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Psychedelic Antiquity

Topic: The Alice in Wonderland Drug Subtext... Faux, or Ever-present?

As a child, I was borderline-obsessed with the story of Alice and her Wonderland, it captivated me and I loved it, completely. However, as I've gotten older... and re-read the book continuously, I've become very aware of what seems like an evident drug subtext, that is: it seems the roster of characters, scenarios and language is immensely metaphorical of an altered world (well, obviously) but not simply and singularly one of a Child's boundless imagination, but one of psychedelic trips (the mushrooms, Alice growing and shrinking, the Caterpillar, etc...) of Cocaine distortions (The "White Rabbit", his recurring tardiness, etc...) I myself have not done research concerning Lewis Carol or his suggested substance abuse/dependency. I am very aware that this idea is on whole, widespread and commonly believed. I'm interested, however, to hear insight from all of you, to hear your take on the supposed Alice in Wonderland "Drug Subtext".

#1 Nov 15th 2006, 8:22pm

hippy of purple

I've actually been wondering the same thing. Anyway, just wanted to add that I've heard from my psych teacher that the whole novel (Alice and Through the Looking Glass) are a discription of acid trips. I'm not sure of Carrol's drug use, or if it was only described to him, but when you put all the pieces together, it kinda adds up. Interesting.

#2 Nov 18th 2006, 10:17pm

pixie paramount

It's up to interputation, honestly. I've heard that, yes, it does describe and acid trip--supposedly, Carroll was on one at the time it was written--but I've heard it also allude a lot toward madness of some sort. Like Peter Pan but, you know, not.

- Pixie

#3 Oct 09th 2007, 5:55pm

Hastur

Carroll was a straight-laced Anglican minister, it's unlikely that he did drugs. Possibly a bit of opium for pain, but that was not at all uncommon in his time. Besides, he predated LSD. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written in 1864; LSD was synthesized in 1927.

#4 May 01st 2008, 10:44am

Alexa Twitch

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, or Lewis Carroll, obviously didn't do drugs. I'm still under the belief that the story of Wonderland was dreamed up by a child, popularly thought to be named Alice Liddell, that Carroll happened to know. Look at his poem Life is but a Dream which, in some copies, is printed at the beginning of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

"Children three that nestle near, Eager eye and willing ear, Pleased a simple tale to hear-- Long has paled that sunny sky; Echoes fade and memories die; Autumn frosts have slain July. Still she haunts me, phantomwise, Alice moving under skies Never seen by waking eyes."

It seems to be proven right there but that's just my opinion.

#5 Sep 19th 2008, 8:45am

Incy Little Spider

You know people thought all sorts of mad things about Lewis Carrol, that he was a druggie that he was a pedo but what you think of him is up to our own minds. I think he was a man with a huge imagination and probably was very close to Alice Liddel, maybe a bit too close, but he doesn't come across as a druggie to me. Well that's just my opinion.

#6 Dec 27th 2008, 2:16am

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