How We View Alice Today
No matter if the tale is titled Alice's Adventures Underground, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, or Alice in Wonderland, it still remains an incredibly popular story in all of its forms. From the written word to the big screen, fans of the tale continue to read it and make others read it. The fact that it has never been out of publication attests to Lewis Carroll's belief that the story would be profitable and successful. Little did he know that it would continue to be profitable and successful more than one hundred years later.
When the tale was originally published, people of all ages were drawn to it. Children enjoyed the mystical, silly plot line and adults were able to reach back into their childhood and recall the wild imagination they once had. When it was first published the book sold out in rapid fashion both in the United Kingdom as well as the United States. The book has always been generally accepted by the public, except for those few who do not deem the story's odd tone as appropriate for young readers. For example, in 1931, the city of Hunan in China banned the book because of a social belief that animals should not be able to communicate with humans verbally. This was discouraged because this act "put animals and humans on the same level." In the U.S., New Hampshire specifically, it was banned in 1900 due to "expletives, references to masturbation and sexual fantasies, and derogatory characterizations of teachers and of religious ceremonies". I find it strange that out of all of these reasons to ban the book, the one most prevalently argued today, drug use, it not mentioned in either of these situations. It makes it seem as if drug use was perfectly acceptable, or simply just went unnoticed, but all of these other references were to be made known and then banned.
The story today continues to be viewed in a positive light. This probably has a lot to do with the film versions which have been introduced in the last sixty years. Many children have been exposed to the Disney movie depicting Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It is very possible that once they have been informed that the tale is also a book, they seek out that book and read the original. Now that Tim Burton has reinvented the story into his own interpretation, many have compared his film to that of the Disney version and also to the original text, criticizing him for taking the tale too far away from what was initially written. This inevitably leads those interested in the original to seek it out and the sales of the book rise every few years when word of a new film or stage adaptation is to be produced.
Other Notable Criticism
- Stan Walker: http://www.answers.com/topic/alice-s-adventures-in-wonderland-novel-7
