# Red Queen — Through the Looking-Glass character guide

> Red Queen in Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Red Queen

**First appearance:** 0003-i-looking-glass-house

## Snapshot

A stern, imperious chess queen who runs at impossible speed and informs Alice that in this world you must keep running to stay in place.

## Who they are

The Red Queen rules the chessboard Alice is crossing, issuing commands and corrections with the confidence of someone who has never been contradicted. She is impatient with Alice's ordinary logic, insisting that here it takes all the running you can do to stay in the same spot. Her brisk authority defines the game's stakes and pushes Alice toward the eighth square.

## In the story

### [The Chess Game](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/the-chess-game)

Encountered early in the game; later checkmated by Alice.

### [Through the Looking-Glass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/through-the-looking-glass)

The authoritative chess piece who meets Alice in the garden and explains the rules of the chessboard land.

### [Looking-Glass House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/i-looking-glass-house)

Mentioned among the chessmen walking about.

### [II: The Garden of Live Flowers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/ii-the-garden-of-live-flowers)

The Red Queen appears in the garden, explains the chessboard landscape, and offers Alice the role of a White Pawn. She runs with Alice without moving and gives her advice on etiquette.

### [VIII: “It’s My Own Invention”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/viii-it-s-my-own-invention)

The Red Knight, who claims Alice as his prisoner, is dressed in crimson armor and fights the White Knight.

### [Queen Alice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/ix-queen-alice)

The Red Queen interrogates Alice, invites herself to the dinner party, and later shrinks to doll size before being shaken by Alice.

### [Shaking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/x-shaking)

The Red Queen is shaken by Alice and transforms into a kitten.

### [Which Dreamed It?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/xii-which-dreamed-it)

Referenced by Alice as the possible transformation of her kitten, Kitty.

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

Shown running with Alice and later asleep at the feast.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/characters/the_red_queen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/characters