Parodies of Victorian Lifestyle Essay - 1969 Words

Parodies of Victorian Lifestyle in Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found It is no accident that the grotesque style in literature tends to be prevalent in eras marked by radical change and stress. Such was the Victorian period, within which a whirl of social, economic, and religious change took place . . . (Chang par. 2). This distorted writing can be unquestionably seen in the works of Lewis Carroll, namely his world famous pieces, Alices Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There (commonly known as Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass). In several instances throughout the Alice books, Carroll mocks Victorian lifestyle. These†¦show more content†¦Accepted norms now seem foreign to Alice, and in many ways she becomes an outcast (Polisner par. 3). Carroll is mocking the Victorians because with every new thing that Alice learns, they seem to cancel out her past lessons. Since Victorians were so concerned with learning more about themselves and the world around them, they came to be great inventors; they were the first to invent to create solutions to problems and better themselves. Alice realizes the fruitlessness of the White Knights inventions upon discovering the mousetrap on his horses back. In response to this, she remarks, it isnt very likely there would be any mice on a horses back Not very likely, perhaps, said the Knight; but if they do come, I dont choose to have them running all about (Through the Looking Glass ch. 8). Instead of making like simpler, the solutions to the Knights problems create more problems. I see youre admiring my little box, the Knight said in a friendly tone. Its my own invention - to keep clothes and sandwiches in. You see I carry it upside-down, so that the rain cant get in. But the things can get out, Alice gently remarked. Do you know the lids open? (Through the Looking Glass ch. 8). The title of the chapter, Its My Own Invention, suggests that Lewis Carroll is making a mockery of Victorian inventions. This also holds true because of the repetitive use of theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Keith Chesterton s On Lying1642 Words   |  7 Pagesthis he expands indefinitely in many directions. Two main points are made here. One: society has gained a backwards and unethical understanding on societal importances on human appearance, of both outer looks and the appearance of your life or lifestyle, and moral. As Chesterton claims This it is considered more withering to accuse a man of bad taste than of bad ethics. (Chesterton, 3) What he says here is truly simple, that as a society we care far too much on the outward appearance of peopleRead MoreThe Importance Of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde1438 Words   |  6 Pagesfirst published in 1899. This play was a self-parody and unreliably explanation on the dramatic farce genre for Wilde. 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