Sunday, December 7, 2008

A Mad Tea Party

My favorite chapter of Alice in Wonderland is A Mad Tea Party because it is very fun and because it has some philosophical commentary. First of all, it is fun, although like the rest of Alice, it is deconstructive fun.
" 'No room! No room!' they cried out when they saw Alice coming. 'There's plenty of room,' Alice said indignantly....
'Have some wine,' the March Hare said in an encouraging tone.
'I don't see any wine,' she remarked.
'There isn't any,' said the March Hare.
'Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it,' said Alice angrily.
'It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited,' said the March Hare." (ch. 7)
As the Cheshire Cat warns Alice before she goes to the tea party, everyone is mad in Wonderland, including you and me. Of course, it is extremely nonsensical for Alice, but as my deconstructionist theories go, it makes sense in Wonderland because Wonderland doesn't make sense.

The philosophical commentary is implied when the Mad Hatter is explaining to Alice that they just move down a seat when everything is used up at one place at the table.
" '[I]t's always tea time, and we've no time to wash the things between whiles.'
'Then you keep moving round, I suppose?' said Alice.
'Exactly so,' said the Hatter,'as the things get used up.'
'But what happens when you come to the beginning again?' Alice ventured to ask.
'Suppose we change the subject,' the March Hare interrupted." (ch.7)
Every time they need something new, a change, they move down to a clean spot on the table and start over. But when Alice asks what happens when they get to beginning again, the March Hare changes the subject. You can't just move along in life and throw the past away because sooner or later, it will catch up to you or you will catch up to it. Ultimately, you're moving in circles, and you will have to eventually clean up your proverbial garbage.

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