The Queen of Hearts
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The Queen of Hearts is a character from the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by the mathematician Lewis Carroll. She is a foul-tempered monarch who is quick to decree death sentences at the slightest offence. Her most famous line, one which she repeats often, is "Off with their heads!"
The Queen is referred to as a card from a pack of playing cards by Alice, yet somehow she is able to talk and is the ruler of the lands in the story.
Alice is recommended, by three gardening playing cards painting roses so they're the right colour for the Queen, to drop down on the ground in order to avoid being confronted by her. She is confused, and having never met the Queen, ignores this advice. When the Queen arrives and asks Alice who is lying on the ground, Alice tells her she doesn't know as the backs of all playing cards look alike. The Queen then becomes frustrated and commands that her head be severed.
The Queen demands that everything is perfect, and, if for some reason, something goes wrong, you can be sure anyone involved will be sentenced to be beheaded. For instance:
- The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. 'Off with his head!' she said, without even looking round.
Despite the frequency of death sentences, it would appear few people are actually beheaded. The King of Hearts quietly pardons many of his subjects when the Queen is not looking, and her soldiers humour her but don't carry out her orders. Nevertheless, all creatures in Wonderland fear the Queen. In the final chapters, the Queen sentences Alice again (for defending the Knave of Hearts) and she offers an interesting approach towards justice: sentence before verdict.