Complex Characters: The Red Queen

Honestly, the only commentary I've ever seen for the Red Queen is that she is b a d, and let me tell you that argument lacks flavor. She's a complex individual with many layers, and although she lacks any moral code whatsoever (she deserves to have her face compressed with a toaster oven), I do believe that she definitely had potential. Both the live actions portray her character well, and because I want my claim to be right, it's what I will be focusing on today (for future reference: I just googled her real name and found out it was Iracebeth).

To understand Iracebeth, we need to understand a key value that shapes her character; justice.

Iracebeth has a very strict way of showing affection, showing in her tone presented in the video below. But she's interesting, for she lets her guard down for a stranger and takes her in as a guest. She makes sure Alice is clothed, and goes out of her way to make Alice feel as if she were at home. It's crazy because she went against what many people expect of her to do next; taking advantage of her.

(DISCLAIMER: Not my original video, if interested in their content their YouTube channel is on the top right of the video.)

It's expected of the antagonist to attempt manipulating the protagonist, but Iracebeth's intentions are pure. She invites Alice to sit next to her on the throne, and introduces her the staff in her kingdom to make her feel at home. She was willing to be vulnerable with a stranger, and ultimately sacrifices one of her key values (social status) while doing so.

The only time Alice is ever antagonized is when her lover, The Knave of Hearts, claims that Alice hit on him. The reality is however, he was rejected by her when he decided to flirt with her. This manipulation brings up the question, is what's holding her back have to do with the people she surrounds herself with?

Looking closer into those with high status in Iracebeth's kingdom, they all claim to have imperfections. Due to the queen's insecurity over her large forehead, she tries to embrace those with qualities deemed as undesirable. As a response, all courtiers go to extremes of wearing fake accessories (nose, ear ect.) to take advantage of the queen's good intentions.

(DISCLAIMER: Not my original video, if interested in their content their YouTube channel is on the top right of the video.)

The reality is that Iracebeth has never been praised for any of her actions, for all her friendships have been constructed over power and greed. To be manipulated on a daily basis creates fear in vulnerability, and she becomes emotionally strained.

Even growing up, she's never been praised for her actions. There was an incident that is what instilled the values in her, and essentially it revolved around the White Queen framing her for eating the last tart her mom said not to eat (the crumbs of the tart were kicked to the Red Queen's side of the room). Despite her honesty, the mother favors the white queen. As a form of lashing out, the Red Queen runs away from home, and trips, hitting her head against the floor. Considering the iconic shape of her head, this represents how this argument has affected her mentally, and how she perceives herself. Although she is privileged, throughout her childhood she felt powerless over her circumstances, and she holds a grudge against her family for this reason.

As expected, when her family finds out about the situation, they are in guilt. Although both parents fail to make much appearance in the live actions, the white queen's personality has a very maternal nature, and arguably her character represents her parents. For she mentions it a few times during the sequel, suggesting she never forgot of the incident. The most relevant scene is when Mirana excuses her sister for her behavior during the ceremony, apologizing for her "misfortune," as Iracebeth "will never forget that snowy night where she hit her head at the Town Square" (Tim Burton 53:20-40)

(DISCLAIMER: Not my original video, if interested in their content their YouTube channel is on the top right of the video.)

The guilt the White Queen faces represents their parent's fear in approaching their child's mental health, and their absolute avoidance in fixing the issue. To compromise with the Red Queen's immaturity, they tend to be more lenient on parenting her. Although, it becomes problematic when they avoid educating her altogether. The only time she is ever disciplined is when she is passed from taking the throne, which is an extreme punishment considering the absent parenting throughout her entire life. This selective discipline is perceived as favoritism rather than fear, and is ultimately what manifests Iracebeth's self pity and resentment against her family.

It's also interesting because the white queen tends to value the same issues that the red queen attempts to approach. The only difference has to do with the ways they treat others. There is something known as the language of love. Essentially, it's a topic that Gary Chapman writes of, introducing that there are five ways that one expresses love: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch. An important factor to one's language of love has to do with the way they were raised. And, the reality is that although they are sisters, they both experienced vast different types of love throughout their childhoods.

Mirana's relationship with her parents is what is a base for the way she expresses love, and it revolves around Acts of Service, while the love Iracebeth would have experienced would likely have to do with receiving gifts (explaining why she is offending when she is declined the crown). The parents favored the white queen, and due to Iracebeth's distant relationship with her parents, she doesn't know how to love. If she were praised as much as her sister was for her actions, her life (and mental health) would have been easier to improve. The accumulated experiences between her childhood and adulthood make the Red Queen see herself as the victim, and she's in the way of herself when it comes to getting better.

TLDR; The Red Queen never matured due to her parent's absent parenting.