A prominent binary that I noticed in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” was small vs large. Carroll juxtaposes small and large throughout the book.

I think the small vs large binary really represents power and control. This is especially relevant considering the book has undertones of colonialism–where power and control are of the upmost importance.

A classic, and quite literal, example of this binary in the book is when Alice is trying to get through the door of Wonderland. She is growing bigger and smaller depending on if she is eating the dessert, or drinking the elixir on the table. She begins crying because she feels out of control and starts to wonder what kind of situation she got herself into. Her lack of control leads to feelings of fear and possibly regret. Being small or large, i.e. feeling in or out of control, is a major theme for Alice throughout the book as she encounters nonsensical things, and scary characters.

There are times when this binary is not so literal, also. Sometimes, Alice feels big or small throughout the book depending on what is occurring. For example, when she first sees the Queen she goes from literally being reminded that she is small when the Queen calls her “child,” to feeling large after she, surprising herself, stands up to the Queen and silences her.

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“What’s your name, child?”

“My name is Alice, so please your Majesty,” said Alice very politely; but she added, to herself, “Why, they’re only a pack of cards, after all. I needn’t be afraid of them!”

“And who are these?” said the Queen, pointing to the three gardeners who were lying round the rose-tree; for, you see, as they were lying on their faces, and the pattern on their backs was the same as the rest of the pack, she could not tell whether they were gardeners, or soldiers, or courtiers, or three of her own children.

“How should I know?” said Alice, surprised[100] at her own courage. “It’s no business of mine.”

The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her for a moment like a wild beast, screamed “Off with her head! Off——”

“Nonsense!” said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was silent.”
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Lewis, Carroll. “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Gutenburg. Web. 5 Oct. 2015. .