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There is no evidence to suggest that Alice in Wonderlandis either about or influenced by narcotics.
The story was originally made up by Lewis Carroll, who was a very respectable Oxford Don and Anglican Deacon, to entertain three little girls on a rowing trip. There is no evidence that he ever took drugs, or even that he was interested in them. Carroll kept extensive diaries and wrote huge numbers of letters (which he took the trouble to catalogue) and no mention is made of drugs anywhere in his writngs. Quite a lot is known about his life and he was a very busy person who was unlikely to have had either the time or the inclination to experiment with narcotics.
It wasn't until a century after the book was written that the idea that there may be some connection with drugs started. Members of the drug taking counter culture of the nineteen-sixties noticed similarities between the hallucinogenic effects of narcotics such as LSD and the strange events in the book Alice in Wonderland, such as Alice's changes in size, and embraced the book as representing a drug taking experience. Jefferson Airplane's song White Rabbit immortalised this idea and some people have associated Alice in Wonderland with drug taking ever since.
What people tend to overlook is that drugs are not the only source of hallucinogenic effects, and the illusion of things stretching and shrinking can also be caused by neurological imbalances (which Carroll may have suffered from.) Of course the idea of a person changing sizes could also simply be created by the imagination.
Other than her changes in size, the key moment in the book that people claim is representative of drug taking is Alice's encounter with the Caterpillar. When she meets him, he is sitting on a mushroom, smoking a hookah. It is not impossible that this is a reference to drugs, but it is equally possible that it isn't. The mushroom is a common motif in fairy stories and it is more likely that this is the reason for its presence than because Carroll is alluding to the hallucinogenic effects of magic mushrooms. It is also possible that the Caterpillar is smoking opium or marijuana in his hookah, but it is just as likely that he is smoking tobacco. However, the fact that the mushroom and the hookah appear together will forever represent proof of a reference to drug taking in the minds of some readers.
If we choose to accept the hypothesis that the Caterpillar is either consuming or representative of drugs, this of course doesn't mean that Carroll is condoning drug use or that Alice in Wonderland is about drugs. Madness is a theme which runs throughout the book and Alice encounters numerous characters who are all "mad" for whatever reason. It is frequently suggested that the Hatter is mad as a result of Mercury poisonong and it is generally believed that hares are mad in March because of excessive friskiness during the mating season - however, nobody ever suggests that Alice in Wonderland is about mercury poisoning (or friskiness for that matter.) The Caterpillar is just one of the mad people that Alice meets on her journey and he is not a pleasant character. There is no suggestion that he is someone we would wish to emulate. Therefore, if his madness is caused by the consumption of drugs, we can assume that this is not something Carroll is attempting to promote (any more than he is attempting to promote mercury poisoning.)
It is generally believed by critics and people who have studied Lewis Carroll, that Alice in Wonderland is NOT about drugs. Those who seek to enjoy or promote recrational drug use frequently claim that it is.
To add on to MisoSoup's answer, Alice in Wonderland is thought to actually be about math. The author was a mathematician, and there were some kinds of new math theories. He didn't like them, so he wrote a book where he applied the the theories. You'll notice that Alice really did not like it.
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Are there talking flowers in the alice and wonderland book?
More accurately singing flowers. Seems to suggest drug abuse. ( Poppies are the basis of opium).
What is Alice in Wonderland REALLY about?
What Alice in Wonderland is really about is a question which provokes a great deal of debate. There is a school of thought which believes the entire story is a metaphor for drugs and drug use; the principal evidence for this being the Caterpillar's hookah, and the mushroom on which he is sitting - the consumption of which causes the distortion of Alice's body, which could be compared to the visual effects of hallucinogenic drugs. The behaviour of some of the characters is also sometimes explained in terms of drug use; both the Caterpillar's and the Dormouse's languor might be attributable to marijuana or some form of opiate, and it has been suggested that the White Rabbit's rushing around is caused by, or is symbolic of cocaine. LSD is also frequently mentioned in relation to Alice in Wonderland, as the colourful, confusing and distorted nature of Wonderland seems comparable to an acid trip. It can be categorically stated however, that Alice in Wonderland has nothing whatsoever to do with either cocaine or LSD, as cocaine had only been recently invented at the time the book was written and had not begun to be used even in a medicinal context, and LSD wasn't invented til decades later in the mid twentieth century. Marijuana, opiates and hallucinogenic mushrooms however, were both available and legal when the book was written, so may have had some influence on the story. Most critics and scholars eschew the claims of a connection between Alice in Wonderland and drugs, believing the book to be what it appears, an innocent tale written for the amusement of children. Unlike other writers associated with recreational drug use - Samuel Taylor Coleridge for example - there is no evidence that Lewis Carroll either took or was even interested in the effects of narcotics, and as he was a conservative mathematician and Anglican deacon, find it hard to reconcile his character with that of the archetypal rock 'n' roll drugs fiend. There is no real evidence that Alice in Wonderland is about drugs, but similarly there is no proof that it isn't, and so, the debate seems destined to carry on. Alice in Wonderland is indeed about drugs. My teacher believes its about drugs to. I mean following the white rabbit, eating mushrooms, shrinking, it's all hallucinations. Disney just messed with it and made it seem like its not about drugs. "Alice in Wonderland is a perfect, down-to-earth example of childhood through adolescence. Just as a child's life is filled with good and bad choices, hers is too. As most do, Alice learns from her experiences and ultimately becomes more mature. Alice in Wonderland has many connections to how one grows and develops from childhood up through adolescence. Alice matures emotionally by how she thinks, how she deals with her problems, and how she perceives different situations, all of which are encompassed in the progression of a child."
What was the reference to sex that caused Alice in Wonderland to be banned?
Oh, dude, Alice in Wonderland wasn't banned because of some scandalous sex reference. It was actually banned in some places because they thought it promoted drug use with all that trippy tea party stuff. But like, it's just a whimsical story about a girl falling down a rabbit hole, not some scandalous tell-all.
What characters are in street pharm?
"Street Pharm" features a range of characters, primarily focusing on the protagonist, Ty Johnson, a young drug dealer navigating the challenges of the street life in Harlem. Other key characters include Ty's mentor and father figure, who influences his choices, as well as his friends and rivals who shape his experiences in the drug trade. The book also explores the impact of family and community on Ty's life, highlighting the struggles and moral dilemmas faced by those involved in the drug culture.
What is the anime movie featuring small blue characters led by a larger one with dreadlocks and some hallucinogenic drug in the form of a blue popsicle?
Aachi and Ssipak
Is Alice in Wonderland an LSD trick?
Alice in Wonderland is not a drug. It is a book that has also been made into a movie. There are many different versions of the movie.
How does Alice in Wonderland relate to the Victorian period?
"Alice in Wonderland" reflects themes of Victorian society such as childhood innocence, social norms, and the strict etiquette of the time. The novel critiques the rigidity of Victorian society by presenting a whimsical and nonsensical world where rules are constantly broken and reality is questioned. Additionally, the characters and events in the story often satirize different aspects of Victorian culture and politics.
What is the significance of the drug reference in Alice in Wonderland?
The drug reference in Alice in Wonderland is significant because it reflects the author's interest in exploring altered states of consciousness and the surreal nature of the story. It also adds to the fantastical and dreamlike atmosphere of the narrative.
What drug was Tim Burton on when he made Alice in wonderland?
Mescaline with some serious opiates thrown in
Why is LSD connected to Alice in Wonderland?
Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland long before LSD was invented, so obviously, he didn't intend there to be any connection between the two. However, in the 1960s Alice in Wonderland was embraced by the drug extolling counter culture. It has been suggested that the connection with LSD was first made in the by the psychiatrists who introduced the drug. The relationship between Alice and acid was popularised by Grace Slick, who performed the hit song 'White Rabbit' with Jefferson Airplane in the late 60s. The song was ostensibly about Alice in Wonderland but managed to sneak drug references into the mainstream, and secured radio airplay without causing an outcry. Ever since then, Alice has become irrevocably associated with drugs in the public imagination.
Why was the Jefferson Airplane song White Rabbit banned?
Couched in Alice in Wonderland plot it is strongly suggestive of Drug abuse.
Drug use in Alice in wonderland?
There is mention of the hookah-smoking caterpillar and the mushroom that changes sizes when eaten in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." These elements are often interpreted as references to drug use, specifically opium or hallucinogenic mushrooms. However, author Lewis Carroll's intentions behind these scenes are still a subject of debate among scholars.
Are there talking flowers in the alice and wonderland book?
More accurately singing flowers. Seems to suggest drug abuse. ( Poppies are the basis of opium).
What is the connection between the author of "Alice in Wonderland" and drugs?
The author of "Alice in Wonderland," Lewis Carroll, has been speculated to have had connections to drugs due to the surreal and nonsensical nature of the story, leading some to believe that it was influenced by drug use. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.
Can Alice in wonderland syndrome be inherited?
There is limited evidence to suggest that Alice in Wonderland syndrome may have genetic components, but more research is needed to confirm this. The syndrome is often associated with migraines and can occur at any age. It is more commonly linked to factors such as neurological conditions, infections, and drug use.
Was Lewis Carroll on drugs when he wrote "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"?
There is no concrete evidence to suggest that Lewis Carroll was on drugs when he wrote "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Some scholars believe that his imaginative and surreal writing style may have been influenced by his own experiences and interests, rather than drug use.
Is Alice in Wonderland based on the book Go Ask Alice?
Go Ask Alice is about a 15 year old girl who is tricked into taking LSD. It is her personal diary that she wrote. It's about her life, her struggles with drugs and friends. She gets hooked on drugs and can't get out, but struggles with all her might to get out of that dark pit. It tells all about her life, the ups the downs, the good the bad. In some parts it's really graphic and depressing, with no hope for a future. However eventually, it becomes a bittersweet ending. Sad and lonesome, but beautiful and heartfelt.
