Chapter 9: The Mock Turtle’s Story
Summary:
In the garden, Alice meets the Duchess. She takes Alice in a walk and talks about morals and argues how a flamingo is different than mustard. Then, the Queen appears in front of them. The Queen asks Alice whether she knew the Mock-Turtle and then orders the Gryphon to take Alice to see it. They find the Mock-Turtle singing sadly on a rock, but the Gryphon tells Alice that the Mock-Turtle is not actually sad. Alice asks the Mock-Turtle about his history, so he starts telling her about his fine education and that he has studied washing as a core subject and some extra lessons like music and French. Alice keeps asking the Mock-Turtle for more details about his study, but he is reluctant and ignores her.
Analysis:
The Mock-Turtle and Alice have one thing in common when the Mock-Turtle reveals that it was a real turtle. This is the first time Alice feels comfortable because finally, she finds someone who knows the life above the ground and will understand her in everything. Although Alice finds someone from her real world, the Mock-Turtle refuses to give details to Alice, and again this chapter is the same as chapter 7 when the Dormouse refuses to give details while it is narrating a story. Both chapters show that Alice is not completely an adolescent because childish features don`t leave her.
