A Journey Through Worlds: Adulthood and Discovery in 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Treasure Island' Abygahil Campos College

“You live in the image you have of the world. Every one of us lives in a different world, with different space and different time”- Alejandro Jodorowsky.

Treasure Island is a novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson, which entails adventure and discovery. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll, also calls for exploration and revelation. The main characters from each novel embark on a journey to a world much different from their own. Both characters discover a great deal about their new world, old world, and ultimately themselves as adolescents. This essay will discuss Jim’s quest in Treasure Island, as well as Alice’s trip to Wonderland. Although they do not experience the same worlds, there is some similarity and evident differences between them and their experiences. In this essay, readers will examine how both worlds lead to self-discovery and maturation, while enticing exploration. Alice’s world is an unreasonable puzzle; while Jim’s world is also disorderly, there is some structure and roles, unlike Alice’s world. Both new worlds are complex, representing the loss of childhood innocence, and begin the journey to adulthood.

Wonderland is best described by the Cheshire Cat when he tells Alice, “We’re all...