It is not until the final chapter of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland that Alice first disobeys instruction.
She has been growing during the trial of the Knave of Hearts, and when the King says, "Rule Forty-two. ALL PERSONS MORE THAN A MILE HIGH TO LEAVE THE COURT," she not only refuses to leave, she answers him back:I'M not a mile high,' said Alice.You are,' said the King.Nearly two miles high,' added the Queen.Well, I shan't go, at any rate,' said Alice: besides, that's not a regular rule: you invented it just now.'It's the oldest rule in the book,' said the King.Then it ought to be Number One,' said Alice.Let the jury consider their verdict,' the King said, for about the twentieth time that day.
She has become tired of the silliness of the Wonderland people and is frustrated by the irrational and unjust nature of the court's procedures. Emboldened by her increased size, she stands up to them and openly defies them:No, no!' said the Queen. Sentence first--verdict afterwards.'Stuff and nonsense!' said Alice loudly. The idea of having the sentence first!'Hold your tongue!' said the Queen, turning purple.I won't!' said Alice.
It is Alice's defiance and self assertion which finally breaks the spell of Wonderland, and provokes the conflict whuich causes either Alice's expulsion, or perhaps the destruction of Wonderland itself (depending on your point of view.)Off with her head!' the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobody moved.Who cares for you?' said Alice, (she had grown to her full size by this time.) You're nothing but a pack of cards!'
At this the whole pack rose up into the air, and came flying down upon her: she gave a little scream, half of fright and half of anger, and tried to beat them off, and found herself lying on the bank, with her head in the lap of her sister, who was gently brushing away some dead leaves that had fluttered down from the trees upon her face.
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