Alice's Identity

Finding One’s Identity Identity: “the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others” ("Identity"). In life sometimes it can be difficult for one to know truly who they are, especially when one finds themselves in an unfamiliar place where no one is sane. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice Liddell is a young girl who finds herself in a new world where everything is strange and abnormal to her. Alice is troubled with the different challenges she faces and struggles to find her identity in this mystical world that includes talking animals, a Queen of Hearts, and food that can change one’s size. The struggle one may face to find identity is conveyed in Lewis Carroll’s, Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland and is revealed through characterization, the plot, as well as literary criticism.
Lewis Carroll conveys the struggle to find identity through characterization. Alice was a young girl when she entered Wonderland and did not have a strong sense of self understanding. Readers can see early in the story that Alice seemed to be quite conflicted and apprehensive about who she truly was. “...And once she remembered trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people” (Carroll 12). Alice was doubtful when it came to identifying her true self and pretended to be numerous different people. Even before entering the curious Wonderland, Alice grappled with comprehending her identity and it led to self doubt in multiple occasions. It is especially difficult for children to get an understanding of their identities because they have not experienced enough in their lives that they could learn from nor
would truly draw out their distinctiveness. Alice experiences the sensation of growing and shrinking during her experience in Wonderland and it confuses Alice because she was never the same size. “I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when i got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is, ‘Who in the world am I?’ (Carroll 17). As Alice experienced these perplexing changes in her body size, she began to question herself and who she was. When she would eat the cake or drink the cordial she would change size and lose her physical identity which resulted in her querying her existence altogether. Carroll used Alice to communicate that many individuals may go through situations where they cannot seem to perceive their distinctiveness or identity.

Furthermore, Lewis Carroll revealed the struggle to find identification through the plot. Alice traveled through Wonderland constantly wondering who she was, and the obstacles she encountered helped her to build her uniqueness. Additionally, as she progressed in Wonderland she met many creatures that eventually assisted her in discovering her true self. “‘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’” (Carroll 43). Like so many of the creatures in Wonderland, the caterpillar requested to know who Alice was, but she did not even know that response for herself. Alice’s journey to Wonderland was a way for her to discover herself and her uniqueness from others around her. By the end of the book, Alice had a better sense of herself because of the tasks she faced as well as the creatures that she met along her path to self discovery. She knew that she had changed from the girl that had first entered Wonderland, and Alice acknowledged that and assimilated from that. "‘I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning,’ said Alice a little timidly; ‘but it’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then’”. (Carroll 110). Alice’s experience in Wonderland assisted in her comprehension of herself and she acquired knowledge about her identification. The plot helps readers to visualize Alice’s growth from the conflicted girl who enjoyed pretending to be multiple people to a wiser one that could defeat the Queen of Hearts.

Moreover, literary criticism assists in conveying the struggle to discover identification.
As Alice began to understand more about Wonderland and felt like she could have a rightful place there, she eventually “mastered” her destiny. From the beginning, Alice struggled with her size which ultimately affected her comprehension of herself. “One of the main things that the child must grapple with on such a journey, and one of the principal themes that Alice takes up, is the question of his/her identity in that world. "Who are you?" Alice was frequently asked who she was early in her adventures, and it is a question that she at first has a difficult time answering. Her initial erratic changes in size could be said to represent her inability to "fit" herself into this world” (Walker). Throughout the story Alice was mistaken for other people, or she was just lost when asked who she was. After conquering these struggles and misinterpretations she faces the Queen of Hearts and defeats
her.

The grapple to discover one’s identity can be identified through characterization, the plot, and literary criticism. Alice shows readers that it is not always trouble-free and effortless when one is struggling to find their self existence in the world, especially when they are young and inexperienced in life. During Alice’s visit to Wonderland, she lost her way many times before truly understanding her identity. Readers should understand that sometimes there are obstacles that get in one’s way during the time of self discovery. If one were to take their time on their road to self discovery and learn from their own mistakes, it may make the journey a bit more enjoyable.