Inter-Culturally Speaking: “Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis Carroll

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

Through the Looking-Glass, by Lewis Carroll, is a sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In this book, Alice steps through a mirror into a world that is a strange reflection of her own (Carroll, Jaques, and Tenniel, 2022). Here, she meets various characters and travels through surreal landscapes, including a chessboard populated by living pieces, a garden of talking flowers, and a magical brook that can answer any of Alice’s questions. Along the way, Alice must solve complex puzzles, engage in epic battles of wit, and battle her way through a bizarre world of nonsense and logic. The intercultural encounter between Alice and Humpty Dumpty demonstrates the complexities of navigating between two different worlds, highlighting the importance of understanding and respect in cross-cultural communication.

Discussion

Chapter 6 of Through the Looking-Glass follows the encounter between Alice and Humpty Dumpty. Humpty Dumpty sits atop a wall and converses with Alice. He is a knowledgeable egg-shaped creature who speaks peculiarly. He tells Alice about the meanings of some words and phrases that Alice does not understand. Humpty Dumpty also explains the strange way words can be used in the world of Looking-Glass. He also talks about the concept of semantics and how words can mean different things to different people. In the end, Humpty Dumpty tells Alice she will understand it all in time.

In the encounter between Alice and Humpty Dumpty, an interesting blend of cultural backgrounds, personalities, and social identities comes into play. Alice, the novel’s protagonist, is a young English girl traveling through the fantastical land of Looking-Glass World. Humpty Dumpty, on the other hand, is a character of ambiguous origin who speaks with a vaguely foreign accent and has a strange, almost absurd manner of speech. Alice’s surprise at seeing Humpty may indicate a lack of familiarity with his culture. Humpty Dumpty is a member of the receiving culture, and his questions and comments reflect his assumptions about Alice’s motives and intentions. On the other hand, Alice is a “foreigner,” and her confusion at Humpty Dumpty’s words indicates her lack of understanding of the language and culture of the receiving culture.

The language between Alice and Humpty is indicative of the class and gender differences between the two characters. Humpty speaks with a superior, commanding tone, repeatedly reminding Alice of his greater knowledge and power. Alice, for her part, is polite but assertive, often attempting to challenge Humpty’s claims and reminding him of her knowledge. Alice also speaks respectfully, using words such as “please” and “thank you.”

In this way, the language between Alice and Humpty can reflect the power dynamics of their two cultures; with Alice embodying a more egalitarian approach to social interactions, whereas Humpty speaks in a more hierarchical, patriarchal way. Humpty is not interested in Alice’s perspective, instead insisting that his own is the only one that matters. This is illustrated by his refusal to explain the meaning of the poem he recites, instead insisting that Alice should accept it as it is.

Alice and Humpty’s notions of time, context, and power distance can also be seen in the text. Humpty is dismissive of Alice’s questions, often responding to them with a condescending attitude and a lack of respect. He also tends to ignore Alice’s questions, instead trying to explain things she already knows. This could be interpreted as a sign of Humpty’s sense of superiority and power, as he refuses to acknowledge Alice’s knowledge or treat her as an equal.

Alice and Humpty also have different notions of time and context. Alice is in a hurry and wants to get to her destination as quickly as possible, while Humpty appears more leisurely and unconcerned with time. The two characters’ different perceptions of time, context, and power distance are also depicted, whereby Alice speaks linearly, expecting some logical explanation for Humpty’s words. Humpty, on the other hand, speaks more abstractly, expecting people to understand his words without explanation. This could reflect their respective cultures’ different attitudes toward time and context (Khazan, 2017).

Alice and Humpty also have different assumptions about ‘the other.’ Kwame Appiah (2016), in his lecture Mistaken Identities on BBC Reith Lectures, argues that cultural cohesion is possible when people are open to dialogue and embrace their differences. He also cautions against the dangers of prejudice and stereotypes of ‘the other,’ noting that they can lead to misunderstanding, exclusion, and even violence. Alice is initially surprised to see Humpty and is unsure how to react. She is also polite and respectful, expressing her admiration for Humpty’s knowledge and intelligence. Humpty is dismissive and arrogant, expecting Alice to accept his opinions without question.

Alice and Humpty Dumpty’s assumptions about each other also reveal their cultural backgrounds. Alice is surprised by Humpty Dumpty’s eccentricity, while Humpty Dumpty is surprised by Alice’s formality. This is a natural reaction to a foreign culture, with both characters assuming that the other is like them. However, their reactions to meeting one another are quite different. Alice is polite and respectful, while Humpty Dumpty is more direct and casual. This reflects the cultural divide between the two characters, with Alice as the ‘foreigner’ and Humpty as the ‘receiving culture.’

Regarding acculturation, Alice is in the receiving culture as she travels through the Looking-Glass world. Although she is initially intimidated by Humpty’s presence, she eventually finds her voice and begins to question him. However, her attempts to engage in meaningful dialogue are continually thwarted by Humpty’s refusal to take her seriously. This suggests that Alice is in the early stages of acculturation, as she is still learning to communicate effectively with members of the receiving culture. Humpty, on the other hand, is a member of the receiving culture, and his ‘welcome’ to Alice is a bit awkward and off-putting. He dismisses her questions and often attempts to explain things she already knows. This could be interpreted as a sign of Humpty’s lack of intercultural competence, as he cannot recognize and respect Alice’s knowledge.

In terms of intercultural competence, it is clear that Alice is more proficient than Humpty. Despite Humpty’s dismissive attitude, Alice perseveres in her attempts to engage with him, demonstrating her willingness to learn about the receiving culture. Humpty, on the other hand, is not interested in learning about Alice’s culture, instead insisting that his own is the only one that matters. Moreover, the degree of intercultural competence of Alice and Humpty is also evidenced in their interactions. Alice shows respect and admiration for Humpty’s knowledge and intelligence, while Humpty is able to assert his authority and expects deference from Alice.

Conclusion

Overall, this first part of the intercultural encounter between Alice and Humpty is not a success. Humpty’s attitude is one of superiority and condescension, while Alice is polite and respectful but also assertive and curious. This clash of cultures leads to an awkward and off-putting exchange between the two characters, which does not bode well for the rest of their interaction. Only through understanding and accepting one another’s cultures can meaningful intercultural dialogue be achieved.

Reference List

Anthony Appiah, K. (2016) Mistaken Identities 3 BBC Reith Lectures, on: Culture, Colour, Creed. Web.

Carroll L. Jaques Z. and Tenniel J. (2022). Through the looking-glass. Oxford University Press.

Khazan, O. (2017). Why Americans Smile So Much. The Atlantic. Web.

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Inter-Culturally Speaking: “Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis Carroll

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