Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Alice in Chapters 5 and 6
In the beginning, Alice encounters a caterpillar. The caterpillar seems to do a better job than the rest of the animals in helping Alice find the answers to her questions. He does so by rewording them and asking her the same questions. When having a conversation with the caterpillar, it seems as if Alice is talking to herself and the caterpillar is sort of helping her direct her thoughts. The cat in a similar way helps her find the answers to her questions. Unlike the many other animals she has met throughout her journey, Alice learns something from these two particular animals. When they repeat questions (or disappear and reappear) maybe they are trying to teach her to get a hold her temper and patience. Maybe these two characters symbolize some people in her real life. The wisdom from the caterpillar may symbolize someone older (like an adult) that guides her and the cat might symbolize someone that is older than her but is not quite an adult.
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I saw the same thing- that the chesire cat might symbolize a wise adult from Alice's life. They seem like deep, almost philosophical characters. Why do you think that the chesire cat kept turning Alice's questions around and spitting them back out at her? Was the reiteration designed to get her to stop and think deeper about her own answer?
ReplyDeleteUmm well I think in chapters 5 and 6, Alice doesn't seem as confused and the cat and caterpillar make her think about why she is in wonderland and who she really is. The caterpillar and cat kind of reminded me of Soeth. They make us and Alice think deeper and analyze the situation. :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough she is falling deeper into her sleep, Alice finds how there is no real purpose why she is in Wonderland. For example when the cat asked her where she wanted to go she said it didn't matter went as long as she got somewhere whereas in the beginnging of the book her main goal was to get to the lovely garden her "ideal place".