You can’t spell insanity without the sanity!

The most interesting work of literature that I have read thus far is “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” by Lewis Carroll. The entire piece revolves around a young girl named Alice become lost in the figment of her imagination. Although Alice meets many characters on her journey throughout Wonderland, my favorite is the Cheshire Cat. Alice first meets the quirky feline in the kitchen of the character known as the Duchess. Although the cat never actually speaks, the reader already knows that there is something fascinating involved with its smile. When Alice leaves the kitchen, she encounters the cat once more. This time the two actually divulge in an interesting conversation, which, at first seems to make no sense thanks to the cat’s convoluted responses, but when taken into consideration, these responses are sane. An example of this is demonstrated when Alice asks the Cheshire Cat, “‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here (Chapter 6, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland)?’” The cat then answers, “‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to (Chapter 6, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland).’” Obviously, at first glance, this does not seem like an answer in any way or form, but, it is actually a very just response. The cat obviously has no idea where Alice wants to go, so it merely gave her an adequate reply. The rest of the conversation goes on in the same way until the cat disappears, leaving behind a very bewildered Alice. The key to understanding the insanity of the Cheshire Cat is to first comprehend his sanity. The reason for the title of my blog is a reminder for me to always look for the deeper meanings that a character might be giving rather than the overall image. It is essential not only to understand the words, but to understand the characters in a work of literature.

Carroll, Lewis. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Sabian. 1997. 28 Sep. 2008 .