# Shaking explained — Through the Looking-Glass

> Chapter companion for Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll.

## What happens

Alice shakes the Red Queen, who transforms into a kitten, blurring the line between dream and reality.

## Themes in this chapter

### Reality and Dreams

The Red Queen's transformation into a kitten blurs the boundary between Alice's dream and waking reality.

### Power and Authority

Alice physically shakes the Red Queen, reversing their earlier power dynamic.

### Time and Reversal

The Red Queen shrinks and softens, reversing her previous growth and authority.

## Character check-ins

### Alice

Alice shakes the Red Queen, causing her transformation into a kitten.

### Red Queen

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

### Kitty

The Red Queen becomes Kitty, Alice's kitten.

## Key lines

> She took her off the table as she spoke, and shook her backwards and forwards with all her might.

Alice lifted the Red Queen off the table and shook her vigorously.

_Alice takes physical control over the Red Queen._

> The Red Queen made no resistance whatever; only her face grew very small, and her eyes got large and green: and still, as Alice went on shaking her, she kept on growing shorter—and fatter—and softer—and rounder—and—

The Red Queen did not resist; instead, she shrank and softened, becoming rounder and more cat-like.

_The Red Queen transforms into a kitten, signaling the end of the dream._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/x-shaking
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters