Who Are The Main Characters In 'The Walrus And The Carpenter'?

The poem 'The Walrus and the Carpenter' from Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking Glass' features two central characters who are as bizarre as they are memorable. The Walrus is this larger-than-life, smooth-talking figure who comes across as almost paternal at first, luring the young oysters with his seemingly kind words. But then there’s this sinister undertone—he’s manipulative, using charm to mask his true intentions. The Carpenter, on the other hand, feels more like a sidekick, quieter but equally complicit in their scheme. Together, they trick the innocent oysters into a doomed stroll along the beach, only to devour them in the end. It’s such a darkly whimsical tale, and these two characters embody that mix of absurdity and cruelty that Carroll does so well.

What’s fascinating is how the poem plays with morality. The Walrus weeps crocodile tears after eating the oysters, pretending to feel remorse, while the Carpenter barely reacts. It makes you wonder if Carroll was critiquing hypocrisy or just having fun with nonsense. Either way, their dynamic sticks with you—a pair of con artists wrapped in a fairy tale’s veneer. I always come back to how unsettlingly charismatic the Walrus is, making him the standout in this weird, wonderful little story.

Oh, the Walrus and the Carpenter are such a peculiar duo! The Walrus is the one who does most of the talking, spinning this elaborate story to coax the oysters out of their safe little world. He’s got this oily charm, like a politician or a salesman, all false sympathy. The Carpenter is more of a silent partner, but he’s just as guilty—just nodding along while their little victims get led to slaughter. It’s wild how something so short can pack so much personality into these two. They’re like a dark comedy act, with the Walrus as the frontman and the Carpenter as the straight man, right until the punchline… which is, y’know, eating their audience. Classic Carroll, really.