The Mad Hatter

                                                   

When first reading, Lewis Carroll’s, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I was surprised to see that the Mad Hatter played a minor role within the story. Having seen the Disney animated adaptation and the Tim Burton adaptation, both playing up the role of the Mad Hatter, I always assumed that the Hatter was a main character in the novel. While this concept is supported by the fact that the Hatter is one of the only characters who appeared in both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. In the book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice came across the Hatter at his tea. He explains to Alice that he is stuck at the same time because Time was angry with him. The Hatter constantly pokes fun at Alice any chance he gets. By repeatedly presenting different riddles to Alice such as, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” This presents the idea that the Hatter is there to question Alice and encourage her to think deeper into her life and the situations she finds herself in. This is also shown in the film adaptation by Time Burton. It is evident that in the film Alice and the Mad Hatter create a special bond that is not as clear in the novel. This friendship brought the Hatter to a focal point in the film. Having a star, Johnny Deep, play the Mad Hatter is also an important part when looking into the adaptation of the Hatter. By having Deep portray the Hatter, Burton was able to bring Deep to the front and give the character a stronger role. When analyzing why Burton decided to play up the Hatter’s character, many can assume that with such a well-known actor, he was able to bring in a larger audience. Another theory is that by having the Hatter and Alice create such a strong bond, it gave the audience a relationship to attach themselves to. In the film, the Hatter and Alice both would stop at nothing to protect each other. Which is something that movie audiences love to see. As a whole, the Mad Hatter was an important key in Alice’s journey. He was able to challenge Alice’s intelligence and provide a safe place for Alice during her time in Wonderland.