Through the Looking-Glass

Through the Looking-Glass. It is the sequel to Lewis Carroll's 1865 classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The narrative follows the young protagonist Alice as she steps through a mirror into a fantastical world governed by the rules of a living chess game. Filled with iconic characters like Tweedledum and Tweedledee and the Jabberwocky, the novel is celebrated for its inventive wordplay, logical puzzles, and exploration of reversed reality, cementing its status as a cornerstone of Victorian literature and the literary nonsense genre.

Plot summary

The story begins with Alice pondering the nature of the world inside her drawing-room mirror. She climbs through it and discovers Looking-glass world, a countryside laid out like a giant chessboard. Informed by the rules of chess that she can become a Queen by reaching the eighth square, Alice embarks on a journey where movement is often paradoxical. Her adventures include meeting talking flowers, being trapped in the train carriage of the eccentric Guard, and a chaotic encounter with Tweedledum and Tweedledee who recite the poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter". She later attends the nonsensical dinner party of the White Queen and the Red Queen, culminating in her capture of the Red King and her coronation. The narrative concludes with Alice shaking the Red Queen into her kitten, Kitty, awakening from what may have been a dream.

Characters

The novel features a memorable cast, primarily encountered by Alice as chess pieces or living creatures. Key antagonists and guides include the logical yet combative Red Queen and the chronically forgetful White Queen. Other major figures are the twin brothers Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the anxious White Knight, and the monstrous Jabberwocky, famed from the poem "Jabberwocky". Notable supporting characters encompass the pompous Humpty Dumpty, the helpful but feeble White King, the spectral Haigha, and the messenger Hatta. The flora includes personified flowers like the Tiger-lily and the Rose, while fauna is represented by creatures such as the Lion and the Unicorn.

Themes and analysis

A central theme is the exploration of reversed logic and identity, mirroring the inverted world of a looking glass. Carroll extensively employs themes of mirrors and reflection, using the chess game structure to examine predetermined fate versus free will. The work is a masterpiece of literary nonsense, renowned for its inventive use of neologism and portmanteau, as exemplified in the poem "Jabberwocky". Scholars often analyze its commentary on Victorian era social conventions and the arbitrary nature of language, with characters like Humpty Dumpty acting as prescriptive linguists. The narrative also delves into philosophical questions about reality and dreams, a continuation of themes from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and utilizes sophisticated logic and mathematics, reflecting Carroll's own interests as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.

Publication history

The book was first published in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in December 1871 by Macmillan, though it was post-dated 1872. Like its predecessor, it was illustrated by the renowned Punch cartoonist John Tenniel, whose iconic engravings became inseparable from the text. The initial reception was highly favorable, with praise for its imaginative scope and clever wordplay, solidifying Lewis Carroll's reputation. The poem "Jabberwocky" was actually published earlier in Carroll's 1855 periodical Mischmasch. The first edition faced a minor controversy when John Tenniel objected to the print quality of one illustration, leading to a recall, a story detailed in biographies like Morton N. Cohen's.

Adaptations

The novel has inspired numerous adaptations across various media. In film, notable versions include the 1933 Paramount Pictures production, the 1951 Disney animated film *Alice in Wonderland* which blends both books, and Jan Švankmajer's 1988 surrealist film *Alice*. Stage adaptations range from operas, such as Unsuk Chin's 2007 work, to ballets and theatrical productions. In television, it has been featured in episodes of series like Star Trek: The Next Generation and adapted by the BBC. The work's influence extends to music, inspiring songs by artists like The Beatles on their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and video games, including the American McGee's Alice franchise.

Category:1871 British novels Category:Sequel novels Category:English children's novels