Why do Cheshire cats grin?

Answer 1

Perhaps the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland grins because it's amused by the foolishness of people.

The origins of the phrase 'grinning like a Cheshire cat' are unknown, but there are several theories. According to Martin Gardner, in his Annotated Alice, the two leading theories are:

1. A sign painter in Cheshire (the county, by the way, where Carroll was born) painted grinning lions on the sign boards of inns in the area.
2. Cheshire cheeses were at one time molded in the shape of a grinning cat.

Answer 2

In the book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat doesn't say anything about his smile, but Alice does discuss it with the Duchess, who is the cat's owner.

`Please would you tell me,' said Alice, a little timidly, for she was not quite sure whether it was good manners for her to speak first, `why your cat grins like that?'

`It's a Cheshire cat,' said the Duchess, `and that's why. Pig!'

...

`I didn't know that Cheshire cats always grinned; in fact, I didn't know that cats COULD grin.'

`They all can,' said the Duchess; `and most of 'em do.'

`I don't know of any that do,' Alice said very politely, feeling quite pleased to have got into a conversation.

`You don't know much,' said the Duchess; `and that's a fact.'

Answer 3

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