How does the Cheshire Cat only show his smile?

Answer 1

In Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat can vanish and appear at will, and when Alice first meets it, it does exactly that. This unsettles Alice, who says to it, "I wish you wouldn't keep appearing and vanishing so suddenly: you make one quite giddy." As a result of this request, the Cheshire Cat disappears more slowly, starting with its tail and finishing with its grin.

As to why the Cheshire Cat only shows his smile, it might be argued that he only shows his grin to hide his cowardly personality. Another theory is that the grin might represent his trickster personality because he is an anti-hero. This was never proven because the Cheshire Cat never liked to talk about it.

Answer 2

No. Cats from Cheshire are no smilier than any other cat. Although the phrase 'grin like a Cheshire cat' is very well known, no-one knows the origin of the term. It has been suggested that it might refer to Cheshire cheese, which used to be made in a the shape of a smiling cat.

Answer 3

The Cheshire Cat in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" can make parts of his body disappear, leaving only his smile visible. This ability to appear and disappear at will plays into the whimsical and fantastical nature of the story.

Answer 4

Coz I want to! :D