Alice expresses the desire to be a queen after observing the chess game.
Excerpt from Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
ACT I
SCENE ONE
Alice’s home. Lewis Carroll is discovered, playing chess. Golden-haired Alice, in a little blue dress, a black kitten in her arms, stands watching him.
Alice
That’s a funny game, uncle. What did you do then?
Carroll
A red pawn took a white pawn; this way. You see, Alice, the chessboard is divided into sixty-four squares, red and white, and the white army tries to win and the red army tries to win. It’s like a battle!
Alice
With soldiers?
Carroll
Yes, here are the Kings and Queens they are fighting for. That’s the Red Queen and here’s the White Queen.
Alice
How funny they look!
Carroll
See the crowns on their heads, and look at their big feet.
Alice
It’s a foot apiece, that’s what it is! Do they hump along like this?
Carroll
Here! You’re spoiling the game. I must keep them all in their right squares.
Alice
I want to be a queen!
Carroll
Here you are [he points to a small white pawn] here you are in your little stiff skirt!
Alice
How do you do, Alice!
Carroll
And now you are going to move here.
Alice
Let me move myself.
Carroll
When you have traveled all along the board this way and haven’t been taken by the enemy you may be a queen.
Alice
Why do people always play with kings and queens? Mother has them in her playing cards too. Look!
[Alice goes to the mantel and takes a pack of playing cards from the ledge.]
Here’s the King of Hearts and here’s his wife; she’s the Queen of Hearts—isn’t she cross-looking? Like she wants to bite one’s head off.
[Carroll moves a pawn.]
You’re playing against yourself, aren’t you?
Carroll
That’s one way of keeping in practice, Alice; I have friends in the university who want to beat me.
Alice
But if you play against yourself I should think you’d want to cheat!
Carroll
Does a nice little girl like you cheat when she plays against herself?
What desire does Alice express after observing the chess game?
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She wants to play a different game.
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She wants to stop playing.
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She wants to be a queen.
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She wants to read a book.
1 answer