How Is Alice In Wonderland Superego

In search for answers to life’s questions, people may seek insight in their dreams. Sigmund Freud saw dreams as an opportunity to tune in to the unconscious mind and inner psyche of his patients through dream interpretation. Freud contributed many theories to the field of psychology involving development of personality, a development of a conscious and unconscious mind, and many others. Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland demonstrates Freud’s structural model theory of personality consisting of the id, ego, and superego through the contrasts between Alice in her primary role as the ego and the remaining characters. The events of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland unfold in a dream occurring in the mind of Alice, a young girl

In Chapter 5, the Caterpillar challenges Alice’s already unclear sense of identity. “‘You!’ said the Caterpillar contemptuously, ‘Who are you?”(Carroll). The question angers Alice, already annoyed with the Caterpillar’s short answers and repeated asking of the same question. The conversation can seem meaningless; however, it offers insight to a greater development in the story. Alice seeks to find her identity, and the challenge of a superego figure against her temper causes the development of the ego. The Cheshire Cat argues to Alice that she “must be mad,” like everyone else, “or you wouldn’t have come here,”(Carroll). When Alice becomes worried that the Queen’s impulsiveness may lead to her execution, the Cheshire Cat causes Alice to analyze her own behavior by asking, “How do you like the Queen?”(Carroll).Following the challenges of the Caterpillar and Cheshire Cat, Alice develops into the role of the ego and secures her identity. She now stands up to the Queen, her id, defiant to her impulses. The Queen “...like a wild beast screamed ‘Off with her head! Off-,” only for Alice to declare her fury “Nonsense!”(Carroll). The frustrations of the Caterpillar and discomfort caused by the Cheshire Cat no longer affect Alice. Alice grows back to her original size, symbolizing that she succeeded in finding her identity, and at the same time realizes the ruling body of her psyche exists as nothing more than “...a pack of