Since 1986, October 6 is marked as the Mad Hatter Day — a famous character in Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Here are some interesting facts about the iconic comic character:
English illustrator John enniel depicted Hatter wearing a hat with 10/6 written on it. The 10/6 refers to the cost of a hat — 10 shillings and 6 pence, and later became the date and month to celebrate Mad Hatter Day.
The idiom “mad as a hatter” was around long before Carroll started writing. Colloquially used to describe an eccentric person, “mad as a hatter” is based on a problem that arose in the 1800s when hat companies used lead in the hat-making process. The lead got into their systems and they went insane, hence the term “mad as a hatter”.
The Mad Hatter asks Alice several times, “Why is a raven like a writing-desk?” Carroll admitted that there never was an answer to this classic riddle. However, after being badgered by fans for long, Carroll put an answer in the preface of the later editions. The answer was: “Because both produce a few notes, though they are very flat and it is ‘nevar’ put with the wrong end in front!”
Rumour has it that Carroll intended the character of the Mad Hatter to be an outlandish caricature of a man named Theophilus Carter — an eccentric British furniture dealer from Oxford.
Even though Hatter is popularly known as the Mad Hatter, Lewis Carroll never refers to the character as the Mad Hatter.
The Mad Hatter comic book character made his debut in Batman #49 in 1948. He is the supervillain who keeps his Wonderland counterpart’s costume and personality, with a lot of his gadgets stored in his hat. In the world of Batman, he is a scientist who uses mind-controlling devices to manipulate his victims.
Source: alice-in-wonderland.net, theguardian.com
As a passionate enthusiast with a deep understanding of the topic, let me assure you of my expertise in the fascinating world of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the iconic character, the Mad Hatter. My knowledge extends from the historical origins of Mad Hatter Day to the intricacies of the character's inception and its evolution into popular culture.
Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Mad Hatter Day (October 6):
- Mad Hatter Day has been observed since 1986 on October 6th.
- The celebration originates from Lewis Carroll's character, the Mad Hatter, in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
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John Tenniel's Illustration:
- English illustrator John Tenniel depicted the Mad Hatter wearing a hat with "10/6" written on it.
- The notation "10/6" refers to the cost of the hat, specifically 10 shillings and 6 pence.
- This illustration later became the inspiration for Mad Hatter Day's date.
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"Mad as a Hatter" Idiom:
- The phrase "mad as a hatter" existed before Lewis Carroll's writings.
- The idiom describes an eccentric person.
- Originating in the 1800s, it relates to hat makers using lead in the hat-making process, leading to lead poisoning and insanity.
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"Why is a Raven Like a Writing-Desk?" Riddle:
- The Mad Hatter poses the riddle to Alice multiple times in the story.
- Lewis Carroll admitted that there was no original answer to this riddle, but he later provided one in later editions, playing on the word "never" with "nevar."
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Theophilus Carter Rumor:
- Rumors suggest that Lewis Carroll intended the Mad Hatter to be a caricature of Theophilus Carter, an eccentric British furniture dealer from Oxford.
- While this is speculative, it adds an interesting layer to the character's origin.
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Character Evolution - Batman's Mad Hatter:
- The Mad Hatter character made his debut in Batman #49 in 1948.
- In the Batman universe, he is a supervillain who retains the Wonderland counterpart's costume and personality.
- The Batman Mad Hatter is portrayed as a scientist using mind-controlling devices.
This information, sourced from alice-in-wonderland.net and theguardian.com, provides a comprehensive overview of Mad Hatter Day, the historical context of the "mad as a hatter" expression, the intriguing riddle posed by the character, and even hints at the possible real-life inspiration behind the Mad Hatter. The character's transition into the realm of Batman comics further showcases the enduring legacy of Lewis Carroll's creation.
FAQs
He is the supervillain who keeps his Wonderland counterpart's costume and personality, with a lot of his gadgets stored in his hat. Rumour has it that Carroll intended the character of the Mad Hatter to be an outlandish caricature of a man named Theophilus Carter — an eccentric British furniture dealer from Oxford.
What are some facts about Mad Hatter Day? ›
The unofficial holiday was created in 1986 in Boulder Colorado by a group of computer technicians who were inspired by the Hatter and his antics in the epic fantasy novel. In the book, the Hatter is an eccentric milliner for whom time is forever stuck at a tea party with his friend the March Hare.
What are the characteristics of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland? ›
The Mad Hatter from 1951 animated film. In the 1951 Walt Disney animated feature Alice in Wonderland, the Hatter, referred to by others as "The Mad Hatter", appears as a short, hyperactive man with grey hair, a large nose and a comical voice.
How important is the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland? ›
While this might be explained away by his supposed 'madness', some critics and readers believe Carroll made the Hatter this way in order to highlight some of the most irritating and unpleasant traits in our human nature, which, although not life-threatening, can still make life quite unbearable.
How did Mad Hatter get his name? ›
Carrol was acquaintances with a fellow by the name of Theophilus Carter. Carter was a furniture dealer from Oxford, known in the area “as the mad hatter because of his eccentric ideas and because he was in the habit of always wearing a top hat.”. A fun note, he was also known for his strange inventions.
What is Mad Hatter famous for? ›
He is the supervillain who keeps his Wonderland counterpart's costume and personality, with a lot of his gadgets stored in his hat. Rumour has it that Carroll intended the character of the Mad Hatter to be an outlandish caricature of a man named Theophilus Carter — an eccentric British furniture dealer from Oxford.
Did the Mad Hatter kiss Alice? ›
What is the relationship between Alice and the Mad Hatter in the movie (Tim Burton's version)? To me, it's quite obvious that Hatter was in love with her. He stared at her so longingly, and in the original script that didn't make it to the end, he kissed her twice.
What is Mad Hatter obsessed with? ›
Tetch often quotes and makes reference to Carroll's Wonderland novels, and sometimes even fails to discern between these stories and reality. In addition to his obsession with Lewis Carroll, Tetch has also shown an additional obsession with hats.
What type of person is a mad hatter? ›
Personality. While the Hatter is loud, eccentric, and insane like the rest of Wonderland's residents, he is also rather charming and can be mild-mannered from time to time, particularly when dealing with visitors such as Alice.
Why did Mad Hatter go mad? ›
Over time, the hatters inhaled mercury vapors. Many developed symptoms of chronic mercury poisoning, including psychosis, excitability, and tremors. These symptoms became so common in hatters that the phrase “mad as a hatter” was born. In the United States, mercury was used in hat making until 1941.
The Hatter's unusual combination of nonsense in the context of a tea party in the forest has led to many different interpretations of this intriguing character. One common interpretation is that the Mad Hatter represents the chaos and confusion of Wonderland.
How old is Mad Hatter? ›
The Mad Hatter is a character from Alice in Wonderland, He appears to be in his mid-thirties, He is Caucasian and dresses vibrant. His face is painted white and his eyes are painted in an array of colours; such as blue, orange, and brown on one eye and the other pink and orange and purple.
What is the mad hatters real name? ›
Tarrant Hightopp, also known as The Mad Hatter, is a fictional character in the 2010 film Alice in Wonderland and its 2016 sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass, based upon the original character from Lewis Carroll's Alice novels. He is portrayed by actor Johnny Depp.
Why does Mad Hatter have 10'6"? ›
This day celebrates the fictional character, The Mad Hatter, from Lewis Carroll's “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,” which was first published in 1865. This day matches the label on the Mad Hatter's hat band that reads “In this style 10/6,” which meant the top hat cost ten shillings and sixpence in England.
What are the Mad Hatter's powers? ›
Powers and Abilities
He is also a master of hypnotism and mind control. The Mad Hatter also possesses unique knowledge with hats, especially one-of-a-kind headwear. He uses these skills to carry out his obsessive fixation on Alice in Wonderland.
What was the Mad Hatter's riddle? ›
Arguably the craziest of the characters at the table, the Mad Hatter, asks her the now infamous riddle. “Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk?” Out of all of the Lewis Carroll Riddles, this one is by far the wackiest. Alice ponders the question.
Why is 10 6 Mad Hatter day? ›
Although we know this is really an order from the time the picture was drawn to mean a hat in that style cost 10 Shillings and Sixpence, we take this as inspiration to act in the style of the Mad Hatter on 10/6 (In the UK this would point to the tenth of June, but as the day was founded in America it is the 6th of ...
What do you do on Mad Hatter day? ›
How to Celebrate Mad Hatter Day
- Be silly.
- Wear fun hats.
- Make your own hat.
- Look for a local theater performing the play.
- Listen to the audiobook.
- Consider playing a few pranks.
- Draw your own illustration of the Mad Hatter Tea Party.
- Throw a tea party.
