# The King of Hearts — Alice's Adventures in Wonderland character guide

> The King of Hearts in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0009-viii-the-queen-s-croquet-ground

## Snapshot

The Queen's mild, easily frightened husband, who hides behind Alice at the sight of the Cheshire Cat and eagerly volunteers to fetch the executioner himself.

## Who they are

He presides over the trial of the Knave with more ceremony than authority, deferring to his wife's verdicts and puffing himself up only when someone smaller is nearby. His fear of the Cheshire Cat and his instant willingness to have it beheaded reveal a man whose gentleness is mostly cowardice. He matters because he shows that the Queen's tyranny is not a lone madness but a system, one that even her supposed partner props up the moment he feels threatened.

## In the story

### [VIII: The Queen's Croquet-Ground](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/chapters/viii-the-queen-s-croquet-ground)

Timidly intervenes for Alice, argues logically about beheading, and eagerly fetches the executioner.

### [XI: Who Stole the Tarts?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/chapters/xi-who-stole-the-tarts)

Acts as the incompetent judge, cross-examining witnesses and issuing arbitrary orders.

### [Alice's Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/chapters/xii-alice-s-evidence)

Presides over the trial with illogical reasoning, cites 'Rule Forty-two,' and is corrected by the White Rabbit.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/characters/king_of_hearts
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/characters