In-Class Writing: HRC: Dodgson, Beerbohm, Hemingway (11.27.2005)

Through the Lewis Carroll artifacts, I learned his incredible power of conveying emotion through pictures. While the emotion in some of the pictures is unclear, such as the one of the three girls, the viewer cannot help but realize that the meaning of the picture penetrates deeper than the simple visual depiction of the subject. From the picture of the crowned girl looking out from the world of childhood, animals and rocking horses, we see Carroll’s fascination with childhood and growing up, a fascination that takes textual form in The Adventures of Alice In Wonderland. Similarly, the various covers of Alice In Wonderland reveal much about Carroll. In one cover, a deck of cards is flying at Carroll, representing the confusion of growing up. Another cover depicts books, balloons, and Santa Claus with children, creating a sense of the journey one experiences when growing up. Several children show each other their book, while one child ventures by himself, seemingly representing the journey from discovery learning to more individualized thoughts. Childhood is a time of interaction, of right-brain-inspired, creative games and imaginary worlds of animals and fairies. Unfortunately, these playful escapes often precipitate into the darkness as we grow up. The cover represents this journey and the reluctance of many to grow up. The girl pointing her finger at the group of children seems to be the outside world, “Grow up! Grow up!” But do we really want to grow up or do we want to keep looking towards Santa Claus? Who knows? Can we even remember the time in our lives when we were pressured to leave the fairies and animals for the concrete? Carroll attempts to bring that time and confusion back to life for us. He attempts to take us back to our childhood. Even in the most simple of times, times of games and imagination, fear and pressure creeps in. Will we ever overcome that force and return to childhood?

It isn’t the covers of Carroll’s books, but instead his pictures that relate to Pascall’s statement that “the strength of a man’s virtue is to be measured by the efforts he makes under ordinary pressure and by his ordinary conduct.” Carroll loved photography and the produces of his passion reveal his talent and love for his subjects. I can only imagine coming to Carroll’s studio and being amidst a person who is truly fascinated with you and where you are. The place his significance, the confusion of childhood, the strategy of games.

Sometimes I wish I could be someone else, not because I’m unhappy with myself, but because I wonder what it would be like to think like someone else. What would you think if you were an incredible scientist, a gifted writer, the author of Harry Potter, a painter, or a teacher? Would I be more creative? Would I love science? What does it feel like to have a passion as deep as some people’s? I just want to know. I’m guessing Max Beerbohm feels the same way. In “Mr. William Archer Really Confusing,” the subject is trying on different masks, looking into a mirror and writing notes. He experiences the conversation the people have with themselves, their inspirations and their thoughts. I want to be him. But then I wonder if it change me? I will experience incredible passion and knowledge, but will it remain when I take off the mask and go back to being me? I don’t think you can steal someone else’s thunder. I guess I’ll have to learn and discover for myself.