The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice.
`Who are you?' said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, `I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'
`What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. `Explain yourself!'
`I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, `because I'm not myself, you see.'
`I don't see,' said the Caterpillar.
`I'm afraid I can't put it more clearly,' Alice replied very politely, `for I can't understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.'
`It isn't,' said the Caterpillar.
`Well, perhaps you haven't found it so yet,' said Alice; `but when you have to turn into a chrysalis--you will some day, you know--and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you'll feel it a little queer, won't you?'
`Not a bit,' said the Caterpillar.
`Well, perhaps your feelings may be different,' said Alice; `all I know is, it would feel very queer to me.'
`You!' said the Caterpillar contemptuously. `Who are you?'
Which brought them back again to the beginning of the conversation. Alice felt a little irritated at the Caterpillar's making such very short remarks, and she drew herself up and said, very gravely, `I think, you ought to tell me who you are, first.'
`Why?' said the Caterpillar.
Here was another puzzling question; and as Alice could not think of any good reason, and as the Caterpillar seemed to be in a very unpleasant state of mind, she turned away.
`Come back!' the Caterpillar called after her. `I've something important to say!'
This sounded promising, certainly: Alice turned and came back again.
`Keep your temper,' said the Caterpillar.
`Is that all?' said Alice, swallowing down her anger as well as she could.
`No,' said the Caterpillar.
Alice thought she might as well wait, as she had nothing else to do, and perhaps after all it might tell her something worth hearing. For some minutes it puffed away without speaking, but at last it unfolded its arms, took the hookah out of its mouth again, and said, `So you think you're changed, do you?'
`I'm afraid I am, sir,' said Alice; `I can't remember things as I used--and I don't keep the same size for ten minutes together!'
-Alice in Wonderland, chapter 5: Advice from a Caterpillar
4 comments
Funny I do job readiness and the part of the interview most people have trouble with is, "Tell me about yourself."
i always like the style of your self-portraits
I think you are trying to tell us something Coffee. Will you write another post giving us more details on your current state.
by the way I read "Don't Play In The Sun". She wrote a book about the time she lived in Nigeria with her Nigerian husband. It's a very good book and I think you should check it out if you have the time.
@Amadeo: Talking about one's self is always the difficult part. I know talking about myself... whether it be on an interview or on a date or what have you is a bit flustering.
@GC: Thank you much! My attempts at being artsy. I've run out of willing guinea pigs to shoot and find that I'm my own easiest subject.
@BeautyinB'more: I am indeed being cryptic. Never fear, a follow up is on the horizon. I actually read "Don't Play in the Sun" some time ago and while it was a good read, thought the author was reaching (in regard to the topic of her book and its title)- a bit in some parts. While she spoke about intraracial discrimination (lighter skinned blacks against darker skinned blacks)- at times she, herself, was guilty of the same infraction.
She seemed like she floated through life seeking validation, when she should have come to the realization that she was fine just the way she is.
Good read though.
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