Archetypes in Alice

 By: Audrey Thompson

     Lewis Carrol has included a myriad of archetypal elements in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Elements such as the white rabbit, the locked door, and even Alice's overall journey all help to give deeper meaning to the story.
     Rabbits usually tend to symbolize luck or cunning. The fact that this particular rabbit is white also leads the reader to believe that it may end up representing something good or pure. However, this rabbit seems to serve as more of an ironic contrast to it's archetypal nature. He has led Alice into a strange world (not luckily at all) and also works for the queen (who is anything but good and pure). This contrast assists Carroll in turning the normal world upside down and create a confusing wonderland.
      The locked door and key that is out of reach stand for unattainable desires. This archetype helps Carroll to make a statement about how people cannot always get what they want or other times have to go a long way before they can reach it. Alice not being able to get to the garden through the first door may seem trivial on the surface, but when the archetype comes into play, it makes a statement about life and also explains the reason behind the rest of her journey.
      The entire journey itself symbolizes an opportunity for self discovery. Journeys, more often than not, are not about reaching an endpoint, but the lessons that are learned along the way. In the beginning Alice even says that she is not sure of who she is, but by the end, even though she is still in a confusing world, she is somewhat more confident in herself. By using this specific archetype, Carroll highlights how one may have to endure many pointless obstacles before reaching what is important in the end.
     Besides the one's listed, there are numerous other archetypes present in Alice, but overall, their presence helps to a create a deeper meaning that truly resonates with the reader. The archetypes make what at first seems like a confusing children's story into a piece of literature that is much more significant.