# The White Rabbit — Alice's Adventures in Wonderland character guide

> The White Rabbit in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the Rabbit, The Rabbit, W. Rabbit, Rabbit

**First appearance:** 0002-i-down-the-rabbit-hole

## Who they are

A frantic, waistcoat-wearing rabbit whose obsession with punctuality drags Alice down the hole and whose panicked authority over his servants makes him both comic and faintly menacing.

## In the story

### [Alice's Adventures in Wonderland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/chapters/alice-s-adventures-in-wonderland)

The frantic, waistcoat-wearing rabbit whose appearance and exclamation of 'Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!' prompts Alice's adventure.

### [Down the Rabbit-Hole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/chapters/i-down-the-rabbit-hole)

The frantic creature in a waistcoat who initiates the adventure. Alice follows him down the hole and catches glimpses of him in the passages.

### [II: The Pool of Tears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/chapters/ii-the-pool-of-tears)

Appears briefly, splendidly dressed and in a hurry, drops his fan and gloves when startled by Alice.

### [IV: The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/chapters/iv-the-rabbit-sends-in-a-little-bill)

Anxiously searches for his fan and gloves, mistakes Alice for his housemaid Mary Ann, and orders his servants Pat and Bill to deal with the giant arm in his window.

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

Seen in the procession, talking nervously and smiling, but does not notice Alice.

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

Serves as court herald, reading the accusation and calling witnesses.

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

Acts as court herald, reads the nonsensical evidence, and corrects the King's language.

### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/alices_adventures_in_wonderland_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations)

Shown checking his watch and hurrying on; later blowing a trumpet.

## Links

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