"Alice looked all around the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. 'I don't see any wine', she remarked. 'There isn't any', said the March Hare. 'Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it', said Alice angrily. 'It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited', said the March Hare." (p91) 

Arguably one of the most recognisable scenes within Alice in Wonderland, the novel's seventh chapter 'A Mad Tea Party' subverts the well-established Victorian conventions regarding table manner and etiquette, which were popular at the time.

The chaotic nature of the Mad Hatter's tea party completely opposes tradition in a variety of ways, amusing and shocking readers in equal measure. Carroll purposely disrupts any sense of order, replacing it with a nonchalant craziness.The broken saucers and spilled cups which occupy the table merely emphasise the erratic nature of both the scene and the characters. This contrasts heavily with the Victorian notion of afternoon tea, which often required careful handling of fine china and sought to appear dainty in almost every aspect.

Throughout the scene Carroll also makes numerous attempts to reveal to his readers further information regarding the identity of Alice. Her constant debate with the Mad Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse in relation to correct table manners indicates that she is a middle class background. Alice's insistence that their behaviour improve demonstrates a momentary lapse of fantasy, a reminder of the importance of pleasantries. 

Whilst undertaking some wider reading I stumbled upon a marvelously written essay which not only analyses this particular chapter in detail but also provides an extensive discussion of Victorian etiquette manuals. If you would like to learn more, click here.

-

In an attempt to make a mockery of the strictness of Victorian dining, Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll published Hints for Etiquette; Or, Dining Out Made Easy (1932). A parody of the vastly popular Hints on Etiquette and the Usages of Society, first published in 1834, the text takes a comical approach, juxtaposing the seriousness nature of its inspiration.

It is clear from the very outset of the text - 'as caterers for the public taste...' - that Carroll considers the dictation of dining etiquette by self-appointed 'experts' as laughable. The opening peritext preceding his list of nine rules is incredibly sarcastic in terms of tone, making a mockery of so-called social expectations.

His second rule, alongside discussing the consumption of soup, states that 'the custom of asking your host his opinion of the weather immediately on the removal of the first course still prevails'. It could be suggested this is a reference to the mundane, stifled nature of the Victorian dining experience, bound by social constraints. As an author, Carroll is implying that the sheer number of restraints placed on diners leaves them with little room to maneuver, ruining the sense of occasion.

The eighth rule is particularly intriguing as it could be interpreted in a variety of different ways, depending on the era. He informs his readers that 'as a general rule, do not kick the shins of the person opposite you, if personally unacquainted with him; your pleasantry is liable to be misunderstood'. It could be argued that this rule has clear homosexual undertones, perhaps an attempt to goad and/or outrage his readers.

Works Cited: 

Carroll, Lewis. Alice in Wonderland. London: Wordsworth Editions, 2001.

Carroll, Lewis. Hint's for Etiquette; Or, Dining Out Made Easy. United States: Bonnefant Press, 1990.