Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, is recognized by all as the silly fairy-tale author of stories such as Alice in Wonderland and it's sequel Through the Looking Glass. However, little is known about what drove him to write such obviously fantastic stories. Themes such as nonsense and fantasy, education, drug abuse, racism and prejudice, money, malnutrition and public health are touched upon throughout his works. While only speculation can be offered, it is clear that these topics were developed as a result of real life experiences. Carroll's childhood had a strong impact on his writing, mostly because of his playful nature. "By this time [age 8] Lewis Carroll was very fond of inventing games for the amusement of his brothers and sisters," (Kelly 3). As a child, Carroll was very attached to his mother "...Carroll's love and affection for his mother was exceptional" (Kelly, 2). Her death in 1851 had an enormous negative effect on Carroll's morale, which was at an all-time low, and when his father died, Carroll stated that it was "the greatest blow that has ever fallen on my life," (Gardner 9). During his adolescent years, he secluded himself from others because of his everlasting stammer.
had a very turn-up nose, much more like a snout Education played a large role in Carroll's writing, as it was his treasure of varied knowledge that allowed him to expand upon the characters and depiction of Victorian England. Throughout the Alice books, Alice constantly refers to her education in a very proud manor. However, what Alice refers back to is either useless or wrong. For example, while she is falling through the hole, she states 'I wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?' she said aloud. 'I must be nearing the center of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think-' "For, you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in her lessons in the school room, and though this was not a very good opportunity for showing off her knowledge. As there was no one to listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over" (Cohen 187). Alice is correct in saying the distance through the earth, but is incorrect when she wonders if everything will be upside down when she arrives at the other side. Here, Carroll combines his aspects of education and humor, perhaps trying to make the former more desirable for his young audiences. Gutter together - old women rushing up chimneys & l was a part of the wealthier class in Victorian England, but not aristocratic. His father was an Archdeacon at Christ Church in Yorkshire, England. "From his father, he developed an early love of nonsense. A letter from Archdeacon Dodgson, away in Leeds, to his eight-year-old son, for example, reads (Wullschlager 31):
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Approximate Word count = 2473
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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