Summary: The Cheshire-Cat: Sign of Sings

This article asserts the significance of the Cheshire- Cat from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Charles Dodgson. The cat is believed to be symbolic in many different ways. Florence Becker Lennon assumes that the Cheshire-Cat represents Dinah, Alice’s cat. Alice’s love for Dinah was so real that Lennon believed that somehow Dinah and Alice shared the dream. However, Dinah and the Cheshire-Cat are very different. Alice mentioned many times that Dinah likes to chase mice and birds and likes to touch and be touched by Alice but somehow the Cheshire-Cat does the complete opposite of those. The cat does not chase mice or birds and you will find that he does not touch Alice at all nor is Alice able to touch him. You would identify this cat to be very “uncat-like” as he is able to fade in and out in Alice’s presence. Many others believe the Cat to signify Dodgson himself.  Dodgson was born in a place called Cheshire, so one would assume the cat’s name originated from his birthplace. In 1856, Dodgson met a little girl that goes by the name of Alice and became very fond of her.  As they spent most of their times together, Dodgson told Alice a small tale of a child falling down a rabbit hole. As Alice enjoyed it, Dodgson decided to turn it in a children’s story.  As that is said, some believe that the Cheshire-Cat was created to remind Alice of her times with Dodgson. In 1863, there was a bazaar event that took place. As the Prince and Princess arrived to the event the children started to sell kittens but little Alice was afraid to offer her kittens to the Princess, so Dodgson “pleaded” the princess to buy one of the kittens. Whereas in the story when the cat was looking at the King, the King said that the cat should not look at him in any way, which is when Alice “pleaded” for the cat and said “a cat may look at a King.” The Cheshire-Cat seems to be very caring for Alice; he does not order her around or try to scare her in any way. He treats her with respect along with tenderness. Also, the Cat’s grin is said to symbolize Dodgson’s happiness when he is with Alice and the children.  All together, this article is basically implying that the Cheshire-Cat is Dodgson’s animated self and the cat was created to remind Alice of her and Dodgson’s wonderful moments together.