The fact that this Caterpillar sits atop a mushroom smoking is another piece of symbolism that the reader should focus on. If one were to focus on the reading and its references to history one would understand that drugs or hallucinations were not after the time of the Victorian error. Surgeons understood the harmful effects of certain substances, as would explain the origin of the Mad Hatter. "Hat makers in the nineteenth-century England were actually known to go mad, their insanity was brought on by exposure to the mercury that was used in curing felt" (Howes 30). Proof that hallucinogens were used in the 1800s also exists as many critics do explain in their works.
Confusion and satires toward the monarch of England were other great themes of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This is evident in many different parts of the book and curiosity is even stated point blank more then once. "Burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it- is just one example of how she gets into trouble simply on reacting on impulsive behaviors (Carroll 19). Had Alice Liddell decided to step back and think or even "recap" what she just saw then she would not have been in this world of trouble she is now. Children during the Victorian era were not permitted to be the center of attention. In a time when kings ruled, a child is just not impressive enough for society at large therefore were expect to be on utmost best behavior at all times thus "Children were also "best seen and not heard"" (Stanley 30). People did not go out of there way for a child, and whenever a child was confused for his or her reactions, a consequence would result thus children never opened their mouths unless spoken directly to. It is also very possible that when "Both the March Hare and the Mad Hatter demonstrate the arbitrary nature of language as they tease and confuse Alice," that in reality it is only the adults of the society poking fun of children and their world of oblivion they live in do to the lack of communication between generations (Howes 30).
