The Adventures of Alice and Mowgli: Lessons in Growth
It was important because she learned to control her size with the bits of the mushroom.
Education: Baloo is Mowgli’s best friend, and he teaches him all he knows. He teaches him that with the correct words, he will be able to avoid other animals. Baloo loves the little boy and takes care of him. The bear is a sterner teacher than Bagheera. He has to be a strict teacher for the boy and is good. Mowgli respects Baloo because he knows that the bear takes care of him. But Mowgli is only a little boy, and sometimes he doesn’t pay attention to Baloo; he prefers to play rather than listen to him. He is too young to realize that all Baloo’s teachings are critical to his survival in the jungle. He must know the rule that all animals are expected to obey. Animals that don’t follow this law are not to be trusted, and Baloo doesn’t want Mowgli to be one of them. One day, Mowgli is scolded for not listening to a lesson, and he rebels against Baloo. He gets angry with him and leaves. Then monkeys appear and try to fool Mowgli. They have a law status; they want to be men, but they cannot. They want Mowgli to become their leader, but they aren’t trustworthy. Mowgli is kidnapped by the monkeys, so he wants to run away and come back to the jungle with his friends and family.
The Pool of Tears: Alice has been crying, and now she is sitting in a pool of tears. She is looking at the White Rabbit and attempts to speak to him, but he doesn’t pay attention to her. The White Rabbit has a fan and a pair of gloves. Alice is worried because she thinks that she has forgotten all the things she used to know. Alice cries a lot because she cannot fulfill her desire of getting into the lovely garden; she is too large to get through the door. Then she begins to use the Rabbit’s fan. As a result of this action, she shrinks to a small size, and now the puddle of tears is a sea of tears. Alice meets a mouse while she is swimming in the sea of tears. She attempts to have a conversation with the mouse, but he doesn’t understand her, so she tries to speak French to him. However, she mentions a cat, and the mouse leaps with fright. Alice apologizes, but then she mentions Dinah again. The mouse is offended, so she changes the subject and begins to talk about dogs, which frightens him. The mouse tells her his story about why he hates cats and dogs.
Anguish and Relief: “I have got back to my right size,” Alice said in a tone of great relief after learning to control her size with the bits of mushroom. Alice felt anguish when she grew so much that she was trapped in the White Rabbit’s house. Alice felt relief when she ate the little cakes into which the pebbles that the White Rabbit had thrown through the windows had turned. Alice felt anguish when the cook threw kitchen utensils at her. Alice felt anguish when she had a baby in her arms.
The White Rabbit’s House: The White Rabbit asks Alice why she is looking for his gloves and fan. He mistakes Alice for his housemaid and orders her to go to his house and bring his things. Alice obeys him, and soon she finds the house. As she walks, she finds it very strange that one animal gives her orders. She finds the gloves and fan and discovers a little bottle. Around the neck of the bottle, there is a label with the words “Drink Me” printed on it, and Alice drinks the liquid. As a result of this action, she begins to grow quickly. This chapter shows another little bottle and another imprudent decision by Alice. Now, she cannot control the physical change that the drink is causing. This situation is desperate for Alice; her arm is out of the window, and her foot is in the chimney. She is unable to do anything to get out of this predicament. She is too big for this room. The White Rabbit sees that Alice has occupied his house, and he is angry. The Rabbit and his servant attempt to remove her from his house. He tries to open the door, but he cannot because Alice’s arm is pushing against it. Then he tries to climb through the window, but this solution is impossible. The Rabbit calls his servant, and Bill tries to climb down the chimney, but he is kicked out of the chimney by Alice.