So, up til now I've heard a great many things about this book- how it's creepy- how it's weird. Honestly, I've had friends who aren't fond of the movie. As for me, I enjoyed it. Alice falls asleep and has a marvelous dream. Her subconscious takes you through a great many things- it shows her offending others and having to watch her tongue and temper and learning a few things herself.
"'Who are you?' said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, 'I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'
'What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. 'Explain yourself!'
'I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, 'because I'm not myself, you see.'
'I don't see,' said the Caterpillar.
'I'm afraid I can't put it more clearly,' Alice replied very politely, 'for I can't understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.'
'It isn't,' said the Caterpillar.
'Well, perhaps you haven't found it so yet,' said Alice; 'but when you have to turn into a chrysalis--you will some day, you know--and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you'll feel it a little queer, won't you?'
'Not a bit,' said the Caterpillar."
This lovely conversation with the Caterpillar talks about who we are- or who Alice is and is a good section to ponder our own self-esteem and self-worth. Alice should make sense to anyone who isn't sure of who they are. How can you define yourself if you aren't yourself? How can you know who you are when things change so often? Alice has grown huge and less than 2 inches tall in one day. She feels like she doesn't know herself anymore. There is one point where she convinces herself she must be someone else entirely- someone who is dumb, and as a result she can't seem to remember parts of her lessons and convinces herself she is not Alice anymore. Who we are is not changed by things on the outside- growing, or shrinking or even turning into a butterfly. Who we are is more than that- harder to change. We are not defined by one action or circumstance. We may change and grow as things happen to us and we choose to react to them- but who we are remains the same. Life is still happening to the same person that first encountered a first obstacle.
And then in talking to the Cheshire cat:
"'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'
'That depends a god deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
'I don't much care where--' said Alice.
'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.
'--so long as I get somewhere,' Alice added as an explanation.
'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk long enough.'"
What is our purpose? Where should we go in life? Many feel lost at one point or another- which path should they take? Well, if you don't care, then it doesn't matter which direction you head. But if you do care, make a choice- choose your destiny- choose where you want to go and actually WALK in that direction.
By being in a dream Alice is able to address many questions through a subconscious and metaphorical way that I actually really liked. I would recommend this book to anyone.
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