Alice and Diversity

We will never know about the unknown until we take the leap.

As Alice answers the infamous question, “Who Am I”? She also explores the challenges of diversity and cultural immersion. In this case, the new “culture” is the world of madness and whim.

            Alice is exposed to the Wonderland for the first time when she spots the White Rabbit. An odd sight, the rabbit is dressed in human clothes. Alice exclaims, “Dear, dear! How queer everything is today! And yesterday things went on just as usual” (22).  In society, or at least in our class discussions, we seem to idealize the thought of diversity. We often assume diversifying ourselves is an easy task. But, it is sometimes difficult or challenging to accept to ideas, beliefs and practices. Alice has difficulty accepting the ideas of Wonderland. For once in her life, she is the minority. Alice is forced to adapt to her environment while complaining, “It was much pleasanter at home, though poor Alice, “when one wasn’t always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about by mice and rabbits” (39).  Alice finds "herself frequently weeps, and feels variously alarmed, indignant, vexed, fearful, "loely and low-spirited"(Carroll 21, Introduction). There are new languages, customs, and rituals in the new world. Although she wishes she were home, Alice is also intrigued by the Wonderland.

New worlds=new customs
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            Gradually, Alice learns to adapt to adapt to this new environment by listening to her new friends. Over time it “seemed quite natural to Alice to find herself talking familiarly with them, as if she had known them all her life” (29). Previously, Alice had grown frustrated adjusting to Wonderland. When reading the excerpt in Jabberwocky, Alice says, “It seems very pretty but it’s rather heard to understand! Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas- only I don’t exactly know what they are!” (150).  It seems like Alice is more curious than bothered with this new language. She sees this as an opportunity to further understand the idea.  As Alice grows through her journey, she adapts, learns, and discovers. Similar our journeys, we may approach challenges but we must remember to think openly and accept new ideologies. Alice teaches us embrace diversity. This diversity is achieved through experiential learning and compassion. Alice’s compassion towards her new friends allows her to see the world through this new perspective (the looking glass).

Enter the looking glass
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Enter the looking-glass
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