Wolf Alice

This tale, has a strong theme of transformation, however it differs from the other tales which have this prominent theme. This is because, in the other tales the main characters know of their true nature, and long to be the opposite for example in the courtship of Mr. Lyon, the beast longed to be human and in the tigers bride she desired liberation and ended up transforming into a tiger, gaining the liberation from her former life. However in Wolf-Alice, she is unknowing of her true nature; however she is content being a wolf. Although society does not accept her way of living, she refuses to change, showing marginalisation from society as she does not conform to their roles, of being a normal human girl, she chooses to live in this manner and is happy to do so. However she is then rejected and sent to the duke, who is a werewolf, and it is seen how they are both forced out from society. Although she then learns to accept her true nature, and gradually from the discovery of a mirror which shows her, her true nature as a human, and the impact of her period, she learns to accept her human side and how to act human. This conveys a theme that is also significant and frequent in Carter’s tales which is acceptance. In Wold-Alice she learns to accept her nature as a human, and because of her former identity as a wolf she can also accept the duke’s nature as a werewolf.