# Which Dreamed It? explained — Through the Looking-Glass

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

## What happens

Alice wakes from her dream and addresses her kitten, Kitty, reflecting on her journey through the Looking-Glass world. She playfully accuses the kitten of being the Red Queen and wonders about the nature of her dream, questioning whether it was her dream or the Red King's.

## Themes in this chapter

### Reality and Dreams

The chapter centers on the ambiguity between dream and reality, as Alice questions whether she dreamed the Looking-Glass world or was part of the Red King's dream.

### Identity and Self

Alice's playful identification of her kittens as characters from her dream explores the fluidity of identity and the self.

### Language and Meaning

Alice's frustration with the kitten's inability to communicate through purrs and mews highlights the theme of language and its limitations.

## Character check-ins

### Alice

Alice wakes from her dream and interacts with her kittens, reflecting on her adventures and the nature of reality.

### Kitty

Alice's kitten, whom she addresses and playfully accuses of being the Red Queen in her dream.

### Red Queen

Referenced by Alice as the possible transformation of her kitten, Kitty.

### White Queen

Mentioned by Alice as the possible transformation of the white kitten, Snowdrop, being scrubbed by Dinah.

### Dinah

Alice's cat, who is scrubbing the white kitten, which Alice imagines as the White Queen.

### Snowdrop

The white kitten, undergoing its toilet, which Alice associates with the White Queen.

## Key lines

> Your majesty shouldn’t purr so loud

Alice tells the kitten not to purr so loudly.

_Alice addresses the kitten with mock respect, blending the dream world with reality._

> Which do you think it was?

Alice asks the reader to decide who dreamed the adventure.

_The final line leaves the question of reality open-ended, inviting reader interpretation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters/xii-which-dreamed-it
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/through_the_looking_glass_se/chapters