Duchess, Alice in Wonderland (fretwork figure)

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Exhibit

Duchess, Alice in Wonderland (fretwork figure)

BTMM map 058.gif
location:

Arch Two , Area 58
Wooden Cutout Figures (display)


Puppet Corner


A jointed wooden figure of "The Duchess" from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", by Lewis Carroll

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The figure was created in Lord Robert's Workshops, and is jointed to have moving arms and legs.

About the character

The Duchess is a strange character encountered twice by Alice, with what appears to be incredibly different personality traits and approaches in each instance. In the first encounter with the Duchess in her home she is volatile and cruel, beating her child for sneezing around pepper as she believes he is doing it deliberately to spite her.

When encountered later at the Queen's croquet match she seems a lot more friendly and attempts to win Alice over, frequently resting her chin on the girl's shoulder. Alice believes it may have been all the pepper earlier which was infuriating her at first.