Kay Drew's Views

In Grimm’s fairytales, shoes play an important role. They're meant to represent literal and philosophical journeys the characters face. Shoes also embody the ideas of glory, retribution and self-confidence.           In “The Elves”, a hardworking, pious couple falls on hard times. For some reason, their shoes don’t sell, which depresses the cobbler. To him his life is worthless. However, there were elves who believed in him. They see the greatness he could become. They help him. For months, these beings create the shoes, which sell. Overjoyed with their luck, the couple wants to discover who’s helping them. When they do, the wife sews the elves clothes. This reward proves that even with their newfound affluence, they haven't changed or become greedy. Until his death “whateve[r] he took in hand prospered” (Grimm 172), even without the elves’ skills. By the elves providing help, the shoemaker regains his self-confidence once lost. A...

Lewis Carroll’s novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” as a whole could be construed as a satire about England and its monarchy. Every aspect of this story alludes to the British lifestyle in the 19 th century. While reading about Wonderland, one cannot just focus on events within the story, such as the tea party, the croquet match, and trial. The astute reader ought to deeply ponder the people who inhabit this fantasy land. Alice, to the casual reader, seems to be a child with an overactive imagination. However, upon closer inspection, this girl can be seen as the voice of reason. As early as chapter 2, she notices how “curiouser and curiouser” Wonderland and its inhabitants are. She knows how things should be and yet, in this world they aren’t. In fact, she sees Wonderland’s laws as both meaningless and insane, just as the British saw their own laws. At first glance, the Mad Hatter is simply an insane man Alice meets. There is more to this character than insanity. Du...