Whimsical and Wonderful Alice in Wonderland Characters

Written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pen name Lewis Carroll in 1865, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (more commonly called Alice in Wonderland) is a whimsical tale of a child exploring a fantasy land where nothing is ever as it seems, where logic is fallacy and where making sense won’t get you anywhere. Though a children’s story at heart, the dreamlike absurdity of the Alice in Wonderland characters, plot and language can be appreciated at any age.

Alice, the child of a wealthy Victorian family, exemplifies logic, order and etiquette. Despite her age and child-like demeanor, Alice believes that there are rules and features to the world that are constant – beliefs that are challenged as soon as she tumbles down the rabbit hole. Alice is quick to flaunt her education and manners to anyone in Wonderland who would listen and looks down on those she feels are beneath her station. Alice’s logic and entitlement are brought into question when the White Rabbit mistakes her for a servant and when the Hatter and March Hare challenge her with their own intellect. Though originally distraught at Wonderland’s lack of rules, Alice slowly gains her bearings and asserts control throughout her journey, eventually realizing that Wonderland is no more than illusion and that making meaning out of nonsense is impossible.

In a land of strange creatures and situations, the Cheshire Cat is himself a bit strange for Wonderland. He enjoys living outside the grasp of Wonderland’s citizens and their brand of nonsense. His outsider status allows him to see Wonderland for what it really is: a land where madness is bred and no one is safe from its intoxicating effect. He cleverly points out to Alice that in the context of Wonderland, her normal sense-making behavior is in fact madness. The Cheshire Cat’s acute awareness of how Wonderland works (or doesn’t work) makes him an invaluable asset to Alice as she explores her new world – even if he doesn’t always help in the way she expects.

Though villainized in several recent film adaptations, the Hatter – now commonly known as the Mad Hatter – actually appears as a minor character in the novel. Accused of “murdering the time” by singing at a celebration for the Queen of Hearts, the Queen sentenced the Hatter and his companions, March Hare and the Dormouse, to death. Not liking the idea of murder, Time himself halted, forcing the Hatter and the Hare to permanently live at tea time. The Hatter, along with his companions, takes great pleasure in tormenting Alice with unanswerable riddles and rhetoric, mocking her claim of intelligence.

As the ruler of Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts is the one whom Alice ultimately faces at the end of her adventure. Throughout her journey, Alice hears of the Queen’s ruthlessness: The White Rabbit is in stark terror of being late to one of her appointments; the Hatter and Hare were sentenced to death for singing; and even the Cheshire Cat warns of her foul temper. Besides a light game of hedgehog-and-flamingo croquet, the Queen seems only interested in absolute power and the execution of her laws or her subjects. Though Alice faces genuine fear of the Queen and her proclamation of “sentence before judgement,” in the end, Alice realizes that the Queen – who never actually executes anyone and whose subjects only entertain her notion of power – is no more than another expression of Wonderland’s absurdity.

Minor “Alice in Wonderland” characters include the White Rabbit, the Mouse, the Dodo, the Lory, the Eaglet, the Duck, Pat, Bill the Lizard, Puppy, the Caterpillar, the Duchess, the Knave of Hearts, the King of Hearts, the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle.

Filled with surreal situations, absurd characters and clever word play, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland continues to engage readers of all ages. To put the whimsical, nonsensical, absurd world of Wonderland on your wall, check out our full-text Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland book poster.

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