The Looking Glass Wars Analysis

In The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, the sweet nonsensical story of Alice in Wonderland is retold in an interestingly strange way that includes everything from war and rebellion, to love. Towards the beginning of the story Alyss is forced to leave Wonderland after having her castle ambushed by her evil Aunt Redd. Hatter Madigan, her mother’s trusted bodyguard, is told by Queen Genevieve herself to look after the young princess but is separated from her when they enter the Pool of Tears. He eventually finds her in england where she had been staying for the duration of her time on Earth, and takes her back to wonderland where she reclaims her throne. By altering this story, Bedder adds a more significant twist to what was a children’s book, creating many meaningful themes to go along with his version that develop throughout the novel. One example is taking responsibility, which is evident in many of the actions involving the characters Hatter Madigan, Alyss Heart, and Dodge Anders.
Hatter Madigan is one of the characters that takes responsibility. After being told by Queen Genevieve to look after Alyss until she is ready to rule, Hatter Madigan takes the young princess to the Pool of Tears, “Alyss Heart, holding tight to

Hatter Madigan, plummeted toward the surface of the water below.”(71). Unfortunate not just for the bodyguard but for the entire queendom, he lost contact with Alyss upon arriving on Earth. However, Hatter Madigan did not give up hope like everybody else and searched for the princess as his duty called him to, not stopping until he found her, “He planned to canvass the streets, search every lane and alley for the princess before moving on to another town or city.”(82). After finding the princess Hatter brings the back to the Alyssian camp in Wonderland, and they set off in search of the Looking Glass Maze.
Another character that takes responsibility is Alyss. Even though she does not know it alyss was fulfilling indirect training so to speak that would one day help her to be queen.“She had to be strong. She was a princess, the future Queen of Wonderland. She shouldn’t weep like a baby.”(77) the young girl knew that she had a responsibility that she had to fulfill. Later on in the story though she learns that being responsible isn’t always easy “Yes it was a solution… become just like everyone else.”(148), and she gives up on staying true to herself. Yet when she finally lands herself in the looking glass maze, she regains that sense of duty to her people, or what’s left of them, “Failure’s not an option. She would rather have been anywhere else, but she couldn’t leave yet. Not as a failure.”(310). These are a few of the ways Alyss Heart demonstrates taking responsibility.
Dodge Anders is another character in Frank Beddor’s novel that shows responsibility. even at a young age, only ten, “Dodge now stood before Alyss in his own guardsman uniform, complete with fleur-de-lis badge.”(29), he was a junior guardsmen. He already felt the need to protect the young princess. After Alyss disappears into the Pool of Tears, Dodge begins to feel a loss, a void that he fills by filling his life with responsibility, “A burning dormitory illuminated the renegade’s face: handsome and rugged, with four parallel scars visible on his right cheek. Dodge Anders. Only fourteen years old but fighting like a grown man.”(137). Dodge shows his maturity through taking responsibility.
Frank Beddor’s The Looking Glass Wars has many valuable themes and among them is taking responsibility, demonstrated by the characters Hatter Madigan, Alyss Heart, and Dodge Anders.

Throughout this story the characters, especially Dodge and Alyss, grow and mature into, in Alyss’s case a young warrior queen, and in Dodge’s case an outstanding guardsmen. Sadly, Hatter has to sacrifice much to fulfill his promise to the former queen, although he still remains loyal to the light side of the Heart family. These characters take great responsibility to protect, help, and guide the people around them. The significance of the taking responsibility theme is the maturity that comes when responsibility is taken for one’s actions and duties or

destinies.