Essay Examples -English Literature Essays
THE TREATMENT OF ESCAPISM IN ALICE IN WONDERLAND AND PETER PAN
The issue of escapism is one of the principal themes in childhood's literature that depicts this psychological state as a way to escape the real world.
The aim of the essay is to discuss the treatment of escapism in Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Peter Pan by James Barrie. In Carroll's narration Alice escapes to illogical world, the Wonderland, where all things are different from the reality, while Peter Pan escapes to the place Neverland, where he manages not to grow up. Although the methods that characters utilise are similar, the nature and consequences of their escape reveal the individuality of writers' vision.
Alice's escapism uncovers her incapacity to accept the real world, the girl's attempts to live in her own fantasies and dreams. She is an embodiment of the Victorian child who appears in the place, where there are no adults with their rules and knowledge; instead everything in this place is casual and uncontrolled. Applying to satirical tools of expression, Carroll draws a parallel between Alice who acquires a freedom of actions and a normal British child who is forced to make so many meaningless things.
When Alice goes to a picnic with a sister, she experiences boredom and suddenly escapes into a dream world, where she collides with unusual creatures and adventures that are rather horrific for a little girl. As Peter Coveney (1967) puts it, the dream takes on a quality of horror because Carroll is painfully awake in his own dream (p.334). In this world everything is turned upside-down, and Alice herself changes so much that she is not able to realise her identity: if I am not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle (Carroll, 1981 p.8). When the girl tries to apply her knowledge to certain situations, she finds out that the things she learned are useless in this dream world.
Therefore, Alice's escapism shows the difference between the vision of children and adults: those things that adults consider important and wise may be stupid and insignificant for children. As Alice speaks with the Duchess, she gradually understands that she knows nothing, despite her knowledge in astronomy, math and poetry, thus Carroll wants to prove that Alice makes an attempt to escape the world, where she has to adhere to the established principles and rules. However, even this dream world is preoccupied with stupid customs that greatly resemble the norms of Victorian era.
According to Peter Hunt (1999), all children's books reflect certain social and cultural ideologies, and Alice in Wonderland is not an exception. The creatures that Alice meets are compared with adults, and the girl's escape is aimed at revealing the absurdities of the adult world and at developing her self-identity that won't be destroyed during her maturation. The character has to overcome all stages during her unusual trip, or otherwise she won't be able to understand the core of life.
In this context, Peter Pan's escape is of different nature, he escapes into a fabricated world, because he is afraid of growing up. Peter understands that in childhood it is possible to experience a real freedom, while the world of adults is obsessed with strict rules, limitations, stereotypes and wrong ideals. Hunt (1999) points out that the narrations of Carroll and Barrie should be analysed by applying to 'childist criticism', because these writers express their vision through the eyes of children.
Since early years children are directed towards certain social laws and rules of life; however, Peter Pan prefers to rise against these established norms. As the writer claims at the beginning of the narration, All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this (Barrie, 2003 p.1). Throughout her trip in Wonderland, Alice makes attempts to adapt to this world, that is, she learns to adjust to adulthood. When Alice changes her size, she simultaneously reveals her inner growth, thus her escape into the unreal world presuppose her return into the real world of adults with more strength and adaptability.
Carroll points out that Alice manages to escape into Wonderland, because she is not fully destroyed by reality; however, Victorian standards of behaviour continue to influence the girl even in this dream world, revealing the power of the established traditions and their negative impact on a personality. Such approach allows the writer to uncover the artificiality of many social rules and principles that oppose all displays of freedom and individuality. Fortunately, Alice's escape provides her with a new vision that will help her to survive in her transition from childhood into adulthood.
Contrary to Alice, Peter Pan doesn't want to adjust to the world of adults; he wants to escape it, being afraid of the dangers that appear in the process of growth. Coveney (1967) considers that such fear reflects the attempts of Victorian society to deprive children of their childhood, making them act, like adults. Peter Pan doesn't want to become mature, because he wants to occupy a central position in life, while maturity changes people's vision and makes them feel their insignificance. Peter Pan has a chance to return to his family and to reality, but he delays this decision, hoping that he will be able to get back from his escape any time.
However, when Peter finally returns, he understands that it is too late and he is locked out of his home, of adult life. His escape destroys him and his relations with his family; as a result, he isolates himself from the real world, feeling loneliness and emptiness inside. Although Peter Pan wants to show that he is satisfied with such existence, it is obvious that his escape deprives this boy of many important things and feelings. Escaping from reality, Peter creates a trap for himself, which he is not able to destroy. In this regard, Alice's escapism is positive, as it allows her to return to reality with necessary strength and insight, while Peter's escape is negative, because it destroys him and his relations with people.
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Analysing the treatment of escapism in Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, the essay suggests that in Carroll's narration the escape of the principal character into the unreal world is introduced as a transitional step from childhood into adulthood. Alice needs to confront with different situations and creatures during her fictional journey, acquiring inner strength, individuality and preserving some innocence. The writer stresses on the fact that escapism from reality is a temporal phenomenon, if it is prolonged, it may destroy a person.
Alice manages to pass through the absurdities that she faces in Wonderland and return to reality with a new insight. Similar to Carroll, Barrie also supports the idea that the escape into childhood is crucial in some instances, but it is maturity and experience that allow people to survive. Contrary to Alice, Peter Pan prefers to remain in childhood, appearing in the world of loneliness. On the example of this protagonist, the writer wants to prove that it is necessary for a person to attain equilibrium between two states - childhood and adulthood.
Thus, both Barrie and Carroll criticize those people who are not able to combine childish emotions with adult reality, although their characters reflect the spirit of Victorian period that was widely characterized by escapism.
Bibliography
Barrie, J. M. (2003) Peter Pan . Henry Holt and Co.
Carroll, L. (1981) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass . Bantam.
Coveney, P. (1967) The Image of Childhood , The Individual and Society: a study of the theme in English literature . Penguin.
Hunt, P. (ed.) (1999) Understanding Children's Literature . London and New York, Routledge.
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