Sunday, February 28, 2010

as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic

"Contrariwise... if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic"-Lewis Carroll



I have always been interested in the story of Alice, as in Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. I saw the Disney version of the story when I was much younger, and the main characters still stick in my mind years later. The caterpillar spelling his words in smoke, the smile of the Cheshire cat, and the humpty dumpty looking twiddle dee and twiddle dum are images still in my mind. The reading selections from the Alice series by Lewis Carroll left me confused, and wanting the whole story. When I have the time, I do plan on straightening out the story by reading it whole.





While reading these selections, there was a strong theme that seemed evident to me of being lead to the slaughter. A past student of Professor Bump touches on this subject when writing about Alice’s inner turmoil when presented with the story of the Walrus and the Carpenter. Alice, like most others would relate to the characters of the Walrus and the Carpenter instead of the oysters. A former student writes that the oysters “were taken from their beds with ill intentions, were befriended under false pretenses, and heartlessly eaten by someone they trusted” (535). The oysters were lead out of their beds, “all eager for the treat” and were treated with kindness to only become the meal of the leaders. Once the oysters realized their new friends’ intentions “the Oysters cried… after such kindness, that would be a dismal thing to do!”(513) Instead of running away, their fears were turned away with quite words from the Walrus turning their attention to the night.

This theme of seduction is also found in a poem Alice recites to herself while pondering if she had changed. The poem, though a parody of a popular poem at the time reads: “How cheerfully he seems to grin, how neatly spreads his claws, and welcomes little fishes in, with gently smiling jaws” (467). The crocodile smiles as he seduces his food straight into his mouth.

Carroll plays with themes of seduction in relation to animals seducing other animals to become their food, and the seduction Alice feels as she tries to navigate the strange and erotic world of Wonderland. Throughout the story she is faced with decisions, and the question of “who are you” posed by the caterpillar (479). She was originally seduced with the question of where the rabbit was going when she fell into the rabbit hole.

I think the theme of seduction is best reflected in the modern version of Alice in the SYFY channels original movie series, ALICE. In this new modern retelling, people are seduced into Wonderland through the looking glass. Once in Wonderland they are referred to as oysters, and are enticed to a giant casino. Once there they are captured, so to speak, and the queen feeds/captures their emotions. Once drained of their emotions, these people are empty shells that are disposed of. I plan on writing in greater detail the themes taken from the Alice stories and how in this modern re-telling themes are shaped into images that the modern reader/viewer can appreciate in this different world. 1.


As a side story, I came across a lamb farm with a name taken straight out of the Alice stories. The “Twiddle Dee Farm” in NC, boosts of “Animal Welfare Approved lamb products that are available at a select retail grocery that values humane treatment of animals; supports local, grass-fed lamb growers; and is willing to compensate farmers fairly”2. Haven taken their name from the story of Alice, and after I have seen “Earthlings”, I’m not so sure that I can believe their claims.


1. ALICE, SYFY channel. http://www.syfy.com/alice/summary.php
2. http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/2009/10/08/twiddle-dee-farm-clinton-nc/


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