Although the Cheshire Cat is as cryptic and eccentric as Absalom the giant caterpillar in Wonderland, none of them could beat the Madhatter when it comes to insanity. It is pretty obvious that the Madhatter was named after his obsession for hats and his insane behavior during tea parties (and not to mention, he loves tea parties way too much than an ordinary person would); but amidst his mad antics, the Madhatter is a prime character whose presence in the story stands for great significance.
Although Alice in Wonderland was delivered to the audience in a childish, fairy-tale manner, literary experts say the story itself talks about politics and corporate agenda. Like Wizard of Oz, which is another rumored political novel, Alice’s adventures in Wonderland and the Madhatter’s presence in it is, one way or another, connected with the government’s affairs.
If you look at Alice in Wonderland through the eyes of a mere story-reader or a child, you would say the Madhatter is a protaganist who helps Alice on her journey; however, critics say the Madhatter stands for the British Empire. The Madhatter is a representation of British gentlemen during the Second World War– they are the eccentric men whose slow deterioration is shown through the Madhatter’s insane actions.
Even though Alice in Wonderland might have hidden political connotations, the story itself is a brilliant treasure to share to kids. The Madhatter, for one, is a fun personality to tell them about. Despite his age and wisdom, the Madhatter still acts like a child and sticks to childish activities such as the celebration of his un-birthday (meaning, everyday). This could also mean that the Madhatter stands for youthfulness.
The older Madhatter which was portrayed in the cartoon film by Disney shows a less insane character compared to the one conjured by Tim Burton. Between the two, Disney’s Madhatter is a little more decent and little more jollier. He never runs out of fun ideas for his countless tea parties and although Alice barely understands him, he still manages to help Alice with her journey.
Burton’s Madhatter, on the other hand, has sudden bouts of anger from time to time when a sensitive issue is presented to him. His eyebrows begin to meet in the middle, the rings around his eyes darken, and he suddenly learns to speak in a Scottish accent. Not only is the new Madhatter insane, he also seems to be suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder.
Between the two, the new Madhatter’s suit is darker and less detailed compared to the old Disney Madhatter costume. The directors surely had different representations in mind– one was intended for young audience while the Tim Burton’s version was made for a mixed audience.
Whether you find the old Madhatter more appealing to kids or the new Madhatter more interesting, you could always don any of their costumes to costume-themed parties without having to sew one for yourself. How do you do that? Click here.
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