The Role of Language and Wordplay in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass: How Lewis Carroll Uses Language to Challenge Reality

Language is a central theme in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, with Lewis Carroll using wordplay, puns, and nonsensical language to challenge readers’ understanding of reality. Carroll, a master of linguistic creativity, injects humor and philosophical depth into his works through playful use of language.

In Wonderland, Alice often encounters characters who manipulate language in bizarre ways, such as the Mad Hatter’s riddle or the nonsensical poetry of the Walrus and the Carpenter. These word games serve as both a source of amusement and a critique of how language can distort meaning. In Through the Looking-Glass, the conversation between Alice and Humpty Dumpty plays with the power of words, as he manipulates language to control meaning, illustrating how words can be both malleable and elusive.

Carroll's use of wordplay challenges the idea that language is a fixed system of communication, instead presenting it as something that can be fluid, whimsical, and open to interpretation. This playfulness with language not only provides humor but also invites readers to rethink the way language shapes our perception of reality.