Children’s Literature: Alice’s Snack

Alice in Wonderland is highly imaginative writing with unforeseen twists and turns in every chapter. Various themes make up the storyline, and repeated are multiple references to eating that seem sinister, carnivorous, and cannibalistic. Some of these references are as simple as a phrase, while others are embedded within poetry.

How "Doth the little Crocodile" (pg 11) is a twisted version of a poem that was a lesson that school children might learn. The original "How doth the little Busy Bee" was less gruesome and sinister than this revised telling. The twist might suggest the twisted nature of lessons and their inherent malice toward the sacred and pure childhood. The crocodile "welcomes little fishes in with gently smiling jaws" (pg 11) is the most irking yet intriguing line. The implication of the friendly, perhaps even innocent-looking crocodile is most alarming. Even the fish are described as "little", implying younger, naive, and innocent beings. Even Alice herself is disturbed at these words coming from her mouth.

The second time Alice gets a lesson wrong, she recites another poem even more gruesome:

“I passed by the garden, and marked, with one eye, How the Owl and the Panther were sharing a pie: The Panther took pie-crust, and gravy and meat, While the Owl had the dish as its share of the treat. When the pie was all finished, the Owl, as a boon, Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon:

While the Panther received the knife and fork with a growl, And concluded the banquet by–” (pg 81)

Though the end of the poem is not exposed as such, the rhyming scheme most certainly implies that the panther eats the owl. This can be seen as cannibalism because both animals are personified and representative of humans. Even the description of the pie explicitly mentions meat as a "treat," glorifying and showing the underlying cannibalistic or carnivorous way.

This is followed by the mock turtle's rendition of "Turtle Soup". It is utterly unnerving that, while crying, the mock turtle calls this soup beautiful when he is what it is made of. But this is not completely accurate, as he states that he used to be a real turtle but is not a mock turtle. He therefore, cannot be turned into the turtle soup of which he sings. However, as the Duchess explains to Alice what a Mock Turtle is. she states "it's the thing that mock turtle soup is made from" (pg 70). Such a statement is troubling on many levels. First, she suggests this "thing", which is in fact a creature, is merely defined by the soup it's in. Secondly, it specifies that the mock turtle would be made into Mock Turtle Soup instead of just Turtle Soup. As bizarre and eerie as it is, we must then consider that this may be the reason the Mock Turtle cried and sang the Turtle Soup song; perhaps he longs to be Turtle soup, but he will only ever be Mock turtle Soup.

Yet another poem, introduced by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, explores the friendly seduction of innocents into becoming a meal. This is similar to "How Doth the Little Crocodile" but includes more detail as to the interactions between the oysters and the walrus and the carpenter. Firstly, it explicitly explains that the wiser oystersstay behind with the passage

"the eldest oyster winked his eye,And shook his heavy head--” (pg 144)

meaning to say he did not choose to lease the oyster bed."

So again, the young are targeted and submit to this hollow request for false companionship. This sinister scene is perhaps even more distorted with the conversation between the two as they munch on the oyster friends. Particularly the saying

"'I weep for you' the walrus said 'I deeply sympathize.'

With sobs and tears he sorted out Those of largest size" (pg 146)

Showing that even as he says one thing, he does the other, and that the oysters were foolish to trust in him.

There are other similar examples of scenes and bits suggestive of cannibalistic behaviors. For example, the hatter’s use of the phrase “I eat what I see” (pg 51) is used as an explanation for a logical fallacy that also serves as a slightly perverse jest. Alice also finds ways of comparing eating to temperament. The events revolving around eating in Alice continue, but they all seem to have an ominous thread relating to carnivorous behaviors and innocence.