationship between animals and humans. There is little space for friendliness in this chapter. Chapter 5 Stranger things happen in this chapter after Alice’s interaction with Caterpillar. Alice recites a poem on demand and then Caterpillar advises her to eat the sides of a mushroom to adjust her height. She eats it and her neck grows longer enough to be mistaken for a snake by a pigeon. When she convinces the bird, it tells her to eat the two pieces of the mushroom to get the actual size. Thus she uses the mushroom magic to modify her size and moves around in the forest. Both Caterpillar and Pigeon are kind toward Alice despite her peculiar look. This shows the great accommodating quality of forest and animals. Chapter 6 Alice meets a footman in uniform at the entrance; another frog footman comes out and takes an invitation for the Duchess to croquet with the Queen. Alice enters the kitchen and sees a cat, a Cook, a baby and the Duchess. After a short argument in confusion, she finds out that the baby was a pig. The Cat tells her to meet Mad Hatter and March Hare and asks her to be mad for matching the wonderland’s standards. The conversations may seem meaningless, but the reference of ‘madness’ indicates that confusion and anger creates disorderly behaviour which may look like craziness. It is a symbolism for anarchy occupying the human world at times. Chapter 7 At the tea table, Alice meets Mad Hatter and March Hare and starts an argument over the issue of wine. When she tells that the hosts were uncivil, March Hare retorts that it was uncivil for her to attend them without invitation. Then they sing riddles, songs and finally ask the sleeping Dormouse to tell a story. Alice interrupts the story with her questions and they sent her away. She enters a hall in a tree by using the mushroom. This chapter tells about the possibilities of conflicts between animals and humans with regards to their perspectives about the nature and the order of life patterns. It reminds us the need for mutual understanding. Chapter 8 Alice finds three gardeners attempting to colour a white rose red with the fear of being punished by the Queen, but all in vein. Alice however saves them and then tries to escape from the scene of croquet. When the king orders the decapitation of the Cheshire Cat for noticing Alice, it becomes essential for them to take the advice of the Duchess. In the meantime, Cheshire Cat gives a slip. This chapter does not make any direct effect of human-animal interaction; however, the kindness of human to save the poor is implied in the way Alice saves the gardeners. Chapter 9 After the eventful croquet game and much of emotional twists about the Duchess’ attempt to put her hand around Alice waist, the queen proposes that Alice visit the Mock Turtle. Alice could not understand the sea school story told by Mock Turtle; and when she asks a series of questions about the length of the lessons for which Mock Turtle says that they have become short. This chapter deals with plenty of conversations between Alice and animals; however, Alice feels their language too strange. Similarly, when man does not observe the changes of the nature, he fails to be prepared for them. Chapter 10 The Gryphon joins Mock Turtle and Alice; Mock Turtle inquires Alice if she has ever met a lobster. He continues with a song about a Whiting and a snail. Alice gets a lot of confusing ideas about lobster and Whiting. On their demand, she recites a poem but unclearly. Then Mock Turtle sings a song. After a while, Gryphon takes Alice away from the scene as he hears the announcement of the trial. The conversation is too complex in this chapter because of the language disparity. As a result, the effect of human-animal relationship cannot be established in it. Chapter 11 Alice is at a court room where the King and Queen of Hearts are on their thrones. There are a large number of animals around them. Alice cannot resist the confusion about the matters anymore and she uses provocative and abusive language. When they try to note it down, she snatches the pencil from junior Bill. Finally, the White Rabbit reads out the charges against the Knave of Hearts of stealing the Queen’s tart. Then Alice grows larger and the Dormouse gets upset. The court scene becomes confused all the more with mismatching testimonies of the witnesses Mad Hatter and the Cook. The White Rabbit calls Alice for her testimony. The courtroom becomes a pandemonium with interruption and broken communication. In the same way, when the bond of human with nature breaks up, the life of all beings gets disturbed and everything will go bad eventually. Chapter 12 Alice jumps over to the witness stand and knocks the stage with her enormous size. When she tells she knew nothing, the king tries to adjust the statement. The King is blamed by all for formulating a rule in Alice’s favour. The final judgment comes from the Queen that Alice be decapitated. Alice grows to her actual size and she angrily throws away the cards. When she opens her she realizes it was but a dream. The White Rabbit is the leading character in this chapter. Alice likes all the animals; but her affinity to them remains vague because of their general approach towards her. Conclusion ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ is a book made on the basis of child fantasy and their attachment to animals. Carroll has made remarkably wonderful effort in dealing the subject of animal human affinity to in this book. At the same time, he has reminded us a great fact that environmentalists should try to see that animal rights are protected and the mutuality of animal-human relationship is to be maintained for the peace on the earth. Works Cited Carroll, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Branden Books, 1948. Print. Read More