Carroll is saying that the recognition of identity is something confusing, complicated and that not everyone can achieve, because all human beings are constantly changing.
This concept is present in "Alice in Wonderland" written by Lewis Carroll, where he shows the confusion and instability we all go through as we move from childhood to adulthood.
These changes are represented by the size changes that Alice experiences throughout the story. These changes make Alice unable to recognize herself and show the reader that:
- Life is messy and growing up is not easy.
- The changes we face complicate our perception of ourselves.
- In moments when we don't know ourselves, the people around us are not able to recognize us either.
- It takes time and reflection to understand each change.
With this we can understand that Carroll wrote about this troubled moment of human identity, so that readers would understand that this confusion about their own identity is normal and is only not felt by those who have not experienced a change.
You can find more information about "Alice in Wonderland" at the link below: