Alice s adventures in wonderland commonly shortened to alice in wonderland is an 1865 novel written by english author charles lutwidge dodgson over the pseudonym lewis carroll. References may not be direct, but no one can deny that she experiments with substances that alter her mood and perception, which lead to all types of trouble. Alice s adventures in wonderland is a weird and wonderful story, full of odd surreal encounters and wacky nonsense. I read this book back when i was a kid and decided it was time to reread it and i am so glad i did, it was just as enjoyable to read the second time around.
Drugs even more popular is the theory that alices adventures in wonderland is a thinly veiled allegory about drug use. Alice in wonderland, books, humor, jabberwocky, lewis carroll, literature, writing. When you begin to learn about language, and math, it can be divined that language can be substituted for by variables. Alices adventures in wonderland is, on one level at least, the story of a girl who disappears. I feel as if the drug references are more a reflection of the author himself, being a heroine addict, than the book. Jul 23, 2012 alice in wonderland was called alice in wonderland because a girl called alice goes to wonderland.
It turns out that alice in wonderland s relationship to drugs is a misconception. Whether or not lewis carroll would have agreed with these adaptations, we will never know perhaps he is. Above all, alices adventures in wonderland and through the looking glass are brilliant works of fiction aimed at entertaining children. Are you me alice in wonderland is, likewise, my absolute favorite book of all time.
Aug 24, 2008 most people who do drugs while watching alice in wonderland is mostly watching the cartoon while listening to led zepplin. May 16, 2017 while opium was relatively common and easy to come by in his time, there is no record of charles dodgson lewis carroll ever having used it or ever being under the influence of any other hallucinogenic or psychedelic drugs. The song was enormously popular and inspired many other artists to explore the connection between alice and recreational drug use, until alice was essentially the mascot of 60s and 70s drug culture. Was the author of alice in wonderland really on drugs when. This drug did not have the connotation that drugs have today. Alice in wonderland is not based on drugs, it is based upon a very imaginative book by lewis carrol.
The most popular reason organizations ban the book is because of its references to drug use. Jul 31, 2007 if the alice books were drug induced, the rest of his voluminous output would seem to suggest he was on drugs 247. While opium was relatively common and easy to come by in his time, there is no record of charles dodgson lewis carroll ever having used it or ever being under the influence of any other hallucinogenic or psychedelic drugs. Apr 08, 2019 even though the rumors arent true that lewis carroll wrote alices adventures in wonderland during a hallucinogenic trip, the book still remains a fascinating study of reality while being a prime example of the nonsensical fantasy genre. Jan, 2007 the only real relation, if there is any, is that during the late 60s, jefferson airplane wrote and performed a song titled white rabbit, which compared drug use with alice s journey into wonderland. There is however one part in the book that may describe the use of drugs. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. This probably has a lot to do with the film versions which have been introduced in the last sixty years. Although carroll invented alice s adventures in wonderland for the entertainment of children, many scholars have thought to discover various underlying influences in his work. Alice in wonderland is not about drugs but it is trippy. This page is currently inactive and is retained for historical reference.
Crystal s has some imaginative eye makeup inspired by the cheshire cat from tim burtons alice in wonderland. If this alice in wonderland game for the android is what i think it is, im still ok without an android phone. This is one of many truths presented at a new exhibition, alice. The book s themes and characters are so bizarre that in the 1960s rumours began to surface that lewis carroll wrote the book under the influence of drugs, particularly opium or laudanum. A child in the midvictorian era, alice unintentionally goes on an underground adventure after accidentally falling down a rabbit hole into wonderland. You seen carrollafterall was a math proffessor inwhite church. In the case of alice in wonderland in which our protagonist alice even eats a mushroom, for petes sake you probably assumed it. Alice in wonderland syndrome caused by acid flashback. By nature, childrens stories are driven by fantasy, centered around mythical creatures, but bear a. Alice in wonderland demonstrates various drug use paul 9 years ago prev article next article so you all remember last week when i brought you a series of gifs demonstrating various mental disorders via winnie the pooh characters.
Did the author of the book alice in wonderland use psychedelic. Did the author of the book alice in wonderland use. Alice is a fictional character and protagonist of lewis carrolls childrens novel alice s adventures in wonderland 1865 and its sequel, through the lookingglass 1871. The adult symbolism in alices adventures in wonderland. Despite its strangeness though, i promise that drugs. In fact once i got going i finished this book in two days. There is indeed one part in the book that may describe the use of drugs. Alice in wonderland is not about drugs but it is trippy as. Everyone has always thought of alice in wonderland as some sort of allegory for a super ridiculous drug trip, but these gifs demonstrate just how many substances are actually covered in the story. Granted, some werent even invented when the story was written, but its hard to unsee all of these once you realize theyre there. I am a massive alice in wonderland fan, i love the disney film and i collect anything i can that is alice related. No matter if the tale is titled alice s adventures underground, alice s adventures in wonderland, or alice in wonderland, it still remains an incredibly popular story in all of its forms. The idea of the author oin drugs when it was written is no rumor, it was true. It is very possible that once they have been informed that the tale is also a book, they seek out that book and read the original.
Aug 20, 2012 alice in wonderland is not a book based on drug expiriences. I guess some people may find it funny to see their beloved childhood cartoon. I have like 5 different editions of the book as well as 2 mangas of it. Lewis carroll was not on drugs, and other surprising facts. I use the word possible in analyzing absolem because of the notorious argument that alice in wonderland is about drug usage. There are a lot of drugs happening in alice in wonderland, but the most egregious examples are the magical mushrooms and the caterpillar who is hitting that bong hard. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the village pump. Lewis carroll was not on drugs, and other surprising facts about alice in wonderland 07072015 10. Alice in wonderland is not a book based on drug expiriences. Alice in wonderland has been connected with psychedelic drugs since the 1960s. Alice s adventures in wonderland is a charming, light book, that reputedly pleased queen victoria. Aug 01, 2011 but near the end of the 19th century sir walter besant wrote of alice as a book of that extremely rare kind which will belong to all the generations to come until language becomes obsolete. Attributed to anonymous, the book is in diary form, and was originally presented as being the edited real diary of the unnamed teenage protagonist.
By yourdictionary alice in wonderland is more than just the kids story you may have thought it was when you were younger. It is possible carroll experienced micropsiamacropsia when high on opium, and incorporated it into the novel. Instead, many of the drug references supposedly identified in alice are probably just in our heads, resonating with the lsdinfluenced popular culture of the 60s, 70s and beyond. Alice in wonderland was a banned book but for a weird reason. The human imagination does not require altered states of consciousness to function. Alice s adventures in wonderland and through the looking glass as well as the many movies based on these books. It was 1865 when the plucky young alice first tumbled down a rabbithole into the magical kingdom of wonderland. Jun 03, 2009 alice in wonderland on drugs video is not mine, creator may request a take down. Lewis carroll was not on drugs, and other surprising facts about. Alices adventures in wonderland met with instant success, as did its sequel, through the lookingglass and what alice found there.
So while the myth about drugs has been debunked time and again, carroll probably wasnt a madman rambling in a drug addled state, rather a. The book has always remained in print and has been translated into more than 64 languages. Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small. Talking rabbits who are always late, mad hatter tea parties, a grinning cat. And while there have been arguments against such theories, the correlation has nonetheless been established. Mar 20, 2015 alice in wonderland what does it all mean. This post talks about the creative story of alice in wonderland and discusses the rumor of drug use during its creation. Was lewis carroll on drugs when he wrote alice in wonderland. Alices adventures in wonderland is, on one level at least, the story of a girl who disappears down a rabbit hole to a fantastic place full of bizarre adventures. Jul 24, 2015 the alice in wonderland drug references come as less of a surprise, but peter pan and pinocchio were pretty shocking.
The use of opium was highly widespread and popular during the time when lewis carroll wrote alice s adventures in wonderland and the sequel through the looking glass, so it is possible that he was a drug user. As a book is of no use without pictures, several illustrations and photographs can be found throughout the pages at irregular intervals. If carroll had migraines and partook of a bit of opium for relief or just for the heck of it, then maybe, just maybe, alices adventures in wonderland and through the lookingglass were inspired by more than imagination. But theres another, less celebrated wonderland related anniversary occurring this year. Many children have been exposed to the disney movie depicting alice s adventures in wonderland. He was a very conservative math proffessor and he thought that. Even though the rumors arent true that lewis carroll wrote alice s adventures in wonderland during a hallucinogenic trip, the book still remains a fascinating study of reality while being a prime example of the nonsensical fantasy genre. What are some trippy quotes from alice in wonderland. Alice in wonderland is one of the classic childrens stories filled with imagination. Drugs enthusiasts relate alice s adventures to the trip.
The book and various films have all been interpreted as making reference to drug abuse, with alice drinking potions, eating mushrooms and. Alice nibbling on mushrooms, the drink me bottle, and the. Despite its simple eginnings and seemingly innocent meanings, four decades later the book began being challenged for multiple reasons, and joined the banned books list. Modern adaptations of alice in wonderland offer a very progressive reinterpretation of the novel, drawing out sexual imagery and allegories about drug use perceived to be woven within the original narrative douglasfairhurst, 2015.
In the story, alice eats and drinks several different items, which cause her to grow or shrink including mushrooms. Was lewis carroll high when he wrote alice in wonderland. Jul 20, 2017 are you me alice in wonderland is, likewise, my absolute favorite book of all time. The alice in wonderland fansite says much the same in their faq. Carroll is not known to be an abuser, but a reference to drug abuse in alice in wonderland as a form of cultural commentary is a possibility. Even the movies, i could watch repeatedly and still not get sick of it. Interactions between a book and changing cultures, mnu bulletin ii 1971 12. Alices adventures in wonderland was written by lewis carroll in 1865. September 4, 2012 maybe lewis carroll wasnt high when he wrote alice in wonderland, but i know some people who were high when they saw the movie. Asked in alice s adventures in wonderland book drug use in alice in wonderland. Alice s adventures in wonderland was written by lewis carroll in 1865.
Can lewis carrolls creativity and writings be explained by any possible drug use, epilepsy, migraines, or other mindaltering circumstance. Apr 27, 2010 this post talks about the creative story of alice in wonderland and discusses the rumor of drug use during its creation. Despite its strangeness though, i promise that drugs were not involved in its. The popular childrens book, alice in wonderland, was banned in china and other places because it featured talking animals. English alice s adventures in wonderland italianoalice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do. In fact, as scott parker points out, the association of drugs with alice is so established that alice is now a slang term for lsd. Jun 01, 2016 the magical and sometimes trippy journey that alice goes on in the childrens book alice in wonderland has been raising eyebrows for a long time now if you just take a look at this shot from the tim burtondirected movie version of the book, it isnt surprising that people think dodgson wrote the book completely tripped out on psychedelic drugs. I went through the book much quicker than i thought i would. The association of alice with drug use has been so persistent partly because it is so easy to read psychedelic and drug imagery into the story. Carroll led a very controlled existence, struggling with selfidentity, a recurring theme in the book as alice regularly expresses uncertainty about who she is after she enters wonderland. It tells of a girl named alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures.
Even more popular is the theory that alices adventures in wonderland is a thinly veiled allegory about drug use. And most adults would agree that it is crazy and confusing. It tells of a girl named alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. Even in his extensive diaries, carroll has never made any reference to the use of drugs. Lewis carroll faq lewis carroll society of north america. By nature, childrens stories are driven by fantasy, centered around mythical creatures, but bear a valuable lesson in the end. Go ask alice is a 1971 fiction book about a teenage girl who develops a drug addiction at age 15 and runs away from home on a journey of selfdestructive escapism. The author of the book which the movie is based on, was a pedophile, who laid eyes on a girl, named alice. Alice s adventure seems like a trip of investigation to examine the various types of drugs. There have been arguments as to what exactly he is smoking.
Alice in wonderland or alice s adventures in wonderland is a novel published in 1865 written by charles lutwidge dodgson under the pseudonym lewis carroll. Some believe it to be cannabis, although deemed unpopular of. Drugs in alice in wonderland essaysalices adventures in wonderland paper in victorian england the drug opium was commonly used. Other than the gender roles in the story of alice and wonderland, the movie also illustrates various scenes that are related to the use of drugs. Aug 20, 2012 yet another narrative imposed on the book is the idea of grappling with a sense of self. But why do so many see adult themes in the story, asks sophie. He made her a book, complete with illustrations and from that alice in wonderland was born. She asked to receive the authors next work and was swiftly sent a. This year lewis carrolls classic childrens book alices adventures in wonderland turns 152.
The books have been explained from all kinds of viewpoints, like drug use, freudian influences, mathematics, political satire, sex and pedophilia, nonsense, etc. In every version of alice in wonderland that i can recall, the caterpillar is always smoking. Was the author of alice in wonderland a drug addict. Drugs enthusiasts relate alices adventures to the trip. Even more popular is the theory that alice s adventures in wonderland is a thinly veiled allegory about drug use. So while the myth about drugs has been debunked time and again, carroll probably wasnt a madman rambling in a drug addled state, rather a professor making a cultural commentary. Was the author of alice in wonderland a drug addict answers. Alice in wonderland is a shortened version of alice s adventures in wonderland, the book by. Its a tempting theory after all the story has alice eating magic mushrooms and meeting hookah smoking caterpillars. No evidence has ever been found that linked carroll to recreational drug use. Sep 04, 2012 opium was a medicine of choice, and lewis carroll possibly suffered from migraines. From the written word to the big screen, fans of the tale continue to read it and make others read it.
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