The extinct dodo bird, while not a major character, makes a memorable appearance in Lewis Carroll’s beloved children’s classic Alice in Wonderland. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: The dodo bird interacts with Alice at the Caucus Race andSymbolizes silliness and extinction.
In this comprehensive article, we will explore the history of the dodo bird, its significance in Alice in Wonderland, and the meaning behind its inclusion in the popular novel.
The Flightless Dodo Bird and Its Eventual Extinction
Physical Characteristics and Habitat of the Dodo
The dodo was a large, flightless bird that inhabited the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It stood about one meter tall and weighed around 20 kilograms. The dodo had grayish brown feathers, a big head, large beak, and stout yellow legs.
It lived in the forests and woodlands of Mauritius, feeding on fruits that fell from trees.
The dodo was closely related to pigeons and doves, but evolved without natural predators on Mauritius. As a result, it lost the ability to fly and developed a very friendly and trusting nature towards humans.
Early Sightings and Descriptions by Explorers
The dodo was first encountered by Dutch sailors in 1598, when their ship landed on Mauritius while traveling to the East Indies. The curious dodos approached the sailors without fear. This led crewmember Willem Van West-Zanen to describe them as extremely fat birds that “wheezed like asthma patients” as they walked (1).
In 1606, a Portugese ship captained by Roelant Coymans made one of the earliest detailed descriptions of the dodo. His log compared their size to swans and geese, and noted that they had large heads and bent backs that prevented them from standing upright (2).
Predation by Invasive Species
The arrival of humans to Mauritius brought invasive species that would drive the docile dodo bird to extinction. Sailors released pigs, macaques, rats, and other animals onto the island that began attacking dodo nests, eating their eggs, and destroying their habitat.
Within 100 years of Dutch colonialists establishing settlements, the last dodo was killed in 1681. The extinction went largely unnoticed at the time. Today, the dodo serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of island ecosystems and human-driven extinction of naïve species.
The dodo became internationally famous following its appearance in Lewis Carroll’s 1865 classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, cementing its status as one the world’s most famous extinct animals.
The Dodo’s Appearances and Symbolism in Alice in Wonderland
Interacting with Alice at the Caucus Race
The Dodo is first introduced in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland when Alice comes across him standing with other animals after she falls down the rabbit hole. He engages Alice in the Caucus Race, where everyone runs around in a circle with no clear start or finish.
This highlights the Dodo’s silly and illogical nature. The term “caucus race” was used by Lewis Carroll to satirize the Caucus system of voting in politics at the time, which he felt lacked structure, fairness and meaningful progress, much like how the race played out.
The Dodo comes across as pompous in his organization of the race, thinking himself very important and officious. Yet the race ends up being pure chaos. The Dodo tells Alice “The best way to explain it is to do it,” underscoring his foolishness and ineffectiveness as he fails to give clear instructions.
Overall, the Caucus Race scene establishes the Dodo as an eccentric and inept leader guiding Alice through a directionless activity reflecting the absurdity of Wonderland.
Representing Silliness and Foolishness
In his other appearances in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the Dodo continues to exhibit ridiculous behavior and lack of intelligence. At the Mad Tea-Party, he aims to get the chaotic gathering organized by asking each attendee to tell their story.
But the attempt at order quickly dissolves into more mayhem. The Dodo also comes up with the idea of burning down the White Rabbit’s house to get Bill the Lizard out, rather than simply reaching in to pull Bill out. This over-the-top solution highlights the Dodo’s general silliness.
Physically, the Dodo is described as having a bulbous head and beak, bumbling in his movements, and speaking as if he has a cold. These attributes give him an awkward, clownish appearance and mannerisms.
When the Dodo suggests having a Caucus-Race to dry off after swimming in the pool of tears, Alice remarks to herself “The Dodo had paused as if it thought that somebody ought to speak, and no one else seemed inclined to say anything.” This shows how the Dodo foolishly takes charge without considering if it’s necessary or helpful.
Symbolizing Extinction Amidst Absurdity
As an extinct species of flightless bird, the Dodo serves as an allegorical figure in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Its appearance in the absurd setting of Wonderland, conversing with strange creatures and engaging in silly activities, highlights the idea that extinction can occur even amidst the seeming chaos and randomness of life.
The Dodo represents those creatures that nature has left behind over time. Yet in Wonderland, the extinct Dodo still exists in a warped, exaggerated form – reflective of how extinction itself seems nonsensical.
The Dodo may also symbolize the inevitable cycle of rise and fall, and how absurdity or meaninglessness often underlies society’s so-called progress. Just as the Dodo presides over the directionless Caucus Race, so too do directionless leaders and broken systems emerge and fade away over time.
The Dodo shows how we construct order and meaning in a world filled with chaos and chance. Ultimately, the extinct Dodo’s presence in the surreal world of Wonderland serves as a looking glass for our own world and its myriad absurdities.
Lasting Cultural Legacy of the Dodo and Its Connection to Alice in Wonderland
The extinct dodo bird has left an enduring cultural legacy, notably through its appearance in Lewis Carroll’s beloved children’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Though the dodo only appears briefly in the novel, its inclusion cemented the unusual-looking bird as a symbol of wonder, curiosity, and imagination.
The Dodo’s Enduring Popularity and Connection to Fantasy Worlds
The dodo bird lived only on the remote island of Mauritius and sadly went extinct by 1681. However, accounts of its friendly nature and unique appearance – as a large, flightless bird with a distinctive hooked bill and tuft of feathers – sparked much fascination in Europe.
The dodo became an icon of exotic lands and abundant nature awaiting European discovery.
So when Lewis Carroll was creating his fantasy world full of anthropomorphic creatures and talking animals in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the dodo was a natural fit. Its inclusion highlighted the story’s dreamlike quality where extinction did not exist, and reinforced the dodo’s link to fantastical realms filled with wonder and imagination.
The Dodo in Alice in Wonderland
In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the dodo bird is one of the first curious creatures Alice encounters after falling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. She meets the Dodo and other anthropomorphic animals on the bank of a pool of tears she cried, and they decide to dry off by organizing a caucus race.
The passage is lighthearted and showcases the Dodo’s pompous nature as it officiates the race. Though brief, it cements the extinct Dodo’s legacy as part of the enduring world of magic, upside-down logic, and fun that is Wonderland.
Just as Alice steps through the looking glass into an alternative reality, seeing a long-lost species like the dodo becomes possible in this fantasy realm away from the constraints of time and biology.
Later Representations and Pop Culture References
The Dodo’s inclusion in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland sparked its long-lasting connection to stories of magic, whimsy, and childlike imagination. It has since appeared in other fantasy stories, manga series, video games, and as a popular merchandise image.
Within Alice retellings and spinoffs alone, the Dodo has made numerous memorable appearances such as in Tim Burton’s 2010 live action film. The enduring fascination with this extinct bird and its ties to classic fantasy works like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will likely only grow stronger with time.
Conclusion
Although a minor character, the extinct dodo bird left a lasting impression on Alice in Wonderland and continues to captivate readers through its symbolism of silliness, foolishness and humanity’s threat to nature.
The dodo serves as an important link between the actual history of species extinction and the absurd, topsy-turvy world of Wonderland.
