Her Story is Our Story
Throughout history, the most well-known stories are often told from the perspective of those who win, those in power, or those who hold the pen. The version we get is rarely neutral—it’s shaped by biases, cultural values, and the storyteller’s agenda. Villains in folklore and literature are often people who defied the status quo, challenged authority, or were too powerful to control.
The Queen of Hearts has been portrayed as a tyrant, someone who rules with an iron fist and is quick to anger. But what if she’s simply a strong leader who refuses to be walked over? What if Wonderland itself is chaotic, unpredictable, and in need of structure, and she is the only one willing to bring order to it to create more safety? Similar to a dreamy business owner who can’t make her dreams into reality without the structure to hold it.
Ways the Queen of Hearts Has Been Misunderstood
What if she wasn't cruel, what if our society doesn’t have the stomach for a strong woman?
Wonderland is a place of nonsense and madness; there is nothing wrong with ridiculous nonsense BUT! Without some form of structure, it would fall into complete disorder. The Queen, rather than being a dictator, may have been the only person capable of reigning in the chaos.
She demanded excellence, not perfection.
Powerful women throughout history are often labeled as “too much.” Too demanding, too emotional, too strong. The Queen of Hearts may have simply expected people to rise to their potential, refusing to settle for laziness, deception, or mediocrity. Had she been a king, perhaps this would have been seen as “strong leadership” rather than tyranny.
She was demonized because she was a woman in power, embodying Wild Woman.
Many historical women leaders—Catherine the Great, Cleopatra, Empress Wu—were vilified by their enemies, depicted as ruthless or power-hungry simply for holding authority. The Queen of Hearts may have suffered a similar fate, her legacy distorted by those who didn’t want to see a powerful woman in charge. Our culture as portrayed in books, movies and drama put maidens (Alice) and mothers on pedestals. But wild woman and crone (old witch in the woods, stepmothers, and witches) are always demonized. No one likes an unhinged woman, but power and change is not possible without the truth, power and fire of the wild woman.
Her Passion Was Mistaken for Rage
She is often portrayed as loud, emotional, and quick to anger. But what if that passion came from a deep love for Wonderland? What if her intense emotions weren’t signs of instability but of a leader who cared too much—who felt everything deeply and fought with all her heart for what she believed in? The phrase "Off with their heads!" could be more about getting out of your head and into your heart. Media often skews people’s words.
“I am the Queen of Hearts and I will not apologize for my passion & power."
Imagine a version of Alice in Wonderland where we see the Queen’s struggle—a woman trying to keep her kingdom from falling apart, forced to make difficult decisions, only to be villainized by a lost, naïve girl who doesn’t understand the stakes.
Alice, an outsider, arrives in Wonderland, disrupting the delicate balance of this world. She disrespects the Queen’s boundaries, wanders and listens to the Queen’s enemies—the very people who would rather Wonderland remain a chaotic playground than a thriving kingdom.
From Alice’s perspective, the Queen is an unfair ruler, but from the Queen’s point of view, Alice is an intruder who refuses to understand Wonderland’s deeper magic. What if the Queen of Hearts is the perfect balance of masculine and feminine energy, which is something we have never seen portrayed in a positive light before?
Her Strength & Power
Unbreakable Willpower – The Queen of Hearts never hesitates. She is decisive, unwavering, and confident in her actions. She does not second-guess herself, making her a formidable leader.
Commanding Presence – She has the ability to make people listen. Whether out of fear or admiration, her voice carries authority, and she knows how to use it.
Mastery Over Wonderland’s Natural Laws – Wonderland thrives on chaos, but she understands its logic in a way no one else does. Perhaps she isn’t defying its madness—she’s the only one who truly understands how to wield it.
Fearless Leadership – While others in Wonderland are eccentric and passive, she takes action. She does not hide behind riddles like the Cheshire Cat or get lost in nonsense like the Mad Hatter. She leads.
