I would say that my favorite discussion so far has been Lewis Carroll’s “A Mad Tea Party.” I have always loved Alice in Wonderland. I remember watching the movie and reading the children’s story as a child. I believed it to be wonderful example of fantasy. A lovely whimsical tale meant to show children another world different from everyday life.
As a teenager I still loved the story but somehow I began to believe that these stories were a result of drug abuse. I honestly cannot recall where I heard or read this information but it made sense not me at the time. A normal mind does not think up the fantastical world that Alice lands in.
It was not until I took this class that I learned Lewis Carroll was autistic. Autism allows you to look at the world with a different perspective. He did not think like his peers and as such his writing reflected this. I also learned that while whimsical in nature, his stories hold political views. I honestly had no idea.
I am currently 29 years old and from childhood, to teenage years to adulthood “Alice in Wonderland” and Chapter VII, “A Mad Tea Party” have taken on completely different meanings for me. This story has followed me through life so far and whats shocking is the political message meant for the Victorians can still be applied today.
Humanities 101 