Student Question
Why does Alice stand up to the queen in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?
Quick answer:
Alice stands up to the queen because she realizes the king, queen, and soldiers are merely a "pack of cards," diminishing their authority and instilling confidence in her. This realization allows Alice to speak boldly and even defy the queen's orders, such as when she helps the gardeners escape execution. Her confidence is further bolstered during the trial of the Knave of Hearts as she grows to her full height, making her physically superior to the card characters.
In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Alice stands up to the queen on two occasions. She first encounters the queen in the garden where three gardeners have been busy painting white roses red. She gains confidence by realizing that the king, queen, and soldiers are not people, but only cards. The queen asks her name, and Alice replies.
"My name is Alice, so please your majesty," said Alice very politely; but she added, to herself, "Why they're only a pack of cards, after all. I needn't be afraid of them!"
Alice then speaks to the queen in a very sassy tone and even helps the gardeners escape when the queen wants to behead them.
Alice stands up to the queen again at the trial of the Knave of Hearts, who is accused of stealing tarts from the queen. The queen tells Alice to hold her tongue, and Alice says that she won't. Alice again gives the reason for her confidence as "you're nothing but a pack of cards." In addition, on this occasion, Alice has grown back to her full height, and so she is far larger than any of the card characters.
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