Why does alice meet the mad hatter?

Answer 1

In Lewis Carroll's book, Alice leaves the Mad Tea Party because the Hatter and March Hare are being rude and obnoxious and making her angry.

`Really, now you ask me,' said Alice, very much confused, `I don't think--'
`Then you shouldn't talk,' said the Hatter.
This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear: she got up in great disgust, and walked off; the Dormouse fell asleep instantly, and neither of the others took the least notice of her going, though she looked back once or twice, half hoping that they would call after her: the last time she saw them, they were trying to put the Dormouse into the teapot.

In the 1951 Disney version she leaves because the March Hare and the Mad Hatter have flung the White Rabbit over the fence. Alice wants to speak with him, so she tries to follow him.

Answer 2

Alice certainly looks quite annoyed in John Tenniel's illustration of the Mad Tea Party. (see related link below) This is probably because it depicts the moment in the story when the Hatter tells Alice that she needs a haircut.

`Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech.

`You should learn not to make personal remarks,' Alice said with some severity; `it's very rude.'

Answer 3

Alice meets the Mad Hatter because she follows the White Rabbit down his rabbit hole and ends up in Wonderland. The Mad Hatter is one of the eccentric characters she encounters in her adventures in Wonderland.