E349S February 9: Madness is Sanity

"Why is a raven like a writing-desk?

Lewis Carroll continuously reiterates the recurring motif of madness throughout the "Mad Tea Party" chapter, influenced by miscommunication and nonsensical phrasing. From the get-go, Alice faces a difficult task in comprehending the chaotic scene of the tea party. While Alice begins her confusing tirade of witty responses with the Dormouse, Hare, and Mad Hatter, she is angered by the personal remarks the Hatter makes in regards to cutting her hair. Immediately, The Hatter "open[s] his eyes very wide on hearing" her severity of tone, but only responds with the famous riddle "Why is a raven like a writing-desk?" [1] The nonsensical nature of the trivial question directly reflects the madness and senseless nature of Wonderland, but more so, the trials and tribulations Alice faces.

The Raven and the Desk are Mad

The Hatter, clearly mad, further solidifies the chaos and madness life demands. Just as there is no singular meaning to life, there is no singular meaning to the silly riddle. It is in human nature to define and provide concrete meaning to all aspects of life, constantly questioning existence. It is said curiosity killed the cat, but in truth, curiosity killed man. With each necessity for defining the unexplainable, with each desire for order and structure in society, the world becomes a far more complex and confusing entity. Wonderland differs in this sense. While reality proves to be further increasing in its complexity, Wonderland coins madness and the abstract as its fundamental base. 

The Legend of Orion

On the other hand, Hopkins provides the reader with a glorified observation of Orion, emphasizing the immense chaos which is life. the world can be a confusing and complicated realm, so Hopkins focuses on the ever-increasing universe that surrounds us. Rather than continuously question God's grandeur and attempt to find meaning behind every facet of life, Hopkins realizes it is Jesus "who gather[s] up in [his] hand us men and these lofty stars" because "all things come from [him]" [2]. Lewis Carroll highlights the nonsensical nature of life, and the need for acceptance rather than questioning, just as Hopkins focuses on the greater plan God has in store for mankind rather than the trivial perplexities of man. There is no need to complicate and construct the structure of life, he releases himself from the desire to define and question, but rather to accept life as it is, and bask in all its glory.

Orion's Belt

Tracking back to the riddle itself, it is important to note "'Carroll intended to spell 'raven' backwards"; although the riddle seemingly had no answer at all, the correction of the word "destroyed the ingenuity of [Carroll's] answer"[3] and the original spelling was never restored, as found by Denis Crutch.Regardless of the error in print, the riddle created an overwhelming sense of confusion and curiosity amongst readers, and "The Spectator, in England, asked for answers to the Hatter's riddle as its competition No. 1683" [4]. Just as described above, it is human nature to derive answers from the unknown, only to cause greater confusion, and perhaps, chaos. 

Works Cited:

1. Lewis Carroll, The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition, (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2000), 70.

2. Gerard Manley Hopkins, The Major Works Including all the Poems and Selected Prose (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002), 333.

3. "The Mad Hatter's riddle: why is a raven like a writing desk?," Lenny's Alice in Wonderland site, accessed March 14, 2012, http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/alice9.html.

4. Carroll, The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition, 72.