Here's why:
* Alice is the central character: The story is entirely about Alice's experiences and journey through Wonderland.
* Many characters are significant: The Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, and the White Rabbit all play important roles and influence the plot. None of them stand out as a clear second protagonist.
* No defined character arc: Most of the Wonderland characters are more like caricatures or representations of concepts, rather than complex individuals with their own journeys.
So, while there is no definitive deuteragonist, you could argue that the Mad Hatter is the closest:
* Frequent interactions with Alice: He has many extended conversations and scenes with Alice.
* Interesting personality: He's witty, eccentric, and offers Alice guidance in a way.
* Significant role in the story: He introduces the nonsensical world and often challenges Alice's logic.
Ultimately, it's up to individual interpretation, but the concept of a deuteragonist doesn't fit neatly into the structure of Alice in Wonderland.