Queen of Hearts (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) - Confusion With The Red Queen

Confusion With The Red Queen

She is commonly mistaken for the Red Queen in the story's sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, but in reality shares none of her characteristics other than being a queen. Indeed, Carroll, in his lifetime, made the distinction of the two Queens by saying:

“
I pictured to myself the Queen of Hearts as a sort of embodiment of ungovernable passion - a blind and aimless Fury.
The Red Queen I pictured as a Fury, but of another type; her passion must be cold and calm - she must be formal and strict, yet not unkindly; pedantic to the 10th degree, the concentrated essence of all governesses!
 ”

—Lewis Carroll, in "Alice on the Stage"

The 1951 animated film Alice in Wonderland perpetuates the long-standing confusion between the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts. In the film, the Queen of Hearts delivers several of the Red Queen's statements, the most notable being based on her "all the ways about here belong to me". Both characters say this to suggest importance and possible arrogance, but in the Red Queen's case it has a double meaning since her status as a Chess-queen means that she can move in any direction she desires.

In the American McGee's Alice adaptation of the books, the characters are also combined, leading to further popular misconception.

Read more about this topic:  Queen Of Hearts (Alice's Adventures In Wonderland)

Famous quotes containing the words confusion, red and/or queen:

    “Of late the new “life philosophy” has shown a tendency to relapse into a bewildering confusion of logical and poetical means of expression.”
    —Johan Huizinga (1872–1945)

    “He is said to have been the last Red Man
    In Acton. And the Miller is said to have laughed
    If you like to call such a sound a laugh.”
    —Robert Frost (1874–1963)

    “The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her for a moment like a wild beast, began screaming “Off with her head! Off with—”
    “Nonsense!” said Alice loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was silent.”
    —Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)