"White Rabbit" Response

Travel Writer Holly Keith illustrates in her essay, “White Rabbit” that in order to get the most out of daring experiences like scaling a mountain, one must first be willing to venture out into the unknown, to escape the comfort and routine-ness of day-to-day life. For Keith, it was more than just “knowing how” to a climb a mountain, a feat she had accomplished before; it was escaping the “crowds” of people, experiencing the mountain during the strenuous and risk-filled season of winter, and accepting that the reward for doing so could be anything--“silence...a moose...one step...laughter”--rather than simply reaching the summit.

“What you need most is imagination, a willingness...to follow the rabbit...I could enter wonderland alone.” This allusion is effective in that it provides a clear grasp of the sense of unknown the author is encouraging her readers to venture out into. As most readers will remember how topsy-turvy Wonderland was in reference to Alice’s own world, Keith is stating that they can have similar experiences if they are simply “imaginative.” To somewhat contrast, the line, “I am carrying the gene for just in case” is effective in providing a sense that Keith still is deeply concerned about safety, even when daring to solo-hike a mountain in winter, grounding the story in a sense of reality and common-sense.