Tag Archives: Mad Hatter

Three fourths of the way through the book now!  I hope you’re enjoying reading it as much as I am. Shall we just dive right in to the past week’s reading?

We’ve finally found the Mad Hatter and March Hare in chapter seven.  (And don’t forget sleepy little Dormouse.)  As Alice invites herself to the tea party, we’re plopped into the middle of chaos.  The hosts and guest quibble over propriety and manners, but through all of that we learn why there is a continual tea party going on.  I was disappointed to find that it wasn’t an Unbirthday party.  I love Unbirthdays.  In fact today is MY Unbirthday!  But apparently Hatter has been punished by Time.  Not some abstract time like we know it, but a person.  Hatter’s stuck at 6 o’clock forever and ever.  Since this is tea time, he’s always going to be having tea.  And now I understand the watch being two days slow.  Since it’s always 6 o’clock, he no longer has hours to contend with so his watch only tells the days.  I loved the playfulness of language in this chapter.  Favorite line: Alice says, “I don’t think—” and Hatter responds, “Then you shouldn’t talk!”  (Does everyone else hear Ed Wynn while reading Hatter’s lines?)  That’s the last straw for Alice, and she leaves in a huff.  As Alice leaves the party, she finds herself back in the long hallway where she began.  This time though, she’s learned how to manage and doesn’t panic.  She remembers to get the key and unlock the door before she nibbles away on the mushroom.  She seems to be starting to get the hang of how Wonderland works.