The Mad Hatter's Tea Party's Social Importance When "Alice in Wonderland" was published in the Victorian era, the formal tea party was an event in which social conventions and cultural rules were of the utmost significance, especially to the upper classes. The Hatter's tea party is a direct parody of this concept; instead of serving tea, he serves alcohol. By doing so, he insults both the Queen and her guests, causing them all to end up as drunk animals. This scene thus represents the folly of following social norms to the point of madness. The Hatter also serves as a caricature of a political figure at that time: the Mad Hatter. He is a self-proclaimed anarchist who rejects authority of any kind, including that of the monarchy. He also uses random objects for weapons such as a hand grenade made out of a teacup and a pistol made from a watch. These images reflect the common belief at that time that anarchy was equivalent to chaos and violence which would only lead to more oppression if left unchecked. In conclusion, the Hatter's tea party reflects the folly of following social norms to the point of madness. It also represents the view at that time that anarchy was not only acceptable but necessary before society could progress.