The Prince and the Pauper- Mark Twain

 

Mark .Twain (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910)

Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Pen name is Mark Twain. He was an American writer, entrepreneur, publisher and lecture. Great humorist of United States. Twain expressed his boyhood life on the Mississippi, he first pen his name when he was working in Territorial Enterprise newspaper. His first success as a writer came when his humorous “Tall Tale” was published on November 18, 1865. “The Saturday press” brought him national attention. His letters to the Sacraments Union (in Hawaii) were popular and became the basis for his lectures. Twain was attached to science and scientific inquiry. He spent much time with Nikola Tesla and in Tesla’s laboratory. Twain lost a great deal of his savings through investments. But he was able to recover financially with his writings and lectures. Twain sailed across the Pacific Ocean. He went on to Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India and South Africa.

He became his country’s significant opponent of imperialism with different issues in his speeches and writings. In 1901 he began his services as vice- president of the Anti- imperialist league of New York. Twain lived his latter part in 14 west 10^th street Manhattan, after the death of his daughter Susy Twain passed through a deep depression. He died of a heart attack on April 21, in Storm field.

He wrote:

“I came in with Halley’s comet in 1835. It is coming again next year and I expect to go out with it”

 

Short summary of prince and the pauper

The prince and the pauper is a great work of Mark Twain. Tom the main character of the story accidently changes the places with Prince Edward due to a misunderstanding situation. In this confusion Edward who looks like Tom would be mistakenly thrown out to the streets. Then the whole incidents go around their new atmosphere and their struggle to get back their real identity and position.  On the day of coronation of the fake prince, the real prince returns. He proves his identity by showing the royal seal and gets back his position with honor.

 Study Guide                                              

• Plot summary                                               
• Chapter’s wise analysis                                               
• Characters                                               
• Themes                                               
• Styles           
• Quotes 
• Symbols, Allegory and motifs
• Metaphors, similes 
• Irony 
• Imagery 
• Literary element 
• Background of the novel

Characters

 Edward

• Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales / King Edward V1
• Protagonist of the novel
• King Henry VII’s only son
• Edward is loved by his father, sisters and his cousin
• Kind, good, thoughtful
• Prince Wales, heir to the throne of England
• He and Tom Canty bear a significant physical similarities (resemblance)
  
• As a Royal son; Edward is given training in all arts and self-defenses.
• Edward could not adjust in the place of Tom
• Edward was not trained to act with dignity as a Royal son, to show his strength and command
• But he overcame all obstacles to prove himself
• He is Brave, He understood the situation of his country
• After ascends to the throne. He shows a sense of justice by honoring those who helped him during his hard time he punishes those who did misdeeds.

Tom Canty

• He is a boy born in London in 16^th century to a very poor family
• Father is a thief, Tom sleeps on the dirty floor
• He is beaten by his drunken father and grandmother
• A priest teaches Tom to read and write and Latin
• 
  Tom creates fantasy court and fantasy tales
• He develops a passion to see a real prince
• Tom’s modesty and honesty prevents him to accept himself as the prince
  
• Tom is honest and straight forward boy.
• In certain situation he shows his desires to remain as prince as he is pampered by the Royal mother and sisters.
• He rejects his own mother but emotionally brakes down when he feels of his fake position
• His honesty makes Tom to help the prince to prove his Royal identity to regain his position
• Tom’s loyalties and emotions shows that he is a straight forward boy and he realizes that he must be true to his loved ones under any situation to have a peaceful life.

Miles Hendon

• He is a soldier.
• 
  Returns after three years of war and imprisonment.
• Miles is a brave man and defends Prince Edward when he is ill-treated by the people by mistake.
• he is a softhearted as he tries to prove the boy as prince, because he feels sorry for him.
• Miles is a brave hearted person, because he refuse to leave the estate even after knowing the death of his father, his identity is taken by his own brother and the marriage of his fiancé to his own brother.
• He tries to be the head of the family. 
  
• He is brave, loyal and kind and loving personality.
• At the end he is awarded as knight and an earl by the Prince.
• He marries his beloved and takes control of his family casting his evil brother.
• He becomes a loyal and honest friend to the young prince.

 John Canty

• Drunken father of Tom.
• Villain in the novel.
• He beats young Tom for not brining any money to drink.
• He becomes brutal and merciless when he drinks.
• He hated his poverty – stricken life and shows his anger and depression on Tom.
• But he treats Tom as his possession, and does not allow him to go his own way.
• He shows his cowardice when he meets Miles Henden.
• Even then he kills a man who ill-treats his son.
• He changes his name as John Hobbs.
• He runs off with a gang of thieves and beggars and disappears from Tom’s life.
• It is a blessing to Tom and his family.

Hugo

• He help John Canty to capture Edward, who they think is Tom.
  
  
  
• He cheats Edward by saying that he is the messenger of Miles.
• He is a dishonest person who tricks people to get their money and goods.
• He uses Prince Edward in his mean works such as begging and stealing. But Edward refuses to do so.
• He hates Edward as he wins the fight very easily because of his training in the palace.
• Hugo too is a dishonest person like John.

The Earl of Hertford

• Uncle of Edward Tudor, lord chancellor of the realm.
• Protector of the young prince.
• He helps the young king to take decisions.
• He is loyal to the young prince, also very quick to give harsh punishment to those who bother the young prince.
• He is an honest friend to the prince.

 Henry –V111

• King of England, father of Edward.
• Fearsome monarch, but ill and near to death.
• He is a loving and dedicated father to Edward.
• He is strong in his decision, for he commands his son to become the king after his death, knowing the abnormal behaviour of Edward.
• His hope is, his son Edward would be a wise ruler.

 Mrs. Canty

• Tom’s mother, warm and loving.
• She is unable to stop John Canty beating Tom.
• She is not able to support her husband as he is a dishonest person.
• She keeps a few bits of food for Tom after he has been beaten and sleeps without dinner.
• When Tom denies to accept his mother after he becomes the king, the mother does not hold it against him.
• Mrs. Canty is a simple and loving person.

 Father Andrew

• He is a priest.
• He teaches Tom to read and write and some Latin.
• Father Andrew tries to save Tom from his drunken father.
• The priest is killed by John Candy when he hits the father on his head with a cudgel.
• This murder sends John Canty to disappear.

 The lady Jane Grey

• Edward’s cousin, same age as him. Both are great companions.
• Tom as Prince Edward likes the company of Lady Jane grey.
• He spends much time with her as she is a good person.

 The Lady Elizabeth

• Edward’s fourteen year old sister. Tom likes her a lot.
• She understands Edwards’s thoughts.
• She supports Edward.
• Kind, loving sister.

 The Lady Mary

• Edward’s older sister.
• Gloomy person.
• She does not prefer the servants to smile.
  
• Peculiar character.
• Tom does not spend time with her.

 Gammer Canty

• Tom’s grandmother, bad as John Canty.
• Drinks as often as possible.
• Supports John Canty in beating the young Tom.
• She curses and fight with anyone.
• Hates Tom, very cruel and merciless person.

 Bet and Nan

• 15 year old Twins
• Tom’s big sisters
• Kind to Tom. Love Tom. Tom loves them a lot.
• Not much about them in the novel.

 Hugh Henden

•  Younger brother of Miles Hendon.
• Treacherous person.
• His father loves him a lot.
• Blindly believes Hugh when he creates false stories against his brother Miles Hendon.
• Forces his cousin Edith to marry him, to get her fortune.
• He spreads a false story on his brother Miles as imposter.
• Finally all his true character is exposed and he runs away leaving his wife and dies in another country.

The Lady Edith

• Cousin of Huge and Miles Hendon.
• Miles’ beloved
• Forced by Hugh to marry him.
• Edith is again forced by Hugh to deny miles or else Hugh would kill Miles
• At the end she is reunited with Miles and marries him after Hugh dies.

 The Lord St. John

• He assists the Lord Herford as a guardian of the Prince Edward
• After the Tom, Edward confusion, St. John suggests his doubt over Tom.
  
  
  
• He seems to be a political monster, but not a bad person.

 Humphrew Marlow

• Prince Edward’s whipping boy.
• His job is to take punishment for prince when he fails to do his work
• He is the confidant of Tom.

 The Ruffler

• Leader of the thief gang
• The gang honors those who are very skillful in stealing.
• They try to promote Edward thinking him to be Tom to a thief. 
  
• The Ruffler has a good leadership abilities, cunningness,
• These make him a good leader.

 Yokel

• Member of the gang.
• Once a prosperous farmer
• He lost his lands. Mother was burned at the stake as a witch.
• Yokel and his family become beggar after they lost everything
• Became a slave.
• He got back his wealth after Edward became king.

 The Hermit

• Crazy man in the woods
• He thinks himself to be an archangel
• He is the only one to believe Edward’s story.
• He thinks himself to be a pope.
• He is crazy to kill Edward in his sleep but Miles Hendon saves the prince.

 Blake Andrews

• Former servant at Hendon Hell
• He becomes a good informer for Miles and Edward about the situation of the country.

 Sir Humphrey Marlow

• Father of prince’s whipping boy.
• Miles Hendon’s father was a friend of Sir Humphrey Marlow
• Miles hopes to get help from him

 Objects and places in the story

• London in this story plays a significant role. Tom and Edward, the two main chacters are born in London.
• The author describes it as a good and nice place. But it is dirty and has slums on the other side.
• Home for Rich merchant and nobles. Surrounded by a wall as a protection.

Offal court

• It is at the end of pudding lane; a very poor part of London.
• Tom lives with his family in a very poor condition
• It is a home for drunkards, beggars and thieves
• Brawls and riots are very common.
• Many families live there with poverty.

 West Minster

• King Henry V111 lives with his family
• Protected by gates and sentinels
• People admire the place
• Richest place in London
  
  
  
  

London Bridge

• It cross Thames, not far from Tom’s house
• Crowed with shops on all side.
• They could see houses for families who do business there.

 The Thames

• The river which flows through London
  
  
  
• It fills with barges and boats during celebrations of the young Prince Edward Tudor’s Coronation.

 Hendon Hall

• An Ancestral home for Miles Hendon
• The estate with seventy rooms with twenty –seven servants
• Beautiful with orchards and pastures between the cottages
• Belongs to Miles Hendon but stolen by his brother
• At the end Miles gets it back

 Christ church

• The other name is Christ’s Hospital; Ancient church
• It was taken from monks by Henry V11 who made it a home poor orphan children.

Cheapside

• It is a village near Tom’s home.
• Tom goes to the fair sometimes to see military parades.

 Smith side

• Another village near Tom’s home.
• Tom saw burning a witchcraft at the stake in this place.

 Charing village

• Lovely place where Tom could see beautiful places owned by a cardinal and a majestic cross built by  king long ago.

 South walk

• It’s a village
• Hugo and John Canty go as they lure Edward away from Miles Hendon.

 The great seal

• It is a stamp of the king.
  
• Henry VIII needs the seal for the documents.
• Edward misses the seal in his room which creates confusion among the nobles in the Palace.
• The same seal saves Tm and Edward giving a happy ending to the novel.

 Themes

Equality

The novel The Prince and the Pauper shows the inequality and unfairness in many situations.  Mark Twain did not focus to bring out the class system in England.  He focusses on human nature which faces various hard situations which exposes the inequality among them.  He finds nothing but he presents the true richness. Tom Canty who fights with poverty becomes a prince by a misunderstanding situation.  At first he fears to be a prince as it could lead to severe punishment but soon he starts to enjoy the Royal life and does not prefer to deny the crown.  In another situation he denies hi m other.  But Tm could not take the rich life as he knows the truth.

 One the other hand prince Edward is confused for a while when he is taken for Tom.  But he plan
s as a prince to reward and to punish those who he meets during hard journey as Tom.  As planned Prince Edward fulfills his rewards and punishments.  Mark Twain gives us a message that society teaches life.   Goodness and honor both rule our characters.  The prince (Edward) and pauper both remain good and true.  Though they are opposite in their position materialistically, they are equal in their characters.

Deceiving Appearance

The theme “disguise and deception” usually done by the character to increase the interest in the play. Mark Twain in this novel brings the themes by the two main characters. Edward and Tom exchange their clothes accidently with innocence. They do not have any intention by ends up in total confusion. They are not identical but their characters bring confusion. Since Tom learns to read and write by Father Andrew, Tom, later able to convince the Royal family when they doubt his madness. Mark Twain’s point is appearance could deceive and expect a lot. It is difficult to study in depth a person’s character by their looks. It is not easy process to see the real person behind the looks.

Loyalty

Those who are loyal could be heroes and those who are not loyal are treated as villains. John Canty and Huge Hendon are not loyal to anybody. They cause trouble to others as they are desperate for materialistic life. Miles Hendon shows complete loyalties to Edward and is rewarded   later by Edward. Tom’s loyalties stumbles a bit as he is tempted by the Royal life and denies his poor mother, soon he repents and recovers from his folly. Loyalty is one the significant feature of the novel. Loyalty could not be taught or trained. Loyalty is what is best in every human and how it could bring peace to all and spread love.

 Style

Views of the Author

Author’s view are come out by the two main characters. The prince Edward Tudor and the pauper Tom Canty express their inner personalities under various atmosphere which are difficult to adopt. Even the supporting characters too bring out the views of Mark Twain, for those supporting character are not under difficult situation as Tom and Edward. They do not go deep in to analyse the changes in the behaviours of prince. They could not compare or contrast the prince as before and after. They look at him as prince without doubt. The transformation of character takes place in Tom as he could convince the Royal family. But the author’s point of loyalty, goodness and honesty switches Tom and Edward to their original position without any fearful.

 Setting

The story is written with England background. The action takes place in London, number of locations are described. Huge contrast Rich and Poor are well brought out. The author describes the poor condition and hard life style of people in one part of England. Again he shows the rich life of the nobles, merchants and clergies. The two main character’s too represents the social status. But soon the switching of characters reveal how life could teach them “the Realities”.

 Language and Meaning

The novel uses Early Modern |English. It has many obsolete words such as thou, ye, would and tis conversations are graceful and entertaining. The flowery language of Tom convinces the royal family. His little knowledge of reading and writing helps him in a remarkable way. Tom and Edward are so much alike, their only difference is their language. Through these two main characters the author could bring out his message.

Structure

The story starts with the Birth of “the prince and pauper” and ends with “justice and retribution”. The readers could see the contrast and comparison in every movement of the novel. Description of the locations, such as dirty slums of the poor and luxury places of the Rich. Visualizes their life style. Birth of the prince and pauper moves the novel to the next level with an expectation. Soon the switches of characters follow. Tom and Edward changes their places and position. No communication between them thereafter but the author connects the readers to them by their hard challenges of life. Separate experiences of the boys connects the two boys in the final chapters.

The structure of the novel has two separate stories binding all in one thread and keeping the readers to enjoy to the maximum.

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