Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass The Caterpillar Quotes

"Who are you?" said the Caterpillar.

This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, "I – I hardly know, Sir, just at present – at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then." (Wonderland 5.2-3)

Alice doesn't know who she is because she doesn't know where she is – and because she can't remember what she's been taught, in school or beyond.