As we mark another anniversary of Alice’s descent down the rabbit hole, let’s look into the character dynamics and symbolism that have made Alice’s story a timeless classic.

The novel ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ was first published on the 4th of July in 1865 by Lewis Carroll. Since its publication, the story has captivated the imaginations of young and old alike. From the pages of the novel to countless adaptations on screen, the characters who populate Wonderland each embody unique traits and symbolic meanings that have intrigued fans throughout generations. However, note that there are many interpretations of the story's meaning, and this is just one of them.

While it may appear to be a simple fairy tale, it is much deeper than that. The entire story and plot symbolises the transition from childhood to adulthood. Each encounter Alice faces throughout the book represents a specific stage of growing up. For example, Alice following the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole symbolises a child’s curiosity and innate desire to explore.

Alice’s curiosity leads her into trouble. When she finds a cookie with “Eat Me” written on it, without thinking twice, she eats the cookie. This impulsive action reflects her childhood stage, where adult guidance is crucial but absent in this instance. Because there was no adult figure around, curiosity overruled better judgement and she ate the cookie. This scenario also represents the peer pressure experienced while growing up, with the cookie acting as a metaphor for external influences telling her what to do.

At this point of the story, Alice has reached the age where she loses her sense of identity; adolescence. The caterpillar asks her the question yet does not give her any direction, thus she has to figure it out on her own.

The first creature from Wonderland seen by Alice, is the White Rabbit holding a pocket watch. Obsessed with time and constantly worried about being late, the White Rabbit stands out as generally sane and orderly compared to the many eccentric characters in Wonderland. This may be because he is the only one who can move between Wonderland and the normal world.

The White Rabbit appears to be one of the few creatures in Wonderland, besides Alice, that recognises the absurdity of its monarchy and inhabitants. Recognising what is logical and what is not, he symbolises the process of “growing up” and the attainment of maturity. He frequently has to prevent the king from demanding a verdict from the jury before the trial concludes, and so his stressed demeanour might stem from being one of the only logical creatures in the illogical world.

The Queen of Hearts represents the often cruel nature of authority and power. She is described as irrational and hot-tempered with her famous line “Off with their heads!”. She is easily angered and makes decisions on a whim without thinking it through. Thus, her irrationality and despotic behaviour reflect Carroll’s critique of societal norms and abuse of power. Through the Queen of Hearts, Carroll highlights the absurdity of blindly following rules without questioning their purpose.

Furthermore, the playing cards that constantly surround the Queen of Hearts symbolise the rigid hierarchy of Wonderland. They represent the strict social structure of the world where everyone has a specific rank and must adhere to the rules. The playing cards serve as a reminder of the dangers of blindly conforming to societal expectations and highlight the importance of questioning the status quo.

A lot of fans' personal favourite is the Mad Hatter. He is eccentric, nonsensical, and unpredictable. Thus, he is a symbol of the madness and unpredictability of the human mind. However, he is mad in the sense that he does not necessarily follow the natural order of things, reminding us to embrace our own uniqueness. This aligns with Carroll’s broader theme of questioning Victorian society’s rigid norms. The Hatter is very blunt and open with his opinions which could be in the form of advice, such as when Alice says she does not think, the Hatter replies that she should not talk.

The famous tea party scene is more than just a whimsical gathering; it is a symbol of the meaninglessness of social conventions. The characters of the tea party represent different social archetypes, and their nonsensical conversations; again, highlighting the pointlessness of conforming to social expectations. Written by Carroll in the 1800s, this scene reflects the societal norms and critiques of that era.

The Cheshire Cat is known for its mischievous grin and ability to disappear and reappear at will. He is mysterious, playful, and philosophical. This character reminds us that things are not always as they seem and that there is often more than one way to perceive a situation.

Although the Cheshire Cat understands the madness of Wonderland in ways the other creatures do not, it does not condemn that madness. He has insights into the workings of Wonderland as a whole and often questions or challenges Alice’s perspectives on the situations she encounters. His portrayal of madness suggests that it is not merely about being nonsensical, but rather thinking or behaving in ways that deviate from what is known to be “normal”.

The Garden of Live Flowers is a scene from the sequel “Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There”. They explore the theme of beauty and superficiality as the flowers, while beautiful, are not exactly kind or wise. They are described as vain and petty, which contrasts sharply with their outward appearance, serving as a commentary on the superficial nature of beauty and the importance of looking beyond appearances to understand true character and value.

Back to the main theme of the story, “A Quest out of Childhood”, the whimsical nature of the flowers also represent the boundless imagination of childhood. In a child’s world, anything is possible, including talking flowers.

Alice in Wonderland remains as famous today as it was when it was first released. Lewis Carroll masterfully explores the concepts of maturing into adulthood in the book. A common theme and symbolism presented by the characters is the importance of not conforming to societal expectations without question or merely to fit in. And so, by the end of the book, Alice learns to confront her problems and regains sight of her identity.