The Walrus and the carpenter?

Question

Am i the only one who thinks that has a religious and political meaning to it

you people have never read Alice through the looking glass have you... my discussion lies on deaf ears.

some of you bah

Answer 1

You're not the only one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walrus_and_the_Carpenter

I've read it. And I've read The Annotated Alice which talks about Carroll's assignment of symbolism to many of his characters.

Answer 2

The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might: He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright-- And this was odd, because it was The middle of the night. The moon was shining sulkily, Because she thought the sun Had got no business to be there After the day was done-- "It's very rude of him," she said, "To come and spoil the fun!" The sea was wet as wet could be, The sands were dry as dry. You could not see a cloud, because No cloud was in the sky: No birds were flying overhead-- There were no birds to fly. The Walrus and the Carpenter Were walking close at hand; They wept like anything to see Such quantities of sand: "If this were only cleared away," They said, "it would be grand!" "If seven maids with seven mops Swept it for half a year. Do you suppose," the Walrus said, "That they could get it clear?" "I doubt it," said the Carpenter, And shed a bitter tear. "O Oysters, come and walk with us!" The Walrus did beseech. "A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, Along the briny beach: We cannot do with more than four, To give a hand to each." The eldest Oyster looked at him, But never a word he said: The eldest Oyster winked his eye, And shook his heavy head-- Meaning to say he did not choose To leave the oyster-bed. But four young Oysters hurried up, All eager for the treat: Their coats were brushed, their faces washed, Their shoes were clean and neat-- And this was odd, because, you know, They hadn't any feet. Four other Oysters followed them, And yet another four; And thick and fast they came at last, And more, and more, and more-- All hopping through the frothy waves, And scrambling to the shore. The Walrus and the Carpenter Walked on a mile or so, And then they rested on a rock Conveniently low: And all the little Oysters stood And waited in a row. "The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax-- Of cabbages--and kings-- And why the sea is boiling hot-- And whether pigs have wings." "But wait a bit," the Oysters cried, "Before we have our chat; For some of us are out of breath, And all of us are fat!" "No hurry!" said the Carpenter. They thanked him much for that. "A loaf of bread," the Walrus said, "Is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar besides Are very good indeed-- Now if you're ready, Oysters dear, We can begin to feed." "But not on us!" the Oysters cried, Turning a little blue. "After such kindness, that would be A dismal thing to do!" "The night is fine," the Walrus said. "Do you admire the view? "It was so kind of you to come! And you are very nice!" The Carpenter said nothing but "Cut us another slice: I wish you were not quite so deaf-- I've had to ask you twice!" "It seems a shame," the Walrus said, "To play them such a trick, After we've brought them out so far, And made them trot so quick!" The Carpenter said nothing but "The butter's spread too thick!" "I weep for you," the Walrus said: "I deeply sympathize." With sobs and tears he sorted out Those of the largest size, Holding his pocket-handkerchief Before his streaming eyes. "O Oysters," said the Carpenter, "You've had a pleasant run! Shall we be trotting home again?' But answer came there none-- And this was scarcely odd, because They'd eaten every one.

Answer 3

The walrus and carpenter were walking along the beach when the came across a group of clams(?). The W & C were like 'hey lets go for a walk' and the elder clams were like 'no'. But the younger clams were like ' um sure'. So they went for a walk... then the walrus and carpenter tired them out with walking and ate them!!!

I like that story....

Political meaning... people get screwed over?
Religious meaning... people get screwed over?
Obvious meaning... don't talk to strangers and quote Jiminy Cricket "always follow your conscience"

Answer 4

So you did mean that story. I've heard that before. The Walrus, using persuasion and the idea that he is big and important, walked all of the clams into the room and ate them. I don't remember too much about the carpenter.

Answer 5

Ahh, Kevin Smith movies... Anyway, apparently you aren't the only one, really, it's rather obvious that the carpenter represents Jesus, the son of a carpenter, and the Walrus Lord Ganesha, they devour all those poor oysters.... *sniffles*

Answer 6

Well, I read it a coon's age ago but just watched it with my children this Sunday past.

You are not alone. It could readily be applied to either group. It covers shiftlessness, greed, hard work ethics, rejecting sage advice, keeping bad friends, breach of trust. I am sure if I looked harder I could pile it deeper.

Answer 7

No! And Ben Affleck an Matt Damon looked excelent in their nippley angel armor!
lol

Answer 8

Wow your answers deeply surprised me. We had an entire month of discussion on this in my religious classes in college. There are many many books and scholarly articles written on the subject.

The Walrus and The Carpenter is a complete satire by Lewis Carroll based on religion. He lived 1832-1898, was the son of a preacher, and his religious beliefs were orthodox Anglican but he didn't believe in Hell. We know he was a deacon in the church, but much of his life is unknown. He kept diaries but very lil references to his personal life and even fewer views to his religious views. However we do know he was a disappoint to his father who would have been against theater as a whole and we know that Lewis Carrol frequented theaters. He may have been a priest himself but never preached or he may have went to seminary but never became ordained. He wrote many stories, but especially "a kind of anarchic mockery of hypocrisy and authority". But unknown if he was "anti-authority" or merely a believer that you should "question authority" and make sure they are representing your beliefs.

He was an incredibly smart man and believed in questioning everything. His parents were very religious and it is doubted that he was opposed to religion but merely opposed to blindly following religion. The comparison is not so much to compare Christianity and Buddhism to a cult mentality, but instead to question your leaders. The oysters were following their leaders to their death merely b/c they were told to follow, with no thought to questioning. Even as one oyster after another was lead to his death, it never occured to the oysters to flee but the remained conversing with the religious leaders.

Basically it can be argued that Lewis Carrol believed that God only accepted into his heaven those that understood their religious beliefs and knew about their religious beliefs. But those that never questioned, never used the brain that had been given to them, would be consumed by spiritual leaders.

There are many great studies on it and I'm sure many an eng literature master's thesis has been written on the topic as well. You are by far not the only one who sees the obvious religious and political meaning to it--but the question is do you follow his words of advice? Do you question both your religious and political leaders, or follow them simply b/c the other oysters do?

http://www.lookingforlewiscarroll.com/mythinmaking.html
http://www.casebook.org/suspects/carroll.html
http://www.lewiscarroll.org/religion.html

Answer 9

that is from alice in wonder land govermants are like a house of cards and alice was in a fairy tale land like the christians

Answer 10

T'was brillig and the slighty toves, did gyre and gimble in the wabes,
All mimsy were the borogoves,
AND THE MOME RAT OUTGRABE!


(Cant remember properly)