THE CHESHIRE CAT

By Helen Wilson

One of the most enduring cat characters in literature is the Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland".  The tale was written in 1865 by Lewis Carroll, and tells the story of Alice’s adventures in a magical land.  The Cheshire Cat belongs to the Duchess, and is distinguished by a wide grin and the ability to disappear and appear at will.  The illustrator was Sir John Tenniel, a satirical artist who worked for “Punch.”

The phrase “grin like a Cheshire Cat” existed even before the story was written by Carroll (Britannica, 4/1/24 update).  It appeared in a 1788 dictionary, defined as a smile showing teeth and gums.  Allegedly, there was an English cheese molded to look like a grinning cat!

Cheshire Cat fading to smile

Carroll originally told the fantastical tale to the three daughters of the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, during an 1862 picnic. One of the daughters, Alice, asked Carroll to write the story out for her.  The resulting book was intended to teach moral lessons, but as it turned out, the nonsense aspect appealed to children.

The character of the Cheshire Cat teaches Alice that everyone in wonderland is mad; it doesn’t matter what path she takes.  The symbolism of the cat represents logic, wisdom, and guidance, as he helps Alice understand her situation.  He acts as a kind of spirit guide to the trials of the human condition.  The Cat’s riddles help the girl find the right direction and understand “the essential secret that it is mad.”  (The Collector, 9/9/23, MA Contemporary Art Theory). 

Another interpretation of the Cat is that it represents Alice as an adult, in addition to symbolizing the surreal nature of Wonderland.  The feline’s ability to vanish and leave a grin behind may suggest that reality is an illusion (Quora).  Says the cat to Alice, “We are all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” For more Cheshire Cat wisdom, check out these quotes from the book. 

What kind of cat was the Cheshire Cat?  Some believe it was a British Shorthair, or “Tabby Cat”, named after Cheshire County in England.  The area is known for its dairy farms, where cats got a daily treat of warm milk straight from the cow, causing a happy expression!  The Tabbies, beloved by Freddie Mercury, Mark Twain and David Bowie, as well as Betty White, share a distinctive “M” mark on their foreheads.

In the 1951 Disney adaptation of the story, the Cheshire Cat plays a starring role; "He is a pink-and-purple-striped cat with a permanent grin. Mischievous and unpredictable in nature, the Cheshire Cat acts as a guide for Alice during her adventures in Wonderland, but also takes pleasure in causing her trouble." Just like a cat! (Disney Wiki)