A Heros Journey

Alice in Wonderland (2012) Directed by Tim Burton.

Alice in Wonderland is a good example of a heros journey, where the audience join Alice
in an adventure to Wonderland after she falls down a rabbit hole. The story takes place in
Alices ordinary world set in Victorian era, England, where we are immediately introduced
to Alices flaws that make her our potential hero. In a carriage with her mother on the way
to a party, she is criticised for what she is wearing and is told what she should and should
not wear. Shortly after arriving, the surprised is spoiled that the party is actually her
engagement party and everyone knows shes betrothed before the questions even been
asked. She has been given high expectations by all who know her, her older sister tells her
that her pretty young face wont last forever (meaning she has to accept Hamishs
proposal). Strolling the garden with her soon-to-be mother in law whilst having a lecture on
what is expected of her, being Hamishs wife, her call to adventure rings in the form of a
white rabbit in a waistcoat. Alices curious nature wishes to go off and investigate but the
her environment refuses the call on her behalf. Its not until Hamish proposes to Alice in a
gazebo that Alice notices the same rabbit again, frozen on the spot she delays giving an
answer before following this rabbit down a hole.

Figure 1: Supernatural Aid

When she crash lands in a room, the only exit door is the size that of a cat or smaller could
fit through, but with some supernatural aid she makes it through. On the table is a
mysterious drink labelled Drink Me, which she does and it shrinks her to her desired
height, however - the door is locked. She remembers seeing a key on the table but now
she is too small to reach it, conveniently there is a cupcake on the floor labelled Eat Me
which makes her too big and exceeds the height of the ceiling. Key in hand, Drink Me
potion taken for a second time, she is now ready to cross the first threshold where Alice
meets the other characters who tell her she is the wrong Alice. They take her to the
smoking caterpillar Absolem, (who acts as the father figure/mentor in our heros journey)
to find out for sure.

Figure 2: Crossing the first Threshold/Arriving in Wonderland.

Talking to Absolem, she enters the metaphorical belly of the whale and the road of
trials begin. Who are you? he asks, Alice she answers, We shall see The
characters of Underland at this point inform her of the Oraculum - a calendar scroll that
illustrates each days events including that day where the scroll foretold Alices arrival.
Again Alice is told - this time shown what is expected of her: to slay the Jabberwocky on
Frabjous Day. Absolem tells the characters that she is barely the hero theyve been waiting
for, from then on she walks the road of trials to see if she is thee Alice. Starting with
attacks from the Red Queens army who want to capture Alice before she realises her
potential and fulfils her destiny. Along the
way she meets Mad Hatter who helps
her evade capture, encourages the
development of her consciousness and
aids her travels in getting her to the Red
Queens castle in order to save the
others who got captured during the first
trial. Part of becoming thee Alice is
retrieving the Vorpal Sword, (the only
blade that can slay the Jabberwocky)
from the Bandersnatch, (another one of Figure 3: The White Queen - Goddess of the story
the Red Queens guardian monsters).
At the castle, Alice manages to retrieve the sword, however her fake identity Umm of
Umbridge the girl who is abnormally big (after eating loads of that cake) seeking refuge
from bullying and mockery has been exposed. She is forced to flee with the sword riding
the Bandersnatch in this magic flight travelling to her meeting with the goddess - the
White Queen, leaving her friends behind. The White Queen provides Alice with a potion to
make her average size, as well as preaching to Alice about how the champion will defeat
the Jabberwocky without expecting anything from Alice - giving her that sense of freedom.
After facing her trials she meets again with Absolem where she atones with the Father,
Absolem tells her that she has finally become thee Alice before entering his cocoon - this
is the death of a mentor part of the story, he is not dead but Alice is now without his
guidance. Farewell Alice, perhaps I will see you in another life (Absolem to Alice, 2012)

Figure 4: Atone with the Father/Death of a mentor

Fast forwarding to Frabjous day, Alices friends have evaded the Red Queens execution
and Alice has done the ultimate boon by volunteering to be the White Queens champion.
They march to the battleground where Alice and the Jabberwocky only will engage in
battle. The apotheosis takes place when Mad Hatter proclaims Six impossible things!
Count them, Alice! she proceeds to tell herself throughout the battle:

1. Theres a potion that can make you shrink.

2. A cake that can make you grow

3. Animals can talk.

4. Cats can disappear

5. Theres a place called Wonderland.

Although the battle was supposed to be just between the two champions, Alice receives
her help from without from the Mad Hatter who stabs the Jabberwockys tail to distract it
from attacking Alice, his intervention causes a background war for the champions. Once
Alice has told herself five impossible things, Alice reaches her apotheosis when she tells
herself and believes:

6. I can slay the Jabberwocky

And with that, Alice decapitates the Jabberwocky. The temptress - the Red Queen chases
after Alice demanding her head be chopped for slaying her pet - but as the prophecy
prevails the people will no longer be under the Red Queens tyranny after Frabjous Day
and is exiled from Underland Using the blood of the Jabberwocky the White Queen
creates a potion that will send Alice back to her ordinary world, Alice has done an
impossible thing, she now has this invincibility that gives her the freedom to live and
nothing is impossible.

Figure 5: Help from without

When Alice crosses the return threshold, she is back at her engagement party, she
refuses to return to her pressurised existence. She rejects Hamishs proposal, she asserts
her part in her fathers business and proposes to be one of the first female captains to sail
to China to start trading, in addition to demonstrating the futterwacken dance just to
demonstrate her being that extra bit of an individual now. Alice has her freedom to live,
now she has become the master of both worlds.
Bibliography - Illustration List

- Figure 1: Supernatural Aid. [Youtube Screenshot] At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=UxsHkI0-dPM (Accessed on: 30th September 2017)

- Figure 2: Crossing the first Threshold/Arriving in Wonderland. At: https://

myliveactiondisneyproject.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/alice-in-wonderland-2010/ (Accessed on:
30th September 2017)

- Figure 3: The White Queen - Goddess of the Story. At: http://www.alltopmovies.net/alice-

wonderland/ (Accessed on: 30th September 2017)

- Figure 4: Atonement with the Father/Death of a Mentor. [Youtube Screenshot] At: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKSkYyYDEoo (Accessed on: 30th September 2017)

- Figure 5: Help from without. At: http://collider.com/27-high-resolution-images-from-tim-burtons-

alice-in-wonderland/ (Accessed on: 30th September 2017)