The Themes
| Changing Identity | Death | Social Class Distinctions |
| Rule and Misrule | Language | Meaning in Dreams, Nonsense and Puzzles |
Death –
“Off with her head!” the Queen
shouted.
Death is a major motif throughout the story. There is much Black Comedy in the Alice stories. Many rereading the book are surprised by the number of ‘death-jokes’ they find. The most famous jokey death references of course come from the despotic Queen of Hearts (portrayed by a wicked and cruel Anne Robinson in the show). The catch-phrase, “You are the Weakest Link, goodbye!” develops into the more menacing, “Off with their heads”. Humpty Dumpty (a lethargic Johnny Vegas) is told by Alice she is seven years and six months old. In a truly Black Comedy moment in the story he suggests she might have been better to stop off at seven!
Wonderland is no Eden. There are references to being eaten alive in the original Carroll which in Steve Nallon’s show is reflected by the celebrity cook Delia Smith suggesting a delicious recipe that would include Alice chopped up into little bits. Of course, this sort of Black Comedy has always been popular with children and can now be found in the children’s stories of Roald Dahl; as ever, a tradition that owes its origins to Lewis Carroll.
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