Childhood Contradictions :: Free Essays Online

Childhood Contradictions 1. Memories from my childhood are scarce and cloudy at best. Everything is distorted and it always seems like everyone is bigger than you, in more(prenominal) ways than one. From what I do remember, a major player in my development as a child was the overwhelming feeling of confusion. More generation than not, I was confused by at least one of many things (authority, my own identity, physical, mental and emotional changes, etc). A childs confusion is due to the massive serial of contradictions that is childhood itself. In Lewis Carrolls novels Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking codswallop , the meaning of childhood and what it is to be a child and liter every last(predicate)y live in a childs world takes on an entirely different meaning than ever before. Similarly, the computer game based on the novels, American McGees Alice , gives an interesting perspective on the ideal of childhood and the struggle to maturity. 2. The slew of contradi ctions in both of Lewis novels is something that cannot be ignored, even by the most rudimentary of readers. The entire concept of the novels themselves is providing text which, in all honesty, seems to be complete nonsense and providing that nonsense with sense . This theory of sense from nonsense is clearly developed in Chapter 2 of Through the Looking Glass . In this chapter, titled The Garden of Live Flowers, Alice remarks to the flowers, Arent you sometimes frightened at being planted out here, with nobody to take care of you? (Gray 121). In answer to this remark, the Rose points out that theres the maneuver in the middle (Gray 122) as if that is supposed to give any sort of rational explanation for their feeling of security. When Alice asks what sort of testimonial a tree could provide, the Rose tells her that if any danger comes along the tree can bark. Now, this is an entirely ridiculous concept to begin with. The idea of inanimate objects having the cogency to produce s ound is complete nonsense to any rational person. However, the flowers give the trees ability to bark and their ability to talk seemingly rational explanations. According to the Daisy, the tree says Bough-Wough Thats why branches are called boughs (Gray 122). In response to the question about the flowers proficiency at language, the Rose tells Alice that in most gardens, they make the beds too soft - so that the flowers are always asleep (Gray 122) and their flower bed is noticeably hard by comparison.