Remembering Alice in Oxford
By Leila Siddiqi
tale’s fantasy element and has once again brought back the spotlight to Oxford, the historic and enchanting city where Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) conceived the story which continues to delight and entertain readers of all ages 145 years after it was first published. The contribution made by the story to popular culture with regard to art, literature, fashion, film and music has been enormous as is evident by its numerous film, television and comic adaptations as well as live performances, musicals and references by some of the most successful musicians and painters including The Beatles, Aerosmith, Gwen Stefani and Salvador Dali who produced 12 illustrations around Alice in Wonderland.
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The lead character, Alice, is one of the most well recognized heroines in English literature and stood as a source of inspiration for various stories about little girls escaping reality by entering new worlds full of wonder and enchantment; such as Dorothy Gale in Wizard of Oz and Wendy Darling in Peter Pan. The character of Alice was inspired by Alice Liddell who was the daughter of Henry Liddell, the dean of Christ Church College, and a good friend of Lewis Carroll’s; student and lecturer at the college. It was Alice Liddell who insisted that the story Carroll narrated to her on a boat trip in Oxford be written down for her on a manuscript.
Lewis Carroll’s tale is outstanding as it takes its inspiration from the picture perfect city of Oxford but blends it with a non traditional twist; focusing on the flip side of the beautiful and logical colleges, gardens and characters he met in his day to day life. Hence, it is no surprise that the elements of the story play a significant role in the history and heritage of the city of Oxford. The British cultural icons, ceremonies and land marks such as the tea party, the Queen and the river Thames are all used in a queer, different light leading to a world of escapism and fantasy and
ith its stunning 3D visuals and elaborate costumes the much awaited release of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010) showcases the classic
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