What is the controversy surrounding Lewis Carroll's alleged drug use and how does it impact our understanding of his works?

Answer 1

The controversy surrounding Lewis Carroll's alleged drug use stems from speculation that he may have used drugs like opium or laudanum. This impacts our understanding of his works because some believe his writings, such as "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," may have been influenced by his possible drug use, leading to interpretations of his work as being surreal or hallucinatory. However, there is no concrete evidence to support these claims, and many scholars argue that his creativity was simply a product of his vivid imagination.