The Psychology Behind Alice

Author

Abstract

This project analyzes Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland through a psychoanalytic lens to explore how Lewis Carroll uses Wonderland as a symbolic representation of the unconscious mind during a child’s transition into adolescence. The primary goal of this project is to strengthen my skills in literary analysis, critical theory, and academic writing in preparation for a future career as an English professor. By closely examining Alice’s struggle with identity, perception, and authority, this project demonstrates how literature can be used to investigate psychological development and the complexities of human experience.

The creative process involved close reading of the primary text, integration of scholarly sources, and application of psychoanalytic theory to interpret key symbols such as Alice’s changing body, dream logic, and encounters with Wonderland’s characters. Multimodal elements were also considered to enhance interpretation and audience engagement. Through drafting, revision, and synthesis of research, I aimed to produce a polished academic argument that reflects graduate-level literary inquiry. Ultimately, this project not only contributes to an understanding of Alice in Wonderland as a psychological narrative but also serves as a foundational step in developing the analytical rigor, research methodology, and teaching-oriented perspective necessary for a career in English studies and higher education.

Research Question:

How does Alice’s struggle with identity and perception in Wonderland represent the conflict between the conscious and unconscious mind and what do the various characters symbolize as manifestations of her fragmented psyche during this journey? 

Project: The Psychology Behind Alice