Alice - The
seven-year-old protagonist of the story. Alice believes that the
world is orderly and stable, and she has an insatiable curiosity
about her surroundings. Wonderland challenges and frustrates her
perceptions of the world.
Read an
in-depth analysis of Alice.
The White Rabbit - The frantic, harried Wonderland creature that originally
leads Alice to Wonderland. The White Rabbit is figure of some importance,
but he is manic, timid, and occasionally aggressive.
The Queen of Hearts - The ruler of Wonderland. The Queen is severe and
domineering, continually screaming for her subjects to be beheaded.
Read an
in-depth analysis of The Queen of Hearts.
The King of Hearts - The coruler of Wonderland. The King is ineffectual
and generally unlikeable, but lacks the Queen’s ruthlessness and
undoes her orders of execution.
The Cheshire Cat - A perpetually grinning cat who appears and disappears
at will. The Cheshire Cat displays a detached, clearheaded logic
and explains Wonderland’s madness to Alice.
Read an
in-depth analysis of The Cheshire Cat.
The Duchess - The
Queen’s uncommonly ugly cousin. The Duchess behaves rudely to Alice
at first, but later treats her so affectionately that her advances
feel threatening.
The Caterpillar - A Wonderland creature. The Caterpillar sits on a mushroom,
smokes a hookah, and treats Alice with contempt. He directs Alice
to the magic mushroom that allows her to shrink and grow.
The Mad Hatter - A
small, impolite hatter who lives in perpetual tea-time. The Mad
Hatter enjoys frustrating Alice.
The March Hare - The
Mad Hatter’s tea-time companion. The March Hare takes great pleasure
in frustrating Alice.
The Dormouse - The
Mad Hatter and March Hare’s companion. The Dormouse sits at the
tea table and drifts in and out of sleep.
The Gryphon - A
servant to the Queen who befriends Alice. The Gryphon escorts Alice
to see the Mock Turtle.
The Mock Turtle - A turtle with the head of a calf. The Mock Turtle is
friendly to Alice but is exceedingly sentimental and self-absorbed.
Alice’s sister - The
only character whom Alice interacts with outside of Wonderland.
Alice’s sister daydreams about Alice’s adventures as the story closes.
The Knave of Hearts - An attendant to the King and Queen. The Knave has
been accused of stealing the Queen’s tarts.
The Mouse - The
first Wonderland creature that Alice encounters. The Mouse is initially
frightened of Alice and her talk about her pet cat, and eventually
tells the story of Fury and the Mouse that foreshadows the Knave
of Heart’s trial.
The Dodo - A
Wonderland creature. The Dodo tends to use big words, and others
accuse him of not knowing their meanings. He proposes that the animals
participate in a Caucus race.
The Duck, the Lory, and the Eaglet - Wonderland creatures who participate in the Caucus
race.
The Cook - The
Duchess’s cook, who causes everyone to sneeze with the amount of
pepper she uses in her cooking. The Cook is ill-tempered, throwing
objects at the Duchess and refusing to give evidence at the trial.
The Pigeon - A
Wonderland creature who believes Alice is a serpent. The pigeon
is sulky and angry and thinks Alice is after her eggs.
Two, Five, and Seven - The playing-card gardeners. Two, Five, and Seven
are fearful and fumbling, especially in the presence of the Queen.
Bill - A lizard
who first appears as a servant of the White Rabbit and later as
a juror at the trial. Bill is stupid and ineffectual.
