"Through the Looking Glass- has always had a certain intrigue for me. The brilliance of the novel relies on its paradox of values and images. It is almost as if Lewis Carroll recognized the naiveté of a child's mind and sought to educate children on the harshest realities of life through a fantastic and attractive story line.
Perhaps the most interesting quality of the poem is its simplicity and, in the same way, its complexity. Scholars could study and brainstorm the possible meanings and metaphors for years on end; and yet a child can read through it and understand the meaning of almost every word. Even the title presents the double sided nature of this story.
Imbedded with drugs, alcohol and countless other mature innuendoes, the story applies to the darker side of Carroll's life. So why write this story towards children? Some believe it was some perverted nature inside of Carroll. However, I believe that it is a warning to all, especially for children. I propose that he feared for the future of humanity and the values instilled in them.
In several places, he relates the traveling of the mind to confusion and a reversal of realistic standards. For instance, when Alice travels through the mirror and into a fog that transports her to a magical world; this could easily be interpreted as a metaphor for some intoxicant. The first chapter reveals the fun and wonder of the confused mind, but soon the madness grows out of control and it becomes difficult for the mind to leave its confused and inebriated state.
He meant for children to grow up with this story, learning more about it everyday. "Through the Looking Glass- would serve as a guide through adolescence, deception and addiction. Or maybe he was addicted to drugs himself and he wanted to give children the chance he never had. If he was addicted, then possibly his intentions were not as noble or righteous as youth preservation.
This gives us a look at what type of person Mrs. ... Here is where we find, through the women, that Mr. ... As we go through the story we see that the men are looking for obvious clues toward the motive. They do not look at things like the women do. ... Where I find the glass half empty you might find it half full. ...